Improvement of the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Eggplant by Using Subsurface Water Retention Technology

Sustainable crop production in a coarse soil texture is challenging due to high water permeability and low soil water holding capacity. In this paper, subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) through impermeable polyethylene membranes was placed at depth 35 cm below ground surface and within the root zone to evaluate and compare the impact of these membranes and control treatment (without using the membranes) on yield and water use efficiency of eggplant inside the greenhouse. The study was conducted in Al-Fahamah Township, Baghdad, Iraq during spring growing season 2017. Results demonstrated the yield and water use efficiencies were 3.483 kg/m2 and 5.653 kg/m3, respectively for SWRT treatment plot and 3.286 kg/m2 and 3.709 kg/m3, respectively for treatment without using SWRT. The increasing percentages for yield and water use efficiency were 6% and 52%, respectively. Additionally, saving in irrigation water in the SWRT membrane was about 44% of the total applied depth comparing with the control treatment.

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Improving Water Use Efficiency and Water Productivity for Okra Crop by using Subsurface Water Retention Technology

Journal of Engineering ◽

10.31026/j.eng.2018.07.05 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sabah Anwer Almasraf ◽

Ali Hassan Hommadi

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Retention ◽

Root Zone ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Research Work ◽

Subsurface Water ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Use Efficiency

Utilizing the modern technologies in agriculture such as subsurface water retention techniques were developed to improve water storage capacities in the root zone depth. Moreover, this technique was maximizing the reduction in irrigation losses and increasing the water use efficiency. In this paper, a polyethylene membrane was installed within the root zone of okra crop through the spring growing season 2017 inside the greenhouse to improve water use efficiency and water productivity of okra crop. The research work was conducted in the field located in the north of Babylon Governorate in Sadat Al Hindiya Township seventy-eight kilometers from Baghdad city. Three treatments plots were used for the comparison using surface trickle irrigation system: Polyethylene sheet (SWRT) was used in plot T1, controlled irrigation in plot T2 and uncontrolled irrigation in plot T3. Irrigation quantities, time of irrigation, soil water contents were measured for all treatments plots. The results indicated that water use efficiency for the three experimental plots, T1, T2, and T3 were: 2.43, 1.94 and 0.98 kg/m3, respectively. The increasing value in water use efficiency of T1 plot compared with T2 and T3 plots were 25 and 148 %, respectively. Additionally, the water productivity of okra crop for T1, T2, and T3 plots was: 12800.9, 8744.8, and 4736.3 ID/m3, respectively. The increasing value of the water productivity of T1 compared with plots T2 and T3 was 46 and 170 %, respectively. From this study, the benefit of using membrane sheet below the soil surface resulted in an increase in the value of yield, water use efficiency and water productivity. Moreover, saving water and reduced the water losses by deep percolation were resulted.

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Subsurface Water Retention a Technology for Increasing the Field Use Efficiency and Water Saving Values of Cucumber Plant

Journal of Engineering ◽

10.31026/j.eng.2019.09.5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 54-61

Author(s):

Fatima Sadoon Mushab ◽

Sabah Anwer Almasaf

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Water Retention ◽

Root Zone ◽

Subsurface Water ◽

Cucumber Plant ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Use Efficiency

The technology of subsurface soil water retention (SWRT) uses a polyethylene ‎trough that is fixed under the root zone of the plant. It is a modern technology to increase the values of water ‎use efficiency, plant productivity and saving irrigation water by applying as little irrigation water ‎as possible. This study work aims at improving the crop yield and water use efficiency of a cucumber plant with less applied irrigation water by installing membrane trough below the soil surface. The field experiment was conducted in the Hawr Rajab District of ‎Baghdad Governorate in Winter 2018 for testing various trickle irrigation ‎systems. Two agricultural ‎treatment plots were utilized in a greenhouse for the comparison. Plot T1 has used ‎a subsurface trickle irrigation together with membrane trough. Plot T2 has used only ‎surface trickle irrigation system without using SWRT. The total area of the plots T1and T2 was 13.2 ‎m2 and 6.66 m2, respectively. The obtained results of the study confirmed that the plot T1 satisfies values greater than plot ‎T2 in terms of crop yield, field water use efficiency and in saving the applied irrigation water. The increase rate of field water use efficiency and crop yield in plot T1 compared with plot T2 was 103 %, ‎and 24 %, respectively. Additionally, the increase rate in saving the applied irrigation water ‎in plot T1 comparing with plot T2 was 64 %. The installation of the membrane trough below the plant’s root zone together with subsurface trickle irrigation system assisted in keeping the water, nutrients, and fertilizers during the root zone profile, improving the field water use efficiency and then the parameter of water productivity. ‎ Subsurface trickle irrigation, subsurface water retention technology, yield, ‎water use efficiency.

