Effects of Pre-Sowing Flooding, Rainfall, Irrigation and Surface Drainage on Sesame in the Central Sudan Rainlands

1980 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-148
Author(s):  
H. R. B. Hack
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Surface Drainage ◽  
Central Sudan ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Crop Development

SUMMARYSesame was grown in four seasons in which differences in the distribution of the rains and treatments of pre-sowing flooding, irrigation during crop growth and surface drainage resulted in contrasts in soil water content and crop development. In wet years pre-sowing flooding, absence of surface drainage and premature irrigation gave 32–37% decreases in yield. In a season of low rainfall prevention of surface run-off and one later irrigation gave, in the absence of pre-sowing flooding, a 43% increase in yield over that from plots irrigated only at sowing and with surface drainage. Agronomic applications are discussed.

scholarly journals Optimum time of sowing for rainfed winter chickpea with one-pass mechanised row-sowing: an example for small-holder farms in north-west Bangladesh

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 602 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Vance ◽  
R. W. Bell ◽  
C. Johansen ◽  
M. E. Haque ◽  
A. M. Musa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Reproductive Growth ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
North West ◽  
Sowing Dates

The time of sowing chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the High Barind Tract of north-west Bangladesh is critical to crop success. To ensure adequate emergence and subsequent crop growth, chickpea relies on residual soil moisture stored in the profile after rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated in the preceding rainy season. With the development of mechanised, one-pass minimum tillage sowing, the time between rice harvest and chickpea sowing is decreased, and temperature constraints that limit biomass and/or pod formation and filling may be avoided. Minimum tillage may also limit evaporation from the soil surface compared with traditional, full cultivation procedures. The objective of this study was to identify the optimum sowing time to achieve adequate crop establishment and limit exposure of the chickpea crop to terminal drought and heat stress later in the growing season. Over three experimental seasons, chickpea sowing dates were spread from 22 November to 22 December. Soil water content, crop growth and temperature were monitored to determine the optimum sowing time. Over all seasons and sowing dates, the volumetric soil water content in the seedbed under minimum tillage remained within 17–34%, a range non-limiting for chickpea establishment in glasshouse and field experiments. Late planting (after 10 December) exposed seedlings to low temperatures (<15°C), which limited biomass formation and extended the vegetative growth phase into periods with high maximum temperatures (>35°C), resulting in unfilled pods and depressed grain yield. The preferred sowing time was determined to be 30 November to 10 December to reduce the risk of high temperatures and low soil water content during chickpea reproductive growth causing terminal heat and drought stress, respectively. Mechanised sowing in one operation allows farmers to optimise their time of sowing to match seed requirements for soil water at emergence and may assist farmers to avoid temperature stresses (both low and high) that constrain chickpea vegetative and reproductive growth.

scholarly journals Changes to soil water content and biomass yield under combined maize and maize-weed vegetation with different fertilization treatments in loam soil

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Lehoczky ◽  
Mariann Kamuti ◽  
Nikolett Mazsu ◽  
Renáta Sándor
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Loam Soil

AbstractEspecially during early developmental stages, competition with weeds can reduce crop growth and have a serious effect on productivity. Here, the effects of interactions between soil water content (SWC), nutrient availability, and competition from weeds on early stage crop growth were investigated, to better understand this problem. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 using long-term study plots on loam soil in Hungary. Plots of maize (Zea maysL.) and a weed-maize combination were exposed to five fertilization treatments. SWC was observed along the 0–80 cm depth soil profile and harvested aboveground biomass (HAB) was measured.Significant differences were found between SWC in maize and maize-weed plots. In all treatments, measured SWC was most variable in soil depths of up to 50 cm, and at the 8–10 leaves (BBCH19) growth stage of the crop. The greatest depletion of SWC was detected within PK treatments across the entire soil profile and under both vegetation types, with depletion also considerable under NPK and NP treatments. Biomass growth was significantly influenced by weeds in treated plots between the BBCH 13 and 19 phenological stages, but water availability did not hamper growth rates in non-fertilized conditions. These findings suggest that, at early stages of crop growth, SWC model simulations need to include better characterisation of depth- and structure-dependent soil water uptake by vegetation.

Pathways for losses of fertilizer nitrogen from a Rhodes grass pasture in south-eastern Queensland

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
VR Catchpoole
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Fertilizer Nitrogen ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Growth Chambers ◽  
Gas Tight

