Trends in Plant Available Soil Water on Producer Fields of Western Kansas

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freddie R. Lamm ◽  
Danny H. Rogers ◽  
Alan J. Schlegel ◽  
Xiaomao Lin ◽  
Robert M. Aiken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Total Period ◽  
Corn Fields

Abstract. Residual soil water after harvest and prior to planting was measured to a depth of 2.4 m with neutron attenuation techniques for approximately 45 irrigated corn and 45 dryland wheat fields annually from 2010 through 2012 in the western one-third of Kansas. The sampling locations were in three-county transects in northwest, west central and southwest Kansas with generally five fields for each crop type for each county. Residual plant available soil water (PASW) in corn fields was generally much greater than in wheat fields (150%-160% greater) for any given sampling period illustrating the residual influence of irrigation. Although weather conditions varied between regions and years there was not a strong effect on PASW in irrigated corn fields but there was an effect in dryland wheat fields. Annual differences in fall irrigated corn PASW for the 21 individual fields that were available for sampling in all three years varied less than 50 mm/2.4 m soil profile implying considerable stability in an individual producer’s response (irrigation management and irrigation system capacity) to changing weather conditions as evidenced by the similar year-to-year PASW values. Drought conditions existed for much of the total period (fall 2010 through fall 2012) in southwest Kansas, yet the irrigated corn PASW was still relatively high (PASW value at approximately 62% of water stored at field capacity in a 2.4 m profile). So, the presence of drought may not be a good indicator of the amounts of residual soil water producers are leaving after irrigated corn harvest. Although differences in irrigated corn PASW varied greatly among producers (183% to 722% within a region), there were much smaller differences between regions and years with a variation from 8% to 22%. Irrigation system capacity (flowrate/area) had very little effect on residual fall PASW in the corn fields possibly indicating that producers with deficit capacity are pumping earlier and later into the season to help mitigate their lower irrigation capacity. Irrigated corn grain yields began to plateau when PASW reached a value of approximately 200 mm/2.4 m profile which would represent a water storage of approximately 56% of field capacity. The residual PASW in irrigated corn fields decreased about 1 mm for each 2 mm decrease in irrigation and cropping season precipitation illustrating the difficulties that can arise in managing for a target residual PASW. These results suggest that producers should be scheduling irrigation with science-based methods, rather than habits and previous experiences. Keywords: Corn, Field capacity, Soil moisture content, Soil water, Volumetric water content, Wheat.

scholarly journals Potential Water Conservation Using Site-Specific Variable Rate Irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-888
Author(s):  
Kenneth C Stone ◽  
Philip J Bauer ◽  
Gilbert C Sigua
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Variable Rate ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Variable Rate Irrigation

Abstract. Site-specific variable-rate irrigation (VRI) systems can be used to spatially manage irrigation within sub-field-sized zones and optimize spatial water use efficiency. The goal of the research is to provide farmers and consultants a tool to evaluate the potential benefits of implementing VRI. The specific objective of this research is to evaluate the potential water savings using VRI management compared with uniform irrigation management to maintain soil water holding capacity above 50% depletion using two irrigation scenarios: 1) a standard 12.5 mm irrigation per application; and 2) an application to refill the soil profile to field capacity. A 21-year simulation study was carried out on a selected field with varying degrees of soil and topographic variability. The simulated field had 12 soil mapping units with water holding capacities in the top 0.30-m ranging from 42 to 70 mm. The 21-year simulation covering all weather conditions for each soil produced only two significantly different irrigation management zones for scenario 1, and for scenario 2 only one management zone. However, when the 21-year period was divided into periods with different ratios of rainfall to reference evapotranspiration, the simulations identified 1 to 5 management zones with significantly different irrigation requirements. These results indicate that variable rate irrigation system design and management should not be solely based on long term average weather conditions. Years with differing weather conditions should be used for potentially identifying management zones for VRI systems. Irrigation application depths between management zones ranged from 17 to 38 mm. However, when the actual soil areas of the study field were utilized to calculate the total volume of irrigation water applied, it resulted in an increase in water usage in the 2 and 4 management zones ranging from -1.2% to 5.8%. Water usage with VRI over uniform irrigation was greater by -1.6% to 6.8% in the 12.5 mm irrigations and by -1.2% to 2.2% for the field capacity irrigations Keywords: Management zones, Precision farming, Variable-rate irrigation, Water conservation.