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Improvement of Economic Water Productivity of Cucumber by using Soil Water Retention Technology under Subsurface Trickle Irrigation System

Association of Arab Universities Journal of Engineering Sciences ◽

10.33261/jaaru.2019.26.3.008 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 68-72

Author(s):

Fatima Sadoon Mushab ◽

Sabah Anwer Almasraf

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Retention ◽

Root Zone ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Trickle Irrigation ◽

Soil Water Retention ◽

Use Efficiency

Subsurface soil water retention (SWRT) is a recent technology for increasing the crop yield, water use efficiency and then the water productivity with less amount of applied water. The goal of this research was to evaluate the existing of SWRT with the influence of surface and subsurface trickle irrigation on economic water productivity of cucumber crop. Field study was carried out at the Hawr Rajab district of Baghdad governorate from October 1st, to December 31st, 2017. Three experimental treatments were used, treatment plot T1 using SWRT with subsurface trickle irrigation, plot T2 using SWRT with surface trickle irrigation, while plot T3 without using SWRT and using surface tickle irrigation system. The obtained results showed that the economic water productivity in plot T1 was greater than plots T2 and T3. The increasing value was about 65 % and 124 %, respectively. The benefit of the installing SWRT along with subsurface trickle irrigation in the crop root zone assisted to keep the water, nutrients and fertilizers during the root zone profile, improving the field water use efficiency and then the parameter of water productivity.

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Foliar application of triacontanol ameliorates heat stress through regulation of the antioxidant defense system and improves yield of eggplant

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.253696 ◽

2024 ◽

Vol 84 ◽

Author(s):

H. Faiz ◽

O. Khan ◽

I. Ali ◽

T. Hussain ◽

S. T. Haider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Foliar Application ◽

Block Design ◽

Solanum Melongena ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Impact

Abstract Transplanting time and genotype contribute to improving crop yield and quality of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of foliar applied of triacontanol (TRIA) and eggplant genotypes 25919, Nirala, 28389 and Pak-10927,transplanted on 1 March,15 March, and 1 April on exposure to high air temperature conditions. The experiment was performed according to Randomized Complete Block Design and the data was analyzed by using Tuckey,s test . The TRIA was applied at 10µM at flowering stage; distilled water was used as the control. Rate of photosynthesis and transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and effects on antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) were evaluated. The 10µM TRIA increased photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency and yield was improved in all genotypes transplanted at the different dates. Foliar application of 10µM TRIA increased antioxidative enzyme activities (SOD, POD & CAT) and improved physiological as well as biochemical attributes of eggplant genotypes exposed to high heat conditions. Highest activity of dismutase enzyme 5.41mg/1g FW was recorded in Nirala genotype in second transplantation. Whereas, lowest was noted in PAK-10927 (2.30mg/g FW). Maximum fruit yield was found in accession 25919 (1.725kg per plant) at 1st transplantation with Triacontanol, whereas accession PAK-10927 gave the lowest yield (0.285 kg per plant) at control treatment on 3rd transplantation. Genotype, transplanting date and application of TRIA improved growth, yield and quality attributes under of heat stress in eggplant.

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Effect of Colored Shading Nets on the Growth and Water Use Efficiency of Sweet Pepper Grown under Semi-arid Conditions

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04895-21 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 21-27

Author(s):

Osama Mohawesh ◽

Ammar Albalasmeh ◽

Sanjit Deb ◽

Sukhbir Singh ◽

Catherine Simpson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Sweet Pepper ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

The Impact ◽

Semi Arid

Colored shading nets have been increasingly studied in semi-arid crop production systems, primarily because of their ability to reduce solar radiation with the attendant reductions in air, plant, and soil temperatures. However, there is a paucity of research concerning the impact of colored shading nets on various crops grown under semi-arid environments, particularly the sweet pepper (Capsicum annum) production system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of three colored shading net treatments (i.e., white, green, and black shading nets with 50% shading intensity and control with unshaded conditions) on the growth and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE) of sweet pepper. The results showed that all colored shading nets exhibited significantly lower daytime air temperatures and light intensity (22 to 28 °C and 9992 lx, respectively) compared with the control (32 to 37 °C and 24,973 lx, respectively). There were significant differences in sweet pepper growth performance among treatments, including plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, and vitamin C in ripened fruit. The enhanced photosynthetic rates were observed in sweet pepper plants under the colored shading nets compared with control plants. WUE increased among the colored shading net treatments in the following order: control ≤ white < black < green. Overall, the application of green and black shading nets to sweet pepper production systems under semi-arid environments significantly enhanced plant growth responses and WUE.

