scholarly journals Biodegradable mulch controls weeds and increases water use efficiency in lettuce crops

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-334
Author(s):  
Agnaldo Roberto de J Freitas ◽  
Francisco Claudio L de Freitas ◽  
Caetano Marciano de Souza ◽  
Fabio T Delazari ◽  
Paulo Geraldo Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Polyethylene Film ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Biodegradable Mulch ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Weed Removal

ABSTRACT Vegetable cultivation requires high water use and weed control. Soil cover using recycled paper, can be an alternative to polyethylene film to reduce weed incidence, soil temperature and increase water use efficiency beyond reduces costs and environmental pollutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of biodegradable mulch in weed management and water use efficiency (WUE) in lettuce crop. The treatments were composed of brown recycled paper (RP), black polyethylene film (PF) and soil without cover with weed removal (WR) and without weed removal (WW). RP and PF were efficient to control weeds. The soil temperature with RP was 8.2 and 2.1ºC lower than with PF and WR, respectively. The lettuce yield with RP was 14.5 and 28.3% higher than WR, and with PF, respectively. The water volume applied with RP was 26.5% lower, and WUE was 55.6% higher compared to WR. Soil cover with recycled paper controlled weeds, reduced soil temperature and water consumption and increased yield and water use efficiency in lettuce crop.

Mulching materials improve soil properties and maize growth in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Li ◽  
Xianqing Hou ◽  
Zhikuan Jia ◽  
Qingfang Han
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Polymer Film ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Biodegradable Polymer ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Polyethylene Film ◽  
Use Efficiency

Water deficiency is the main limiting factor for crop growth in rain-fed areas. Mulching can affect the soil microclimate (soil water and temperature) and influence the grain yield of crops. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different mulching materials on soil temperature, soil water, crop growth and yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) in spring maize (Zea mays L.) between 2009 and 2011 in Heyang County, Shaanxi, China. The field experiment used five mulch treatments: polyethylene film (PM), biodegradable polymer film (BM), maize straw (MM), liquid membrane (LM), and an uncovered control (CK). In the early stage of maize growth, the topsoil temperatures (0–10cm) in the PM and BM treatments were significantly (P<0.05) higher than CK, whereas the soil temperature in the MM treatment was significantly (P<0.05) lower than CK. The PM, BM, and MM treatments also significantly increased soil water during the early growth stage. However, soil water (0–200cm) in the PM and BM treatments was lower than in the CK treatment during the middle and later growth stages. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in soil temperature or soil water in the LM treatment during the entire growing season. Maize yield increased significantly (P<0.05) in both the PM and BM treatments by 26.1% and 27.5% during the experimental period compared to the CK treatment. Water use efficiency also significantly increased in these two treatments by 25.1% and 27.6%. These results show that both PM and BM had significant effects on soil temperature, water conservation and maize yield, but no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed between these two treatments. Biodegradable polymer film is useful in reducing environmental pollution caused by polyethylene film and could potentially replace polyethylene film during agricultural production in the Northwestern Loess Plateau, China.

scholarly journals Mulching materials and wetted soil percentages on zucchini cultivation

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Henrique da Silva ◽  
Fernando França da Cunha ◽  
Caio Vieira de Morais ◽  
Agnaldo Roberto de Jesus Freitas ◽  
Derly José Henriques da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Thermal Amplitude ◽  
Biodegradable Mulch ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Polyethylene Mulch

ABSTRACT Polyethylene mulch can cause serious problems in the environment. A promising alternative to polyethylene mulch is biodegradable mulch. Therefore, a two-year experiment was carried out with zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) during the cropping seasons of 2017 and 2018 in Southeast Brazil to investigate the effects of four soil mulching treatments (white polyethylene mulch: WP, black polyethylene mulch: BP, biodegradable mulch of brown recycled paper: RP and nonmulched: NM) and two wetted soil percentages (50 and 70% of the soil surface) using a randomized block design with five repetitions. The average water consumption of the zucchini was 157 mm in the WP treatment, 155 mm in the BP treatment, 155 mm in the WP treatment and 215 mm in the NM treatment. The yield was higher in the WP (78.1 ton ha-1) and BP (69.1 ton ha-1) treatments than in the RP (66.6 ton ha-1) or NM (52.4 ton ha-1) treatments. The daily thermal amplitude was lowest in the RP treatment (3.6-6.0 °C) and highest in the BP treatment (7.3-9.0 °C). The lower wetted soil percentage (50%) reduced water consumption (by 5-7%) and improved water-use efficiency (by 11%). Weeds, including Cyperus roduntus, were more efficiently controlled in the RP treatment than in the WP and BP treatments. In general, compared to the nonmulched treatment, mulches were effective in reducing weed infestation (95%), increasing yield (36%) and improving water-use efficiency (94%). RP, as an alternative to polyethylene mulch, can save water and control weeds in zucchini crops. These results represent useful information that extends the mulching options for technicians and farmers.

scholarly journals Effect of Cropping System under Tillage and Mulching on Soil Physical Properties and Water Use Efficiency by Maize (Zea mays L.) in Southern Benin