scholarly journals Soil water potential during different phenological phases of coffee irrigated by center pivot

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adão W. P. Evangelista ◽  
Luiz A. Lima ◽  
Antônio C. da Silva ◽  
Carla de P. Martins ◽  
Moisés S. Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Center Pivot ◽  
Phenological Phases

Irrigation management can be established, considering the soil water potential, as the limiting factor for plant growth, assuming the soil water content between the field capacity and the permanent wilting point as available water for crops. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish the soil water potential interval during four different phenological phases of coffee irrigated by center pivot. The experiment was set at the experimental area of the Engineering Department at the Federal University of Lavras, in Brazil. The coffee variety planted is designated as Rubi, planted 0.8 meters apart, with rows spaced 3.5 meters apart. The treatments corresponded to the water depths applied based on different percentages of Kc and reference evapotranspiration (ET0) values. Sensors were used to measure the soil water potential interval, installed 25 centimeters depth. In order to compare the results, it was considered as the best matric potential the one that was balanced with the soil water content that resulted in the largest coffee productivity. Based on the obtained results, we verified that in the phases of fruit expansion and ripening, the best results were obtained, before the irrigations, when the soil water potential values reached -35 and -38 kPa, respectively. And in the flowering, small green and fruit expansion phases, when the values reached -31 and -32 kPa, respectively.

Effects of the combined application of biomaterial amendments and polyacrylamide on soil water and maize growth under deficit irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-194
Author(s):  
Yajin Hu ◽  
Nini Guo ◽  
Robert L. Hill ◽  
Shufang Wu ◽  
Qin’ge Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Irrigation Level ◽  
Maize Growth ◽  
Irrigation Levels

Combined applications of mixed biomaterial amendments and polyacrylamide (MBAP) to maize in semiarid areas have the potential to improve soil physical properties such that improved crop performance may be obtained under deficient irrigation management. In this study, three MBAP applications were C0 (conventional N fertilization application) and C2 and C4 (MBAP applied at rates of 2 and 4 t ha−1, respectively); three irrigation levels were W3 (nearly full irrigation, 85%–100% of field capacity), W2 (light deficit irrigation, 65%–75% of field capacity), and W1 (medium deficit irrigation, 55%–65% of field capacity). Under the same irrigation level, the MBAP significantly decreased soil bulk densities and increased soil hydraulic conductivities and soil water contents. The effects of irrigation levels on soil bulk densities and soil saturated hydraulic conductivities were not significant. Consequently, MBAP improved soil conditions for maize growth and increased grain and biomass yields, especially at the two deficit irrigation levels. Compared with that of C0, grain yields for C2 and C4 were increased by 52.8% and 39.3% under W2, and by 23.5% and 13.7% under W1, respectively. The MBAP and irrigation had significant interaction effects on evapotranspiration during sowing to jointing and on plant heights at 32 d after sowing. The incorporation of MBAP (2 t ha−1) and chemical fertilizer (111.8 kg N ha−1) resulted in the greatest yields under light deficit irrigation and seemed the best approach to improve soil physical properties and sustain maize productivity using limited water resources in dryland regions.

scholarly journals Surface irrigation management in relation to water infiltration and distribution in soils

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 75-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Amer ◽  
K.H. Amer
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Surface Irrigation ◽  
Empirical Power ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Alluvial Clay

Water infiltration and storage under surface irrigation are evaluated, based on the initial soil water content and inflow rate as well as on the irrigation parameters and efficiencies. For that purpose, a field experiment was conducted using fruitful grape grown in alluvial clay soil at Shebin El-Kom in 2008 grape season. To evaluate the water storage and distribution under partially wetted furrow irrigation in comparison to the traditional border irrigation as a control method, two irrigation treatments were applied. They are known as wet (WT) and dry (DT) treatments, at which water was applied when the available soil water (ASW) reached 65% and 50%, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 6.2 and 10.2% for WT and DT respectively under the furrow irrigation system as compared to 8.5% in border. Water was deeply percolated as 11.9 and 18.9% for wet and dry furrow treatments respectively, as compared with 11.1% for control with no deficit. The application efficiency achieved was 86.2% for wet furrow irrigation achieving a high grape yield (30.7 t/ha). The relation between the infiltration (cumulative depth, Z and rate, I) and opportunity time (t<sub>0</sub>) in minutes for WT and DT treatments was: Z<sub>WT</sub> = 0.528 t<sub>0</sub><sup>0.6</sup>, Z<sub>DT</sub> = 1.2 t<sub>0</sub><sup>0.501</sup>, I<sub>WT</sub> = 19 t<sub>0</sub><sup>&ndash;0.4</sup>, I<sub>DT</sub> = 36 t<sub>0</sub><sup>&ndash;0.498</sup>. Also, empirical power form equations were obtained for the measured advance and recession times along the furrow length during the irrigation stages of advance, storage, depletion, and recession.

