Soybean Irrigation Initiation in Mississippi: Yield, Soil Moisture, and Economic Response

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
H. C. Pringle, III ◽  
L. L. Falconer ◽  
D. K. Fisher ◽  
L. J. Krutz
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Mississippi Delta ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
Soybean Yield

Abstract. Irrigated acreage is expanding and groundwater supplies are decreasing in the Mississippi Delta. Efficient irrigation scheduling of soybean [ (L.) Merr] will aid in conservation efforts to sustain groundwater resources. The objective of this study was to develop irrigation initiation recommendations for soybean grown on Mississippi Delta soils. Field studies were conducted on a deep silty clay (SiC) in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and on a deep silty clay loam (SiCL) and deep silt loam (SiL) or loam (L) soil in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Irrigation was initiated multiple times during the growing season and soybean yield and net return were determined to evaluate the effectiveness of each initiation timing. Growth stage, soil water potential (SWP), and soil water deficit (SWD) were compared at these initiation timings to determine which parameter or combination of parameters consistently predicted the resulting greatest yields and net returns. Stress conditions that reduce yield can occur at any time from late vegetative stages to full seed on these deep soils. The wide range of trigger values found for SWP and SWD to increase yields in different years emphasizes the complexity of irrigation scheduling. Monitoring soil moisture by itself or use of a single trigger value is not sufficient to optimize irrigation scheduling to maximize soybean yield with the least amount of water every year on these soils. Monitoring one or more parameters (e.g., leaf water potential, canopy temperature, air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind) is needed in conjunction with soil moisture to directly or indirectly quantify the abiotic stresses on the plant to better define when a yield reducing stress is occurring. Keywords: Irrigation initiation, Irrigation scheduling, Soil water deficit, Soil water potential, Soybean, Water conservation.

scholarly journals Soil Moisture Sensor Test with Mississippi Delta Soils

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Horace C. Pringle ◽  
Edward M. Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Mississippi Delta ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Gravimetric Method ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling

Abstract. One of the methods for irrigation scheduling is to use sensors to measure the soil moisture level in the plant root zone and apply water if there is a water shortage for the plants. The measurement accuracy and reliability of the soil moisture sensors are critical for sensor-based irrigation management. This study evaluated the measurement accuracy and repeatability of the EC-5 and 5TM soil volumetric water content (SVWC) sensors, the MPS-2 and 200SS soil water potential (SWP) sensors, and the 200TS soil temperature sensor. Six 183 cm × 183 cm × 71 cm wooden compartments were built inside a greenhouse, and each compartment was filled with one type of soil from the Mississippi Delta. A total of 66 sensors with 18 data loggers were installed in the soil compartments to measure SVWC, SWP, and soil temperature. Soil samples were periodically collected from the compartments to determine SVWC using the gravimetric method. SVWC measured by the sensors was compared with that determined by the gravimetric method. The SVWC readings from the sensors had a linear regression relationship with the gravimetric SVWC (r2 = 0.82). This relationship was used to calibrate the sensor readings. The SVWC and SWP sensors could detect the general trend of soil moisture changes. However, their measurements varied significantly among the sensors. To obtain accurate absolute soil moisture measurements, the sensors require individual and soil-specific calibration. The 5TM, MPS-2, and 200TS sensors performed well in soil temperature measurement tests. Individual temperature readings from these sensors were very close to the mean of all sensor readings. Keywords: Irrigation, Sensors, Soil types, Soil water content, Soil water potential.

scholarly journals SOIL WATER DEFICIT EFFECTS ON PLANT WATER RELATIONS AND LEAF GROWTH OF CUCUMBER

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 596c-596
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Melkonian ◽  
David W. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Leaf Growth ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
Leaf Elongation ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
And Control

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Marketmore 80) plants were exposed to a soil water deficit and subsequently rewatered. Maximum stress intensity was -1.5 MPa midday leaf water potential compared to -0.6 to -0.8 MPa in the well watered control, eight days after withholding water. Midday stomatal conductance {ks), leaf turgor potential and water potential decreased in the stress treatment compared to the control beginning at the first sampling, two days after withholding water. The decrease in all three was approximately linear with time over the stress. Decreased leaf elongation was observed at the second sampling, three days after the initial decline in ks and five days after withholding water. At similar relative water content {RWC), osmotic potentials of the stress and control treatments were the same throughout most of the stress. Further, there was no difference in osmotic potential, at the same RWC, between the stress and control treatments 12 - 16 hours after rewatering. Split-root experiments were also conducted to examine a possible role of a non-hydraulic signal from roots in drying soil in the regulation of ks and leaf elongation in cucumber. No conclusive evidence of a signal was found despite significant decreases in soil water potential of one-half of the root system of the stress plants. However, fluctuating vapor pressure gradients (vpg) may have obscured evidence of a signal.

scholarly journals Soil water retention curves for the major soil types of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.