The importance of surface run-off water, leaching and evolution of gases on losses of nitrogen fertilizer from a Rhodes grass pasture in south-eastern Queensland were assessed. Field microplots encased in steel tubes 21 cm in diameter and 60 cm deep were equipped to collect surface run-off, fertilized with 15NH415NO3 prills at the rate of 150 kg nitrogen ha-1 and destructively sampled at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 40 weeks after fertilizing. The recovery of 15N in the soil-plant system, losses of 15N in surface run-off and movements of 15N down the soil profile were measured. Open pasture plots were fertilized with NH4NO3 at rates of 0 and 150 kg nitrogen ha-1 and harvested at the same times as the microplots. The results were used to calculate the apparent recovery of fertilizer nitrogen by the plant tops. Pasture cores of 11.5 cm diam. and 12.0 cm deep were given the same fertilizer treatment as the microplots, placed in gas-tight growth chambers for periods of 4 weeks starting at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after fertilizing, and used to measure gaseous losses of 15N. The effects of soil water content ranging from field capacity to waterlogged on these losses were studied on a second series of cores. The apparent recovery of fertilizer nitrogen and the recovery of 15N in plant tops were usually well below 20%, and the recovery of 15N in the soil-plant system of the microplots was always below 50% of the amount applied. Most of the loss of 15N occurred during the first 4 weeks. A large part of the 15N lost from the field microplots was not traced, but the results demonstrated that surface run-off and leachate should not be ignored during nitrogen balance studies on pastures in south-eastern Queensland. Surface run-off generally removed less than 5% of the 15N, but the loss was 40% from one microplot. Losses due to leaching were not quantified, but a small significant excess of 15N in soil layers below 60 cm suggested that they did occur. Gaseous losses of 15N from waterlogged pasture cores reached 27%, but they were small or absent from cores with a soil water content at or below field capacity. Detailed work in the gas-tight growth chambers to define the soil conditions associated with gaseous losses of nitrogen are needed to relate laboratory findings to field conditions.

scholarly journals Influence of Crop Growth Stages and Management Practices on Soil Water Content at Different Soil Depths under Dryland Conditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
E. T. Sebetha ◽  
A. T. Modi
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Gravimetric Method ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Crop Growth Stages

Soil water loss through evaporation plays a role on low crop productivity and this is due to poor cropping systems and soil surface coverage. The study was carried out at three locations of North-West province of South Africa, which were Potchefstroom, Taung and Rustenburg during 2011/12 and 2012/13 planting seasons. The experimental design was a factorial experiment laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The experiment consisted of five cropping systems, which were monocropping cowpea, monocropping maize, cowpea followed by maize in rotation, maize followed by cowpea in rotation and intercropping maize-cowpea. The three crop growth stages compared in this study were before tasselling/flowering, during tasselling/pod formation and during physiological maturity of maize and cowpea. Soil was sampled for the 0-0.15, 0.15-0.3, 0.3-0.6 and 0.6-0.9 m depth increments and soil water content determined using the Gravimetric method. The crop growth stage before tasselling/flowering in maize/cowpea had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water content of 10.2, 10.8, 12.5 and 13.3% at the depth of 0-0.15, 0.15-0.3, 0.3-0.6 and 0.6-0.9 m respectively. Soil collected at Rustenburg and Potchefstroom had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water content of 13.5 and 10.2; 15.9 and 10.9; 18.3 and 12.8; 18.4 and 14.5% at the depths of 0-0.15, 0.15-0.3, 0.3-0.6 and 0.6-0.9 m respectively. Monocropping cowpea plots had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water content of 12.4% than other cropping systems at the soil depth of 0.3-0.6 m. Monocropping plots of cowpea had the ability to hold soil water and this depends on the type of cowpea cultivar and canopy cover. The stage before tasselling/flowering of maize-cowpea (V10/Vn) was found to have high soil water content. Soil water content differs across locations due to different soil physical properties.

Improvements to the accuracy of modelled soil water content from the Second Generation Prairie Agrometeorological Model

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gervais ◽  
P. Bullock ◽  
M. Mkhabela ◽  
G. Finlay ◽  
R. Raddatz
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Water Values

The direct measurement of soil water on a regional scale is often not practical due to large instrumental and labour requirements. Alternatively, soil water estimates can be derived using models. The Second Generation Prairie Agrometeorological Model (PAMII) models soil water, crop development and evapotranspiration (ET) in order to derive an estimate of crop water use. The objective of this study was to validate, and if necessary modify, the soil water component of PAMII using weather and soil water data collected from several spring wheat trials in Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the 2003 though 2006 growing seasons. Comparison of modelled and measured soil water values yielded a RMSE of 62 mm. For most site-years, PAMII overestimated soil water during the second half of the growing season, which was caused by an increase in modelled canopy resistance (rc) before the crop experienced water stress. The rc function was thus modified so that rc would not increase until the soil water content was < 0.5 of plant available water. Overall this modification reduced the RMSE from 62 to 56 mm. In addition, modelled soil water was underestimated during periods that experienced consecutive days of precipitation. This was because the model stopped infiltration when the top-zone reached saturation. When modified to allow infiltration to continue independent of the top-zone’s water content, the RMSE was further reduced to 53 mm. Overall, both modifications reduced the RMSE of modelled soil water by 9 mm, and this reduction was highly significant (P < 0.01). Key words: Prairie Agrometeorological Model (PAMII), soil water modelling, evapotranspiration, Canadian prairies

scholarly journals CONTEÚDO DE ÁGUA NO SOLO EM CULTIVO DE MILHO SEM E COM COBERTURA MORTA NA ENTRELINHA NA REGIÃO DE ARAPIRACA-AL