2020 ◽  
pp. 8-22
Author(s):  
Alladassi Félix Kouelo ◽  
Mahugnon Socrate Agonvinon ◽  
Julien Avakoudjo ◽  
Tobi Moriaque Akplo ◽  
Pascal Houngnandan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Southern Benin

In agriculture, water has become a limiting factor because of the effects of climate change felt by farmers. This situation seriously compromises agricultural production through pockets of drought, delayed and early cessation of rains and then an increase in the length of the dry season. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effect of tillage and vegetative mulch on soil physical properties and maize water use efficiency in ferralitic soil of southern Benin. Study Design: The Factorial Complete Randomized Block Design with 4 repetitions was implemented. Place and Duration of Study: The experimental site is located at Allada, in southern Benin, and conducted between May 2017 and July 2017. Methodology: Tillage (No-tillage, flat tillage) and straw mulch rate (0%, 50%, 75% soil cover) and their interaction was been tested during this study. The physical properties of soil and maize water use efficiency were determined. Results: Tillage significantly reduced soil temperature by 2.65% and improved soil permeability by 60%. Tillage also significantly improved water use efficiency for maize grain from 3.88 to 7.88 kg.mm-1.ha-1 and for maize biomass from 12.67to 23.31 kg.mm-1.ha-1. Mulching significantly improved soil moisture from 11.54% to 13.13%, water use efficiency for maize grain from 4.26 to 7.58kg.mm-1.ha-1 and for maize biomass from 14.50 to 22.05 kg.mm-1.ha-1. Mulching also significantly reduced soil temperature by 11%. The combination of tillage and mulching significantly improved water use efficiency for maize grain and biomass production. The highest water use efficiency (8.87 kg.mm-1.ha-1 for maize grain and 25.17 kg.mm-1.ha-1 for maize biomass) was achieved with tillage combined with mulching at 75% soil cover. The interaction between these two factors significantly reduced soil temperature by 11.30% (tillage combined with mulch at 75% soil cover) compared to control (no-tillage and no-mulch). Conclusion: This study showed that tillage and mulching at 50% or 75% soil cover improves soil physical properties and water use efficiency for maize production in the context of climate change.

scholarly journals Yield, Nitrogen Uptake and Nitrogen Leaching of Sensor-Based Fertigation-Cultured Tomato in a Shallow Groundwater Region: Effect of Shallow Groundwater on Tomato Irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Jinji Zhang ◽  
Zhuangzhuang Cao ◽  
Haibo Dai ◽  
Zhiping Zhang ◽  
Minmin Miao
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
Use Efficiency

Fertigation with surface drip has been introduced and broadly applied for vegetable cultivation in the Eastern China, which presents high precipitation and always has shallow groundwater. To estimate the influence of high groundwater level on the tomato nitrogen (N) and water use efficiency and develop new sensor-based fertigation technology, experiments were executed in plastic greenhouse in the experimental farm of Yangzhou University located in the suburban of Yangzhou city during 2016-2017 growing seasons using a block randomization with three replications. Three N dosages and 4 watering treatments were carried out in this experiment. The data indicated that irrigation threshold of -35 kPa was optimum to get the maximum production of tomato. In this treatment, the value of estimated plant evapotranspiration (ETc) was much higher than total applied water volume, suggesting high groundwater table had a significant contribution on the tomato ETc and a sensor-based irrigation strategy should be more accurate than the simulated ETc irrigation method to calculate the water demand under this condition. In addition, our results indicated that high groundwater level had a positive effect to alleviating N leaching. Finally, we can conclude that fertigation technology enhanced the N use efficiency (NUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) and three fourths of the calculated N dosage (according to a traditional nutrient equation) was sufficient to optimize tomato yield.

AGRONOMIC AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PERMANENT RAISED BEDS, NO TILLAGE AND STRAW MULCHING FOR AN IRRIGATED MAIZE-WHEAT SYSTEM IN NORTHWEST INDIA

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
HARI RAM ◽  
YADVINDER SINGH ◽  
K. S. SAINI ◽  
D. S. KLER ◽  
J. TIMSINA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Straw Mulch ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Northwest India

SUMMARYNo-tillage and raised beds are widely used for different crops in developed countries. A field experiment was conducted on an irrigated maize-wheat system to study the effect of field layout, tillage and straw mulch on crop performance, water use efficiency and economics for five years (2003–2008) in northwest India. Straw mulch reduced the maximum soil temperature at seed depth by about 3 °C compared to the no mulch. During the wheat emergence, raised beds recorded 1.3 °C higher soil temperature compared to the flat treatments. Both maize and wheat yields were similar under different treatments during all the years. Maize and wheat planted on raised beds recorded about 7.8% and 22.7% higher water use efficiency than under flat layout, respectively. Straw mulch showed no effect on water use and water use efficiency in maize. The net returns from the maize-wheat system were more in no tillage and permanent raised beds than with conventional tillage. Bulk density and cumulative infiltration were more in no tillage compared with conventional tillage.

