scholarly journals Effects of Different Water Supply and Corm Planting Density on Crocin, Picrocrocin and Safranal, Nitrogen Uptake and Water Use Efficiency of Saffron Grown in Semi-Arid Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza KOOCHEKI ◽  
Seyyed Mohammad SEYYEDI
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Water Requirement ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Irrigation Levels ◽  
Semi Arid

Saffron’s color, taste and odor result from the chemicals crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, respectively. Hence, in addition to quantitative yield, secondary metabolites content are known as crucial factors for a successful saffron production. Moreover, enhancing resources efficiency, especially water and nitrogen, is becoming increasingly important for agricultural improvement in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, the effects of irrigation levels and corm planting on crocin, picrocrocin and safranal content, water use efficiency (WUE) as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of saffron were investigated as a two-year field experiment based on a randomized complete block design arranged in split-plot with three replicates. The irrigation levels (100, 75 and 50% of saffron water requirement) and corm planting pattern (50, 100, 200 and 300 corms m-2) were allocated to main and sub-plots, respectively. Based on the results, crocin and picrocrocin content increased with decreasing irrigation levels. The highest WUES (WUE based on dry stigma yield) was obtained when 50% of saffron water requirement was supplied. However, the lowest WUEC (WUE based on daughter corms yield) and NUEC (NUE based on daughter corms yield) were obtained when 50% of saffron water requirement was applied. Irrespective of irrigation levels, WUES, WUEC and NUEC increased with increasing the planting density. The results demonstrated that although relatively severe water stress increases WUES and secondary metabolites in saffron stigmas, it could decrease WUEC and NUEC through affecting daughter corm growth.

Can the informal groundwater markets improve water use efficiency and equity? Evidence from a semi-arid region of Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 666 ◽  
pp. 849-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amar Razzaq ◽  
Ping Qing ◽  
Muhammad Asad ur Rehman Naseer ◽  
Muhammad Abid ◽  
Mumtaz Anwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Groundwater Markets ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Strategies for Improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of Field-Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under a Semi-Arid Climate

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Michelon ◽  
Giuseppina Pennisi ◽  
Nang Ohn Myint ◽  
Francesco Orsini ◽  
Giorgio Gianquinto
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Lactuca Sativa ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Lactuca Sativa L ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Levels ◽  
Semi Arid

Water use efficiency is a main research target in agriculture, which consumes 70% of global freshwater. This study aimed at identifying sustainable water management strategies for the lettuce crop in a semi-arid climate. Three independent experiments were carried out on a commercial variety of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by applying different irrigation levels based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), estimated through both the Hargreaves–Samani and Penman–Monteith equations. In the first experiment, one treatment was also guided by soil moisture sensors. In the second and third experiments, a factorial combination was used, combining the different irrigation levels with two soil mulching treatments, namely soil without mulch, and soil mulched with dried rice straw residues. The application of different irrigation levels significantly affected plant growth, yield, and physiology. Both the adoption of sensors for guiding irrigation and the application of mulching with straw promoted higher yield. As the irrigation water level was reduced, the WUE (water use efficiency) increased. WUE was also increased by covering the soil with mulch. The experiments point out that accurate management of irrigation water using a drip irrigation system associated with soil mulching increases yield and improves the WUE of lettuce crops in the Central Dry Zone, Myanmar.

scholarly journals Water use of cowpea under deficit irrigation and cultivation systems in semi-arid region

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-276
Author(s):  
Rômulo M. O. de Freitas ◽  
Jeferson L. D. Dombroski ◽  
Francisco C. L. de Freitas ◽  
Narjara W. Nogueira ◽  
Tiago S. Leite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

ABSTRACT The resilience of crops to drought depends heavily on the cultural practices adopted, which can have a direct effect on water use efficiency. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of irrigation intervals on the growth, water consumption and water use efficiency of cowpea crops (cv. BRS Guariba) under conventional and no-tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, using a split-plot in a randomised complete block design, with four replications. Treatments consisted of two cultivation systems in the whole plots (conventional and no-tillage) and six irrigation intervals in the subplots (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 days) which were applied at full bloom. The biomass of the different parts of the plant, leaf area and leaf area index were assessed at 64 days after sowing (DAS) and grain yield, water consumption and water use efficiency at 70 DAS. No-tillage is a promising cultivation technique for cowpea crops, promoting higher grain yield and water use efficiency under semi-arid conditions. This system allows cowpea cultivation with irrigation intervals of 10 or 14 days, with no or small reduction in yield, respectively.

scholarly journals Precocity, yield and water-use efficiency of banana plants under planting densities and irrigation depths, in semiarid region

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rocha dos Santos ◽  
Sérgio Luiz Rodrigues Donato ◽  
Diogo Barreto Magalhães ◽  
Manoel Pereira Cotrim
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Brazilian Semiarid ◽  
Split Plot ◽  
Irrigation Depth ◽  
Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT Banana is a crop of major importance for the Brazilian semiarid region. However, because of the low availability and irregularities of the rainfall in this area, it is necessary to combine techniques that allow a higher water-use efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different combinations of irrigation depths and planting densities on the precocity, yield and water-use efficiency of BRS Platina banana plants, in the semiarid region of the Bahia state, Brazil. A randomized block design with four replicates was used, in a split-plot arrangement. Irrigation depths of 55 %, 70 %, 85 % and 100 % of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) were assigned to the plot, and the planting densities of 1,600 plants ha-1, 2,000 plants ha-1, 2,666 plants ha-1 and 3,333 plants ha-1 to the split-plot. The hands weight and number of fruits decreased in a linear way with the increase in the planting density (1,600 plants ha-1 to 3,333 plants ha-1) from 10.89 kg to 9.49 kg and from 97.16 to 89.86, respectively; whereas the hands yield (15.5 t ha-1 to 25.79 t ha-1) and the harvest period (442 to 455 days) increased. The number of fruits increased linearly from 89.46 to 98.08 with the irrigation depth of 55 % to 100 % of the ETc. The yield and water-use efficiency increased linearly as the planting density increased (1,600 plants ha-1 to 3,333 plants ha-1) from 5.14 to 8.60, while the water-use efficiency decreased with the irrigation depth from 7.97 to 5.50, conidering 55 % to 100 % of the ETc. It is possible to obtain higher yields and a higher water-use efficiency by using a higher planting density and irrigation levels below 100 % of the ETc.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document