Irriga ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Bastos Lyra ◽  
José Leonaldo de Souza ◽  
Iedo Teodoro ◽  
Guilherme Bastos Lyra ◽  
Gilson Moura Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Straw Mulching ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
Grain Filling Period

Avaliou-se a variação do conteúdo de água no solo em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento do milho cultivado sem (Tradicional) e com cobertura morta (Capim) na entrelinha. Observações agrometeorológicas e da cultura foram realizadas na região de Arapiraca, AL (09º38'35" S; 36º40'15" W; 260 m) entre julho e outubro de 2005, na transição do período úmido e seco. Consideraram-se nas análises as seguintes fases de desenvolvimento do milho: inicial (20 d), crescimento (35 d), intermediária (40 d) e final (30 d). A umidade volumétrica do solo foi estimada pelo modelo de van Genutchen em função de medidas do potencial matricial de água no solo. Medidas do potencial foram obtidas por tensiômetros automáticos instalados a 0,15 m de profundidade. O sistema com cobertura morta manteve conteúdo de água no solo superior ao sistema Tradicional em 65,8 % dos dias (75 dias) do ciclo. Contudo, o conteúdo de água no sistema Tradicional sobressaiu-se ao com cobertura morta na maior parte do período de enchimento de grãos (80 %), o que resultou numa maior produtividade de grãos no Tradicional. Na transição entre o período chuvoso e seco da região não é recomendado o uso da cobertura morta na entrelinha durante todo o ciclo do milho, principalmente se o período de enchimento de grãos coincidir com o período seco. Para eventos de chuva de moderado a forte (> 7 mm d-1) a cobertura morta aumenta a capacidade de infiltração da água no solo. Porém, para eventos fracos, a água fica armazenada na cobertura, sendo perdida diretamente para a atmosfera.   UNITERMOS: cobertura morta, movimento de água no solo, semi-árido, Zea mays.     LYRA, G.B.; SOUZA, J.L.; TEODORO, I.; LYRA, G.B.; MOURA FILHO, G.; FERREIRA JÚNIOR, R. A. SOIL WATER CONTENT IN MAIZE CROP WITH AND WITHOUT STRAW MULCHING IN ARAPIRACA  REGION, ALAGOAS, BRAZIL     2 ABSTRACT   The soil water content in different crop development stages of maize cultivated with straw mulching and in traditional system, i.e., bare soil rows, was evaluated. Agro meteorology and crop fields observations were carried out in the Arapiraca region (09º38'35" S; 36º40'15" W; 260 m), state of Alagoas, Brazil, from July through October, 2005, in the transition between humid and dry periods. The following stages of maize development and their lengths (days) were considered: initial (20), crop development (35), mid-season (40) and late (30). The soil moisture was estimated from van Genutchen`s model in function of soil water potential. Potential measurements were obtained from automatic tensiometers, installed at the depth of 0.15 m The soil water content in the mulching system was higher than in the traditional one  in 65.8 % of the cycle (75 days). However, the soil water was higher in the traditional system in the grain filling period (80 % of days); this resulted in higher  grain yield in the traditional system. The use of mulching is not advisable during all maize development cycle in the transition between humid to dry period in that region, mainly if the grain filling period is in the dry period. For moderate to heavy rainfall events (> 7 mm d-1), the infiltration capacity is incremented by mulching. However, for weak events, the rainfall water is stored in mulching and is directly lost to the atmosphere.   KEYWORDS: straw mulching, soil water movement, semi-arid, Zea mays  

SOIL WATER CONTENT AFFECTS THE AVAILABILITY OF PHOSPHATE

1985 ◽  
pp. 185-189
Author(s):  
M.C.H.Mouat Pieter Nes
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Solution ◽  
Equivalent Reduction

Reduction in water content of a soil increased the concentration of ammonium and nitrate in solution, but had no effect on the concentration of phosphate. The corresponding reduction in the quantity of phosphate in solution caused an equivalent reduction in the response of ryegrass to applied phosphate. Keywords: soil solution, soil water content, phosphate, ryegrass, nutrition.

Effect of inter-row cultivation on soil carbon dioxide emission in a peach plantation

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tóth ◽  
Cs. Farkas
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Favourable Effect ◽  
Volumetric Soil Water Content

Soil biological properties and CO2emission were compared in undisturbed grass and regularly disked rows of a peach plantation. Higher nutrient content and biological activity were found in the undisturbed, grass-covered rows. Significantly higher CO2fluxes were measured in this treatment at almost all the measurement times, in all the soil water content ranges, except the one in which the volumetric soil water content was higher than 45%. The obtained results indicated that in addition to the favourable effect of soil tillage on soil aeration, regular soil disturbance reduces soil microbial activity and soil CO2emission.

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