The effect of a saline and non-saline water table on peach tree water use, growth, productivity and ion uptake

The effect of salinity and shallow water tables (1.4 m depth) used in combination with Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) on peach trees (Prunus persica, L. Batsch) was studied over 2 years. Under RDI management a non-saline water table contributed up to 30% of water use. A lack of control of vegetative growth in the first season indicated that a shallow water table may interfere with RDI management. A decline in tree health and growth under RDI and a non-saline water table in the following season may have resulted from salinity and/or waterlogging effects. Saline irrigation under RDI management caused an additional decline in tree growth compared with RDI under non-saline conditions, and resulted in a reduction in productivity (yield and fruit size) and increased uptake of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) ions in various plant tissues. Similarly, a saline water table caused a decline in tree growth and fruit size in the first season and increased uptake of Na and C1 ions. For all treatments, accumulation of C1 in the leaves, Na and C1 in the fruit, Na in the bark and storage of Na in the butt wood and structural roots was demonstrated. Differences in mechanisms of transport of Na and C1 and the importance of older wood as a storage organ for ions are proposed. The potential for butt wood as a precise indicator of past salinity treatment is suggested. A combination of a shallow water table and moderate salinity environment was shown to present a potential health hazard for peach trees. The need for refinement of RDI management to incorporate leaching in the presence of saline irrigation and/or water tables is proposed. The management of drainage is also essential.

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Effect of saline water combined with restricted irrigation on peach tree growth and water use

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9930799 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 799 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

AM Boland ◽

PD Mitchell ◽

PH Jerie

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Saline Water ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Regulated Deficit Irrigation ◽

Saline Irrigation ◽

Four Levels ◽

Peach Trees

TThe effect of four levels of saline irrigation (ECi of 0.1 dS m-l, 0.25 dS m-l, 0.5 dS m-l and 1-0 dS m-l) in conjunction with restricted irrigation volumes was studied in drainage lysimeters over 2 years on peach trees (Prunus persica, L. Batsch), 3-years-old in Year 1. Strong negative linear responses to saline irrigation were measured for growth and final fruit size in Year 2. Leaf chloride increased over time and with treatment levels, reaching a maximum of 3.0% for the 1.0 dS m-l treatment at harvest in Year 2. Root weighted soil Na and Cl levels increased with increasing irrigation salinity. Both Na and C1 levels in fruit and wood were increased by saline irrigation. Photosynthesis was reduced at the high ECi level consistent with decreased conductance and likely C1 toxicity. Saline irrigation reduced tree water use (TWU). Leaf chloride was determined to be a good indicator of salinity level and expected yield reduction. The need for leaching and modification of current Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) management is proposed.

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Wheat root growth and seasonal water use as affected by irrigation under shallow water table conditions

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/bf02372632 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 181-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. P. Tripathi ◽

R. K. Mishra

Keyword(s):

Root Growth ◽

Shallow Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Table ◽

Wheat Root ◽

Shallow Water Table ◽

Seasonal Water Use

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Use of Saline Water from a Shallow Water Table by Cotton

Transactions of the ASAE ◽

10.13031/2013.30372 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 1674-1678 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

James E. Ayars ◽

Richard A. Schoneman

Keyword(s):

Shallow Water ◽

Water Table ◽

Saline Water ◽

Shallow Water Table

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IS DEEP SOWING BENEFICIAL FOR DRY SEASON CROPPING WITHOUT IRRIGATION ON SANDY SOIL WITH SHALLOW WATER TABLE?

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479713000161 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 366-381

Author(s):

B. BUAKUM ◽

V. LIMPINUNTANA ◽

N. VORASOOT ◽

K. PANNANGPETCH ◽

R. W. BELL

Keyword(s):

Shallow Water ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Table ◽

Growing Season ◽

Dry Season ◽

Shallow Water Table ◽

Water Tables ◽

Permanent Wilting Point ◽

Wilting Point

SUMMARYDeep sowing (15 cm) on sands in the dry season is a practice used in post-rice sowing of legumes without irrigation, designed to increase moisture access for germination, growth and crops yield. However, with such deep sowing there can be a penalty for emergence and growth if there is abundant water stored in the upper soil profile during the growing season. Hence, there is a need to define the soil water regimes under which deep sowing is advantageous for different legumes. To investigate the adaptation of legume crop species to deep sowing, we studied their emergence, growth and yield on three deep soils (3–16% clay) with shallow water tables during two years in northeast Thailand. At site 1 and 2, peanut, cowpea, mungbean and soybean were sown shallow (~5 cm) or deep (~15 cm). At site 3, only cowpea and peanut were shallow or deep sown. Shallow water tables maintained soil water content (0–15 cm) above permanent wilting point throughout the growing season. Deep sowing of all legumes delayed emergence by 3–7 days at all locations. Shoot dry weight of legumes after deep sowing was mostly similar or lower than weight after shallow sowing. Yield and harvest index of legumes did not differ meaningfully among sowing depths. Therefore, deep sowing was not beneficial for dry season cropping without irrigation when there was a shallow water table and sufficient water for crop growth throughout soil profiles in the growing season. Taken together with previous studies, we conclude that shallow rather than deep sowing of legumes was preferred when the soil water content at 0–15-cm depth remained higher than permanent wilting point throughout the growing season due to shallow water table.

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THE WATER RELATIONS AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera L.): A REVIEW

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479712000993 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 91-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. K. V. CARR

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Shallow Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Table ◽

Water Relations ◽

North Africa ◽

Date Palm ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Crop Coefficient ◽

Shallow Water Table

SUMMARYDate palm is a crop suited to hot, arid regions. It originated in Mesopotamia and the centres of production are in West Asia and North Africa. Despite its regional and international importance, and its dependence on irrigation or a shallow water table for survival, relatively little research has been published on the water relations and irrigation need of date palm. Following early work in California, the majority of the recent research reported in the literature has been conducted in Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. The date palm has a terminal crown of 100–120 leaves. At the base of each leaf is an axillary bud, most of which develop in the winter as flower buds. It takes 150–200 days from pollination to fruit maturity. Stomata occur on both leaf surfaces. Different techniques have been used to measure the water use of date palm, including micrometeorological and sap flow methods. In Syria, mean actual evapotranspiration rates varied between 0.5 mm d−1 (winter) and 3.5 mm d−1 (summer), in Saudi Arabia from 2–3 to 8–11 mm d−1 depending on location and in Jordan from 2 to 8–10 mm d−1 respectively. In Tunisia, there was some (limited) evidence of stomatal control of transpiration rates (seasonal range 0.5 to 3.5 mm d−1) when temperatures exceeded 32 °C. Experimentally determined values of the crop coefficient were inconsistent, varying from 0.6–0.7 to 1.18. In the vicinity of an oasis, advection may increase potential water use substantially above that of a reference crop. In the absence of a shallow water table, roots can extract water from soil depths greater than 2 m. There is little published information on the water productivity of date palm. A target benchmark figure is probably about 1.3-kg fresh fruit m−3 of irrigation water applied. Under controlled conditions, phenotypes differed in their responses to water stress. The date palm is traditionally considered to be relatively salt-tolerant, with a threshold electrical conductivity value for the saturated soil extract of 4.0 dS m−1, but recent evidence from Israel suggests that this view may be mistaken. Since early times, flood irrigation has been used to irrigate date palm and it is still probably the most common method in many countries. Since the 1980s, farmers have been encouraged by governments to use localised irrigation methods (e.g. micro-sprinklers, drip and bubbler) as a means of saving water. Since water is a scarce resource in the West Asia and North Africa region, research should focus on developing ways to improve the water productivity of this high value crop.

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