Below-ground Pot-in-Pot (PIP) System and Substrate Moisture Regimen Affect Growth of Two Desert Trees

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 504b-504
Author(s):  
Chris A. Martin ◽  
S. Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Container Wall ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Maximum Root ◽  
Substrate Moisture ◽  
Cercidium Praecox

Acacia smalli (sweet acacia) and Cercidium praecox (palo brea) trees were grown during June–Oct. 1997 outdoors in full sun in 19-L containers positioned either PIP or above ground on the soil surface. The 38-L PIP holder containers were placed in the ground. Cyclic pulses of water were controlled by soil moisture sensors interfaced with electronic solenoid irrigation valves. Rooting substrate water potentials at 20 cm below the substrate surface and 10 cm inside the container wall were consistently maintained at either >–0.01 MPa (wet) or between –0.02 and –0.03 MPa (dry) for both above ground and PIP container substrates. Less than 1.25 cm of rainfall occurred during the study period. No incidences of rooting-out were observed with PIP trees. Maximum root-zone temperatures of PIP containers were 19 °C lower than temperatures measures in substrate of aboveground containers. Growth of both species was stimulated by the wet substrate regimen compared with the dry regimen. Positioning trees in a below-ground PIP configuration under the wet substrate regimen stimulated growth of sweet acacia compared with the PIP dry regimen. The PIP configuration did not affect growth of palo brea trees.

scholarly journals Below Ground Pot-in-Pot Effects on Growth of Two Southwest Landscape Trees was Related to Root Membrane Thermostability

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris A. Martin ◽  
L. Brooke McDowell ◽  
Shiela Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Cercidium Floridum ◽  
Membrane Thermostability ◽  
Substrate Moisture ◽  
Micro Irrigation ◽  
One Year ◽  
Landscape Trees ◽  
Field Plots

Abstract Two southwestern desert landscape trees, Acacia smallii L. (sweet acacia) and Cercidium floridum Benth. ex A. Gray (blue palo verde), were grown outdoors in full sun during Summer 1997 in 19-liter (#5) containers placed either pot-in-pot (PIP) below ground or unshielded in above-ground containers (AGC). Soil moisture sensors wired to electronic solenoid valves regulated occurrence of six cyclic micro-irrigation pulses per day (0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100 HR) such that container substrate moisture tensions were continuously maintained between −0.005 to −0.01 MPa (90% of water holding capacity) in both PIP and AGC. Mean maximum recorded root-zone temperatures in PIP containers were 19C (34F) lower than for AGC. Micro-irrigation volumes were 40% less for trees grown PIP compared with those in AGC. Growth of sweet acacia was enhanced by PIP placement while in containers and one year after transplanting trees into field plots in 1998. Only caliper growth of blue palo verde was increased by PIP placement while in containers, but had no effect on blue palo verde growth one year after transplanting into field plots. The critical killing temperature (TM) for root tissues of sweet acacia and blue palo verde were 45.3 ± 1.8C (113.5 ± 3.2F) and 49.4 ± 0.8C (120.9 ± 1.4F), respectively, indicating differences in root membrane thermostability. Based on our data, we suggest that sweet acacia trees benefitted from PIP placement more than blue palo verde trees because root-zone temperatures in PIP containers were lower than for AGC in central Arizona, and sweet acacia roots were more susceptible to injury by supraoptimal root zone temperatures.

Field scale root zone soil moisture estimation by coupling cosmic-ray neutron sensor with soil moisture sensors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hami Said ◽  
Georg Weltin ◽  
Lee Kheng Heng ◽  
Trenton Franz ◽  
Emil Fulajtar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Field Scale ◽  
Agricultural Water Management ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Major Disadvantage ◽  
Filter Approach