scholarly journals Irrigation management of muskmelon with tensiometry

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio José de Santana ◽  
Guilherme de Almeida Bocate ◽  
Murilo Augusto Sgobi ◽  
Stefany Silva de Souza ◽  
Taynara Tuany Borges Valeriano
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Soil Water Tension ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Water Tension

The production and consumption of muskmelon have been increasing (MELO et al., 2014), thus, information on techniques for higher field productions are necessary. The experiment described in the present work was conducted in the IFTM, Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the muskmelon yield under different soil water tensions. A randomized block experimental design was used with five treatments (soil water tensions of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 kPa) and four replications (plots of two rows of 14 plants). Two harvests were carried out and the fruit yield, stem diameter, number of fruits per plant and efficiency of water use were evaluated. Irrigation was performed with a drip irrigation system and managed with tensiometry. The cultivar Bonus n.2 was used with spacing of 1.0 x 0.6 m. The data of the variables were subjected to the F test and regression test. The treatments showed statistical differences in number of fruits per plant, fruit weight (fruit yield) and stem diameter. The highest fruit yield found was 1.36 kg fruit-1 and the highest water use efficiency was 4.08 g mm-1 with irrigation for a soil water tension of 10 kPa. The lowest fruit yield was found with irrigation for a soil water tension of 50 kPa.

scholarly journals Automation of irrigation by electronic tensiometry based on the arduino hardware platform

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Moura Pereira ◽  
Delvio Sandri ◽  
Gervásio Fernando Alves Rios ◽  
Daniel Ataydes de Oliveira Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Automation Control ◽  
Variation Tolerance ◽  
And Control ◽  
Plastic Containers

This study developed and evaluated an electronic irrigation system controlled by soil water matric potential. The controller uses tensiometers and pressure transducers as a reading mechanism, integrated with an Arduino microcontroller board that drives the solenoid valves and a 1/3 hp single-phase motor. Four electronic tensiometers were installed in plastic containers filled with 6 kg of Red-Yellow Latosol (RYL) with a clayey texture, and another four in plastic containers filled with 7 kg of Regolitic Neosol (RN) with a sandy texture. Irrigation automation components were activated autonomously at the critical potentials of -20, -25, -30, and -35 kPa for RYL, and -10, -15, -20, and -25 kPa for RN, with a 20% variation tolerance. The entire system is able to monitor and control irrigation based on soil water matric potential. Components were deactivated when the soil water potential reached the field capacity of each soil type. Irrigation automation performance was considered satisfactory, as it kept critical potentials within the pre-established thresholds in both soil types. Automation control was set for matric potentials between -10 kPa and -35 kPa in RYL, and between -5 kPa and -25 kPa in RN.

scholarly journals Development of capacitive sensor for measuring soil water content

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan K. Rêgo Segundo ◽  
José H. Martins ◽  
Paulo M. de B. Monteiro ◽  
Rrubens A. de Oliveira ◽  
Delly Oliveira Filho
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Capacitive Sensor ◽  
Measuring Circuit ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Digital Format

The irrigation management based on the monitoring of the soil water content allows for the minimization of the amount of water applied, making its use more efficient. Taking into account these aspects, in this work, a sensor for measuring the soil water content was developed to allow real time automation of irrigation systems. This way, problems affecting crop yielding such as irregularities in the time to turn on or turn off the pump, and excess or deficit of water can be solved. To develop the sensors were used stainless steel rods, resin, and insulating varnish. The sensors measuring circuit was based on a microcontroller, which gives its output signal in the digital format. The sensors were calibrated using soil of the type “Quartzarenic Neosoil”. A third order polynomial model was fitted to the experimental data between the values of water content corresponding to the field capacity and the wilting point to correlate the soil water content obtained by the oven standard method with those measured by the electronic circuit, with a coefficient of determination of 93.17%, and an accuracy in the measures of ±0.010 kg kg-1. Based on the results, it was concluded that the sensor and its implemented measuring circuit can be used in the automation process of irrigation systems.