scholarly journals Assessment of the SMAP-Derived Soil Water Deficit Index (SWDI-SMAP) as an Agricultural Drought Index in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jueying Bai ◽  
Qian Cui ◽  
Deqing Chen ◽  
Haiwei Yu ◽  
Xudong Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Microwave Remote Sensing ◽  
Agricultural Drought ◽  
Drought Monitoring ◽  
In Situ Observation ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
The South ◽  
The North

China is frequently subjected to local and regional drought disasters, and thus, drought monitoring is vital. Drought assessments based on available surface soil moisture (SM) can account for soil water deficit directly. Microwave remote sensing techniques enable the estimation of global SM with a high temporal resolution. At present, the evaluation of Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) SM products is inadequate, and L-band microwave data have not been applied to agricultural drought monitoring throughout China. In this study, first, we provide a pivotal evaluation of the SMAP L3 radiometer-derived SM product using in situ observation data throughout China, to assist in subsequent drought assessment, and then the SMAP-Derived Soil Water Deficit Index (SWDI-SMAP) is compared with the atmospheric water deficit (AWD) and vegetation health index (VHI). It is found that the SMAP can obtain SM with relatively high accuracy and the SWDI-SMAP has a good overall performance on drought monitoring. Relatively good performance of SWDI-SMAP is shown, except in some mountain regions; the SWDI-SMAP generally performs better in the north than in the south for less dry bias, although better performance of SMAP SM based on the R is shown in the south than in the north; differences between the SWDI-SMAP and VHI are mainly shown in areas without vegetation or those containing drought-resistant plants. In summary, the SWDI-SMAP shows great application potential in drought monitoring.

scholarly journals Satellite Soil Moisture for Agricultural Drought Monitoring: Assessment of SMAP-Derived Soil Water Deficit Index in Xiang River Basin, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zhu ◽  
Yulin Luo ◽  
Yue-Ping Xu ◽  
Ye Tian ◽  
Tiantian Yang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Agricultural Drought ◽  
Drought Monitoring ◽  
Soil Water Deficit ◽  
R Value ◽  
Xiang River

Agricultural drought can have long-lasting and harmful impacts on both the ecosystem and economy. Therefore, it is important to monitor and predict agricultural drought accurately. Soil moisture is the key variable to define the agricultural drought index. However, in situ soil moisture observations are inaccessible in many areas of the world. Remote sensing techniques enrich the surface soil moisture observations at different tempo-spatial resolutions. In this study, the Level 2 L-band radiometer soil moisture dataset was used to estimate the Soil Water Deficit Index (SWDI). The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) dataset was evaluated with the soil moisture dataset obtained from the China Land Soil Moisture Data Assimilation System (CLSMDAS). The SMAP-derived SWDI (SMAP_SWDI) was compared with the atmospheric water deficit (AWD) calculated with precipitation and evapotranspiration from meteorological stations. Drought monitoring and comparison were accomplished at a weekly scale for the growing season (April to November) from 2015 to 2017. The results were as follows: (1) in terms of Pearson correlation coefficients (R-value) between SMAP and CLSMDAS, around 70% performed well and only 10% performed poorly at the grid scale, and the R-value was 0.62 for the whole basin; (2) severe droughts mainly occurred from mid-June to the end of September from 2015 to 2017; (3) severe droughts were detected in the southern and northeastern Xiang River Basin in mid-May of 2015, and in the northern basin in early August of 2016 and end of November 2017; (4) the values of percentage of drought weeks gradually decreased from 2015 to 2017, and increased from the northeast to the southwest of the basin in 2015 and 2016; and (5) the average value of R and probability of detection between SMAP_SWDI and AWD were 0.6 and 0.79, respectively. These results show SMAP has acceptable accuracy and good performance for drought monitoring in the Xiang River Basin.

Effect of Soil Water Potential Controlling on the Rice Growth

2012 ◽  
Vol 170-173 ◽  
pp. 2407-2413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Dao Cai Chi ◽  
En Bo Tai ◽  
Xu Dong Zhang ◽  
Tao Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Moisture Potential ◽  
Soil Moisture Potential

Pot experiments were conducted under different status of soil moisture potential during different stages of rice. The results show that soil moisture potential regulation and control is able to increase the rice yield at each growth stages after returning green, the suitable soil water potential criteria for middle-season rice in Liaoning province at different stages is 5~10kPa in tillering initial stage, 35kPa at most in tillering final stage, 5~10kPa in jointing and heading stages, not more than 20kPa in Milk maturity stage; re-watering post drought has a compensation effect to rice whose soil suction potential is controlled in 5~10kPa at tillering initial stage according to the results that its tillers number, output, final root dry biomass and leaf dry weight were significant exceeding contrast; The research on rice quality indicates that water stress in jointing stage increase protein content but reduce eating quality.

scholarly journals Online appendix 2:Soil water retention curves for the major soil types of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.

scholarly journals Online appendix 1: Soil water retention curves for the major soil types of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.

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