<p>Since it has become clear that climate change is having a major impact on water availability for agriculture and crop productivity, an accurate estimation of field-scale root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) is essential for improved agricultural water management. The Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) has recently been used for field-scale soil moisture (SM) monitoring in large areas and is a credible and robust technique. Like other remote or proximal sensing techniques, the CRNS provides only SM data in the near surface. One of the challenges and needs is to extend the vertical footprint of the CRNS to the root zone of major crops. This can be achieved by coupling the CRNS measurements with conventional methods for soil moisture measurements, which provide information on soil moisture for whole rooting depth.</p><p>The objective of this poster presentation is to estimate field-scale RZSM by correlating the CRNS information with that from soil moisture sensors that provide soil moisture data for the whole root depth. In this study, the Drill and Drop probes which provide continuous profile soil moisture were selected. The RZSM estimate was calculated using an exponential filter approach.</p><p>Winter Wheat cropped fields in Rutzendorf, Marchfeld region (Austria) were instrumented with a CRNS and Drill & Drop probes. An exponential filter approach was applied on the CRNS and Drill and drop sensor data to characterize the RZSM. The preliminary results indicate the ability of the merging framework procedure to improve field-scale RZSM in real-time. This study demonstrated how to combine the advantages of CRNS nuclear technique (especially the large footprint and good representativeness of obtained data) with the advantages of conventional methods (providing data for whole soil profile) and overcome the shortcoming of both methods (the lack of information in the deeper part of soil profile being the major disadvantage of CRNS and the spatial limitation and low representativeness of point data being the major disadvantage of conventional capacitance sensors). This approach can be very helpful for improving agricultural water management.</p>

scholarly journals Optimizing the Positioning of Soil Moisture Monitoring Sensors in Winter Wheat Fields

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1707
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Shen ◽  
Jing Liang ◽  
Ketema Zeleke ◽  
Yueping Liang ◽  
Guangshuai Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Total Average

Collecting accurate real-time soil moisture data in crop root zones is the foundation of automated precision irrigation systems. Soil moisture sensors (SMSs) have been used to monitor soil water content (SWC) in crop fields for a long time; however, there is no generally accepted guideline for determining optimal number and placement of soil moisture sensors in the soil profile. In order to study adequate positioning for the installation of soil moisture sensors in the soil profile, six years of field experiments were carried out in North China Plain (NCP). Soil water content was measured using the gravimetric method every 7 to 10 days during six growing seasons of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L), and root distribution was measured using a soil core method during the key periods of winter wheat growth. The results from the experimental data analysis show that SWC at different depths had a high linear correlation. In addition, the values of correlation coefficients decreased with increasing soil depth; the coefficient of variation (CV) of SWC was higher in the surface layers than in the deeper layers (depths were 0–40 cm, 0–60 cm, and 0–100 cm during the early, middle, and last stages of winter wheat, respectively); wheat roots were mainly distributed in the surface layer. According to an analysis of CV for SWC and root distribution, the depths of planned wetted layers were determined to be 0–40 cm, 0–60 cm, and 0–100 cm during the sowing to reviving stages (the early stage of winter wheat), returning green and jointing stages (the middle stage of winter wheat), and heading to maturity stage (the last stage of winter wheat), respectively. The correlation and R-cluster analyses of SWC at different layers in the soil profile showed that SMSs should be installed 10 and 30 cm below the soil surface during the winter wheat growing season. The linear regression model can be built using SWC at depths of 10 and 30 cm to predict total average SWC in the soil profile. The results of validation showed that the developed model provided reliable estimates of total average SWC in the planned wetted layer. In brief, this study suggests that suitable positioning of soil moisture sensors is at depths of 10 and 30 cm below the soil surface.

scholarly journals Irrigation Scheduling Using Soil Moisture Sensors

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors

Irrigation is required to ensure crop production. Practical methods of use sensors to determine soil water status are needed in irrigation scheduling. Soil moisture sensors were evaluated and used for irrigation scheduling in humid region of the Mid-South US. Soil moisture sensors were installed in soil at depths of 15 cm, 30 cm, and 61 cm belowground. Soil volumetric water content was automatically measured by the sensors in a time interval of an hour during the crop growing season. Soil moisture data were wirelessly transferred onto internet through a wireless sensor network (WSN) so that the data could be remotely accessed online. Soil water content measured at the three depths were interpreted using a weighted average method to reflect the status of soil water in plant root zone. A threshold to trigger an irrigation event was determined with sensor-measured soil water content. An antenna mounting device was developed for operation of the WSN. Using the antenna mounting device, the soil moisture measurement was not be interrupted by crop field management practices.

scholarly journals Monitoring and Management of Pecan Orchard Irrigation: A Case Study

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery C. Kallestad ◽  
Theodore W. Sammis ◽  
John G. Mexal ◽  
John White
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Graphical Analysis ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors ◽  
Scheduling Model ◽  
Inflection Points ◽  
Moisture Extraction ◽  
Use Of Internet