scholarly journals Optimized Regulated Deficit Irrigation Management for Watermelon Cultivation in a Semiarid Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Kelly Nascimento Leite ◽  
Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho ◽  
Jose Maria Tarjuelo Martin- Benito ◽  
Geocleber Gomes de Sousa ◽  
Alfonso Dominguez Padilla
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Regulated Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Use Efficiency

The present study aimed to validate the MOPECO crop simulation model and to determine a viable irrigation management for watermelon in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, using methodologies of optimized regulated deficit irrigation (ORDI) and constant deficit irrigation (CDI). The experiment was carried out during October to December 2013 and the second one from July to August 2014 in plots of land of producers in the Baixo Acaraú Irrigated Perimeter – Ceará, Brazil. Treatments were characterized by ORDI management (70, 80, 90% ETa/ETm ratio) and CDI management along the entire cycle (70, 80 and 90% ETm) and control treatment, irrigated with 100% of the water requirement of the crop (ETm). In terms of saving of water resources, the results showed that management with regulated deficit irrigation leads to favorable and economically viable results for the farmer, of water saving, especially in a situation of severe water scarcity, irrigation management with regulated water deficit (ORDI) can provide favorable and economically viable results for the farmer. The highest value of WUE (41.8 kg m-3) was obtained with the treatment of lowest water volume applied (352.1 L) in the second experiment, decreasing with the increase in the water volume used. The ORDI methodology represents a better water use efficiency for all treatments of deficit applied compared to CDI treatments. The difference of ORDI and CDI methodology provided an increase of up to 200% in the gross margin obtained with the exploration of the watermelon culture which represents a range of R$ 986.00 in profit in a situation of water scarcity, as in the case of the studied region, the strategy with water supply of 70% of ETa/ETm ratio regulated by phenological stage was recommended in order to obtain highest water use efficiency.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Effect of Mulch Film on Crops in the Arid Agricultural Region of China under Future Climate Scenarios

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1819
Author(s):  
Lu Deng ◽  
Xianyong Meng ◽  
Ruide Yu ◽  
Qian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Dndc Model ◽  
Mulch Film ◽  
Biodegradable Mulch ◽  
Biomass Yields ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Mulch Films

Plastic mulch film is widely used in agricultural production. However, there are very few studies on degradable mulch film. In order to investigate the effects of using degradable mulch film in arid regions on crop yield and water use efficiency, we used fully biodegradable mulch films on both maize and bare land cultivation experimental areas. The DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to analyze changes in maize biomass in the future under different climate scenario models. We found that using fully biodegradable mulch film in an arid region had a positive effect on biomass yields. In 2015–2017, the annual maize biomass yield increased by 24.5%, 28.9%, and 32.9%, respectively. Hence, this method has expansion and promotion value. A comparison of the DNDC model simulated biomass yields and actual measured values found that the ranges of R2, root mean square error (RMSE), and model efficiency (ME) were 0.98–0.99, 0.38–0.86 mg C ha−1, and 0.80–0.98. This result shows that the DNDC model can accurately simulate changes in maize biomass in this region. Under the premise of a good model fit, future climate scenario model data were used to drive the DNDC model. The results showed that the possible range of maize biomass yields in the future is −6.5% to 10.3%, with the most probable range being 0.2–1.5%. Using future climatic conditions, our work suggests that degradable mulch films can increase water use efficiency by an average of 9.5%. The results of this study can be used to promote the use of degradable mulch films in arid regions, significantly improving sustainable agricultural development.

scholarly journals Co2 and irrigation in relation to yield and water use of the bell pepper crop

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fátima Conceição Rezende ◽  
José Antonio Frizzone ◽  
Ricardo Ferraz de Oliveira ◽  
Anderson Soares Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fresh Fruit ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Fruit Mass

Greenhouse production of vegetables is widely used throughout the world. Elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in these closed environments can increase net photosynthesis and yield. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment and water supply on the growth of potted bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants, cultivated under controlled environmental conditions. CO2 was applied daily, and its distribution was monitored above plant rows through micro pipes located at 3.0 m height. A drip irrigation system with one dripper per plant was used to irrigate the plants. Different volumes of irrigation water, representing fractions of the water volume (Vet) consumed by pot plants growing under no water stress conditions (0.5Vet, 0.65Vet, 1.0Vet, and 1.35Vet) with four replications, were evaluated under four different CO2 levels (atmospheric concentration of 367, 600, 800, and 1000 mumol mol-1). Total fresh fruit mass, average number of fruits, and water use efficiency were recorded. For the water deficit treatments, the greatest fresh fruit mass was obtained for the highest CO2 level environment. However, for treatments that received water volumes equal or greater than the evapotranspiration rate, the greatest total fresh fruit mass was observed at the 600 mumol mol-1 of CO2 environment. The yield increase due to CO2 was represented by increase in fruit weight and not in fruit number. Water use efficiency increased in relation to the amount of water applied and it was highest at 600 mumol mol-1 CO2 concentration.

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