scholarly journals Simulation of soil water balance and partitioning of evapotranspiration of maize grown in two growing seasons in Southern Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Schons de Ávila ◽  
Mirta Teresinha Petry ◽  
Reimar Carlesso ◽  
Juliano Dalcin Martins ◽  
María Gabriela González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Crop Evapotranspiration ◽  
Crop Season ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Growing Seasons

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to simulate the variation of the available soil water during maize crop growth, in two different sowing times (first and second growing season), using a drip irrigation system. The treatments consisted of different irrigation strategies (full to deficit). The SIMDualKc simulation model was used to determine the daily soil water balance and crop evapotranspiration using the dual crop coefficient approach. Soil, climate, crop and irrigation parameters were used as input data. Two experiments were carried out in a rainout shelter composed of two metallic structures (16x10m) in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during 2010/11 (second crop, season 1) and 2011/12 (first crop, season 2) growing seasons, under no-tillage system. The simulations showed that all the irrigation management strategies used in season 2 resulted in soil water deficit, while only two strategies showed deficit in season 1. Results showed good agreement between observed and simulated soil water data, with an R2 ranging from 0.86 to 0.99 and the root mean square error ranging from 2.7 to 5.6% of the total available water for seasons 1 and 2, respectively. The observed results of water balance showed that maize grown in season 2 presented higher water consumption compared to season 1, due to the higher atmospheric demand of season 2. The SIMDualKc model allowed the partitioning of crop evapotranspiration into soil evaporation and crop transpiration, demonstrating that the vegetative growth subperiod presented the greatest differences between the two seasons compared to the others growth phases.

scholarly journals IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT AND FRUIT QUALITY IN ASIAN PEAR

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 627a-627
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Griffiths ◽  
Mohammad H. Behboudian ◽  
Melanie Dingle
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Control Fruit ◽  
Asian Pear

Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder) is endemic to southern China, Korea and Japan where it is an important fruit. Recent introduction into New Zealand has necessitated research to achieve high fruit quality. In this experiment three irrigation treatments were imposed on the cultivar Nijisseiki and the effect on fruit quality and storage life assessed. They were: a control for which soil water was maintained at 85% of field capacity (FC), “field” receiving only rainfall, and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) in which soil water was depleted to 50% FC until rapid fruit growth started and then treated as in the control. Fruit weight and firmness were higher in the control and soluble solids were higher in the field treatment whose fruit matured earlier. Irrigation treatment showed no effect on the ripening pattern of the fruit in coolstorage or the incidence of the postharvest disorder flesh spot decay. Nitrogen and potassium levels were highest in the control fruit. However, levels of Mg, Ca, and P were not affected by irrigation.

scholarly journals Soil Water Dynamics in a Rainfed Mediterranean Agricultural System

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiménez-de-Santiago ◽  
Lidón ◽  
Bosch-Serra
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Water Dynamics ◽  
Deep Drainage ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
Disturbed Soil

Rainfed Mediterranean agriculture is characterized by low water input and by soil water content below its field capacity during most of the year. However, erratic rainfall distribution can lead to deep drainage. The understanding of soil-water dynamics is essential to prevent collateral impacts in subsuperficial waters by leached pollutants and to implement suitable soil management (e.g., agronomic measures to avoid nitrate leaching). Soil water dynamics during two fallow years and three barley crop seasons was evaluated using the Leaching estimation and chemistry model in a semiarid Mediterranean agricultural system. Model calibration was carried out using soil moisture data from disturbed soil samples and from capacitance probes installed at three depths. Drainage of water from the plots occurred in the fall and winter periods. The yearly low drainage values obtained (<15 mm) indicate that the estimated annual nitrate leaching is also small, regardless of the nature of the fertilizer applied (slurries or minerals). In fallow periods, there is a water recharge in the soil, which does not occur under barley cropping. However, annual fallow included in a winter cereal rotation, high nitrate residual soil concentrations (~80 mg NO3−-N L−1) and a period with substantial autumn-winter rains (70–90 mm) can enhance nitrate leaching, despite the semiarid climate.

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