Optimal pecan (Carya illinoiensis) production in the southwestern United States requires 1.9 to 2.5 m of irrigation per year depending on soil type. For many growers, scheduling flood irrigation is an inexact science. However, with more growers using computers in their businesses, and with soil moisture sensors and computerized data-collection devices becoming more inexpensive and accessible, there is potential to improve irrigation and water use efficiencies. In this project two low-cost soil monitoring instruments were introduced to a group of pecan producers. They were also given instruction on the use of Internet-based irrigation scheduling resources, and assistance in utilizing all of these tools to improve their irrigation scheduling and possibly yield. The objectives were to determine whether the technology would be adopted by the growers and to assess the performance of the sensors at the end of the season. Three out of the five growers in the project indicated they used either the granular matrix (GM) sensors or tensiometer to schedule irrigations, but compared to the climate-based irrigation scheduling model, all growers tended to irrigate later than the model's recommendation. Graphical analysis of time-series soil moisture content measured with the GM sensors showed a decrease in the rate of soil moisture extraction coincident with the model's recommended irrigation dates. These inflection points indicated the depletion of readily available soil moisture in the root zone. The findings support the accuracy of the climate-based model, and suggest that the model may be used to calibrate the sensors. Four of the five growers expressed interest in continued use of the tensiometer, but only one expressed a desire to use the GM sensor in the future. None of the participants expressed interest in using the climate-based irrigation scheduling model.

scholarly journals Analysis of surface and root-zone soil moisture dynamics with ERS scatterometer and the hydrometeorological model SAFRAN-ISBA-MODCOU at Grand Morin watershed (France)

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1415-1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Paris Anguela ◽  
M. Zribi ◽  
S. Hasenauer ◽  
F. Habets ◽  
C. Loumagne
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Model Verification ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Soil Moisture Dynamics ◽  
Moisture Dynamics

Abstract. Spatial and temporal variations of soil moisture strongly affect flooding, erosion, solute transport and vegetation productivity. Its characterization, offers an avenue to improve our understanding of complex land surface-atmosphere interactions. In this paper, soil moisture dynamics at soil surface (first centimeters) and root-zone (up to 1.5 m depth) are investigated at three spatial scales: local scale (field measurements), 8×8 km2 (hydrological model) and 25×25 km2 scale (ERS scatterometer) in a French watershed. This study points out the quality of surface and root-zone soil moisture data for SIM model and ERS scatterometer for a three year period. Surface soil moisture is highly variable because is more influenced by atmospheric conditions (rain, wind and solar radiation), and presents RMSE up to 0.08 m3 m−3. On the other hand, root-zone moisture presents lower variability with small RMSE (between 0.02 and 0.06 m3 m−3). These results will contribute to satellite and model verification of moisture, but also to better application of radar data for data assimilation in future.

Influence of Soil Moisture on the Safening Effect of CGA-43089 in Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Weed Science ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Ketchersid ◽  
K. Norton ◽  
M. G. Merkle
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Growth Chamber ◽  
Moist Soil

Field and growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine the effects of surface soil moisture on the phytotoxicity of alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] and metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] to grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench. ‘Funk 623 GBR’], which was unprotected or protected with CGA-43089 {α-[(cyanomethoxy)imino] benzeneacetonitrile}. In field tests, neither alachlor nor metolachlor was phytotoxic to unprotected grain sorghum when the surface soil remained dry until the sorghum had emerged. CGA-43089 protected sorghum emerging from moist soil that had been treated with alachlor or metolachlor at rates of 2.24 or 3.36 kg/ha. Growth chamber tests showed that CGA-43089 was less effective in protecting sorghum from herbicide injury when Ships clay was continuously wet [110% field capacity (FC)] from time of planting to emergence (3 to 5 days) than when soil was wet for only 1 or 2 days prior to emergence. In contrast, if the surface soil remained dry until the coleoptile reached the soil surface, alachlor and metolachlor had little effect on sorghum even when no protectant was present. When sorghum was planted in Arenosa sand containing 5% organic matter, protected sorghum grew as well as the control even under continuous high moisture conditions. Metolachlor incorporated into the root zone at a rate of 20 ppm had no effect on either protected or unprotected sorghum. Alachlor and metolachlor were most phytotoxic when placed in the surface 1.25 cm of moist soil or when incorporated. The coleoptile was the most susceptible plant part. Thus, the key to grain sorghum response to these herbicides was in herbicide placement and availability to the coleoptile. Under conditions normally leading to phytotoxic effects from alachlor or metolachlor, grain sorghum growth was significantly better from seed protected with CGA-43089 than from unprotected seed.