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Increasing the Productivity and Efficiency of Water Use by Reserving Water

International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics ◽

10.18280/ijdne.160208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 185-189

Author(s):

Ali Hassan Hommadi ◽

Wisam Abdulabbas Abidalla ◽

Ahmed Sami Naser

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Production ◽

Root Zone ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Free Field ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Water Losses ◽

Irrigation Period ◽

Use Efficiency

One use of technology in agriculture involves setting up a reserving sheet for subsurface moisture under the root zone of wheat crops, which is symbolized by SWRT, to conserve the water in the root zone. This reduces the field water losses by raising the efficiency of water use (WUE) and economical water productivity (EWP). For this study, an SWRT membrane sheet was put under the root zone of wheat crops throughout the growing season, from the winter of November 2019 to the end of the season in April 2020, in a free field. The study was conducted on a private farm located in the province of Babylon in Sadat Al-Hindya Town, which is approximately 70 km from the capital (Baghdad). Surface irrigation was utilized for the irrigation of the wheat crops. Two methods were used: method A1 utilized the SWRT sheet and method A2 was conducted without the SWRT sheet. The irrigation water supply, irrigation period, and soil water content before and after irrigation were computed and recorded every day for the A1 and A2 methods. The values of wheat crop production (yield), water use efficiency, and economical water productivity from the two plots were computed and compared. The results obtained for water use efficiency for the two methods, A1 and A2, were 0.51 and 0.47 kg/m3, respectively. The increment in yield of plot A1 compared with plot A2 was 6.45%. The increment in WUE of plot A1 compared with plot A2 was 8.55%. In addition, the WP of the wheat crop for plots A1 and A2 were 144.44 and 119.16 ID/m3, respectively, while the increment in WP of plot A1 compared with plot A2 was 21.21%. The findings show that the SWRT method prevents the environmental effects of pesticide and fertilizers that enter the groundwater and pollute it. This technology assists in saving water and plant nutrients, and prevents pollution of the groundwater from pesticides and excess fertiliser.

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Evaluating Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of African and Commercial Ginger Species in South Africa

Water ◽

10.3390/w11030548 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 548 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Auges Gatabazi ◽

Diana Marais ◽

Martin J. Steyn ◽

Hintsa T. Araya ◽

Motiki M. Mofokeng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Plant Species ◽

Water Use ◽

Root Zone ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Wild Plant ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Number Of Stems ◽

The Impact

Ginger species play an important economic role as medicinal plants, food flavourings, and dietary supplements. Products from ginger, including oil and fresh and dried rhizomes can be used to treat malaria, asthma, headaches, and act as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. The cultivation of wild plant species can alleviate the pressure from harvesting from the wild. Under cultivation, the major constraints on crop yield and quality are water availability and plant nutrition. Therefore, the impact of water stress on commercial and African ginger was assessed in the rain shelter study. Irrigation treatments were based on the maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of plant available water in the root zone (T1: 20–25% MAD, the control; T2: 40–45% MAD; T3: 60–65% MAD; T4: 80–85% MAD). As water stress decreased, the plant height and number of stems per plant of both plant species were positively affected. The number of open stomata was higher for well-watered and less stressed treatments in both ginger species. Higher fresh and dry rhizome yields were recorded for commercial ginger at all water treatments as compared to those from African ginger. In general, water use efficiency (WUE) of fresh and dry rhizome yield was higher for commercial ginger as compared to the indigenous African ginger, while moderately stressed treatments generally resulted in the highest WUE for both species.

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Assessment Improving of Rainwater Retention on Crop Yield and Crop Water Use Efficiency for Winter Wheat

Journal of Engineering ◽

10.31026/j.eng.2020.03.04 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 46-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ali H. Abdullah ◽

Sabah Anwer Almasraf

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Root Zone ◽

Plant Production ◽

Subsurface Water ◽

Crop Water ◽

Crop Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency

Storage of rainwater within the root depth zone is one of the modern ways to increase plant production. Subsurface water retention technology was applied to assess improving values of crop yield and crop water use efficiency, applying a membrane made of low-density polyethylene trough installed below the crop root zone. The goal of this paper is to assess that the retention of rainwater above the membrane can improve the crop yield and crop water use efficiency values for winter wheat. The experiment was conducted in open field, within Joeybeh Township, located in east of the Ramadi City, in Anbar Province, in winter growing season 2018-2019. Two plots T1 (with membrane trough) and T2 (without membrane) were used for the comparison and cultivated with winter wheat, where the rainwater was only the source of irrigation. At the end of the harvest stage the obtained results of crop yield and crop water use efficiency for plots T1 and T2 were; 0.35 kg/m2 and 1.66 kg/m3, and 0.28 kg/m2 and 1.28 kg/m3, respectively. The increasing value of crop yield and crop water use efficiency in plot T1 was about 25 % and 30 %, respectively more than plot T2. Benefits of the installation of membrane trough are to keep soil moisture for longer times, prevent the cracks of the soil surface and reduce the deep percolation losses.

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