Effect of irrigation on soil oxygen status and root and shoot growth of wheat in a clay soil

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
WS Meyer ◽  
HD Barrs ◽  
RCG Smith ◽  
NS White ◽  
AD Heritage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Soil Oxygen ◽  
Maximum Root ◽  
And Control

Two watering treatments (flood and control) were applied to undisturbed (bulk density �? 1.6 mg mm-3 ) and repacked �? 1.2 mg mm-3 ) cylinders of Marah clay loam. The cylinders (0.75 m o.d. by 1.4 m deep) were housed in a lysimeter facility. Wheat (cv. Egret) was grown in the cylinders and the soil was either kept well watered with frequent small amounts of water (control treatment) or subjected to three separate periods, ranging from 4 to 72 h, of surface inundation (flood treatment). The greater pore space and better drainage of the repacked soil ensured that its average level of soil oxygen (O2) was about three times that of the undisturbed soil. Nevertheless, inundation of the soil surface for either 48 or 72 h rapidly decreased soil O2 levels in both soils. Root growth in these soils appeared to be slowed when soil O2 levels became less than 15% of the maximum that would occur in dry, aerated soil. Root growth ceased in both repacked and undisturbed soil cores after a 48-h flooding, when the soil O2 status was probably < 10% of the maximum. Root growth was greatest in the repacked soil with controlled water additions. The ranking of treatments, by either root intercept counts or O2 status, were the same. Leaf and stem growth were not very sensitive to the root zone conditions, but this may have been due to the advanced stage of plant growth when the treatments were applied and to the generally low nitrogen status of all treatment plants. There was a 44% reduction in yield from the best to the worst aerated soil treatment. The data show that if soil O2 levels become low as the result of flooding, root growth of wheat will stop and grain yield will be substantially decreased. Greatly improved aeration of these fine-textured soils is only possible if both the internal drainage properties of the soil are improved and prolonged periods of surface inundation are avoided.

scholarly journals Designing Low-Cost Capacitive-Based Soil Moisture Sensor and Smart Monitoring Unit Operated by Solar Cells for Greenhouse Irrigation Management

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5387
Author(s):  
Abdelaziz M. Okasha ◽  
Hasnaa G. Ibrahim ◽  
Adel H. Elmetwalli ◽  
Khaled Mohamed Khedher ◽  
Zaher Mundher Yaseen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Moisture Sensor ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensor ◽  
Soil Moisture Sensors

Precise and quick estimates of soil moisture content for the purpose of irrigation scheduling are fundamentally important. They can be accomplished through the continuous monitoring of moisture content in the root zone area, which can be accomplished through automatic soil moisture sensors. Commercial soil moisture sensors are still expensive to be used by famers, particularly in developing countries, such as Egypt. This research aimed to design and calibrate a locally manufactured low-cost soil moisture sensor attached to a smart monitoring unit operated by Solar Photo Voltaic Cells (SPVC). The designed sensor was evaluated on clay textured soils in both lab and controlled greenhouse environments. The calibration results demonstrated a strong correlation between sensor readings and soil volumetric water content (θV). Higher soil moisture content was associated with decreased sensor output voltage with an average determination coefficient (R2) of 0.967 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.014. A sensor-to-sensor variability test was performed yielding a 0.045 coefficient of variation. The results obtained from the real conditions demonstrated that the monitoring system for real-time sensing of soil moisture and environmental conditions inside the greenhouse could be a robust, accurate, and cost-effective tool for irrigation management.

ВОДНЫЙ РЕЖИМ ОРОШАЕМЫХ СОЛОНЦОВЫХ КОМПЛЕКСНЫХ ПОЧВ И ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЕГО РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЯ

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valery Yashin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Irrigation Methods ◽  
Salt Flats

Представлены материалы исследований формирования режима влажности и динамики грунтовых вод орошаемых солонцовых комплексных почв при различных способах полива, проведенные в Волгоградском Заволжье. Установлена значительная неравномерность распределения влажности почвы при поливах дождеванием. Отмечается поверхностный сток по микрорельефу до 30% от поливной нормы, что приводит к недостаточности увлажнения корневой зоны на солонцах и переувлажнению почв в понижениях микрорельефа и потере оросительной воды на инфильтрационное питание грунтовых вод.The article presents the materials of research on the formation of the humidity regime and dynamics of ground water of irrigated saline complex soils under various irrigation methods, conducted in the Volgograd Zavolzhye. A significant unevenness in the distribution of soil moisture during irrigation with sprinkling has been established. There is a surface runoff on the microrelief of up to 30% of the irrigation norm, which leads to insufficient moisture of the root zone on the salt flats and waterlogging of the soil in the microrelief depressions and loss of irrigation water for infiltration feed of ground water.

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