scholarly journals Actual Evapotranspiration and Tree Performance of Mature Micro-Irrigated Pistachio Orchards Grown on Saline-Sodic Soils in the San Joaquin Valley of California

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Marino ◽  
Daniele Zaccaria ◽  
Richard L. Snyder ◽  
Octavio Lagos ◽  
Bruce D. Lampinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
San Joaquin Valley ◽  
Actual Evapotranspiration ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Functional Relations ◽  
Tree Performance

In California, a significant percentage of the pistachio acreage is in the San Joaquin Valley on saline and saline-sodic soils. However, irrigation management practices in commercial pistachio production are based on water-use information developed nearly two decades ago from experiments conducted in non-saline orchards sprinkler-irrigated with good quality water. No information is currently available that quantify the effect of salinity or combined salinity and sodicity on water use of micro-irrigated pistachio orchards, even though such information would help growers schedule irrigations and control soil salinity through leaching. To fill this gap, a field research study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 to measure the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) from commercial pistachio orchards grown on non-saline and saline-sodic soils in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley of California. The study aimed at investigating the functional relations between soil salinity/sodicity and tree performance, and understanding the mechanisms regulating water-use reduction under saline and saline-sodic conditions. Pistachio ETa was measured with the residual of energy balance method using a combination of surface renewal and eddy covariance equipment. Saline and saline-sodic conditions in the soil adversely affected tree performance with different intensity. The analysis of field data showed that ETa, light interception by the tree canopy, and nut yield were highly and linearly related (r2 > 0.9). Moving from non-saline to saline and saline-sodic conditions, the canopy light interception decreased from 75% (non-saline) to around 50% (saline) and 30% (saline-sodic), and ETa decreased by 32% to 46% relative to the non-saline orchard. In saline-sodic soils, the nut yield resulted around 50% lower than that of non-saline orchard. A statistical analysis performed on the correlations between soil physical-chemical parameters and selected tree performance indicators (ETa, light interception, and nut yield) revealed that the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) adversely affected tree performance more than the soil electrical conductivity (ECe). Results suggest that secondary effects of sodicity (i.e., degradation of soil structure, possibly leading to poor soil aeration and root hypoxia) might have had a stronger impact on pistachio performance than did salinity in the long term. The information presented in this paper can help pistachio growers and farm managers better tailor irrigation water allocation and management to site-specific orchard conditions (e.g., canopy features and soil-water salinity/sodicity), and potentially lead to water and energy savings through improved irrigation management practices.

Stretching water – Queensland's water use efficiency cotton and grains adoption program

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 191-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Goyne ◽  
G.T. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Public Image ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
On Farm

The Cotton and Grains Adoption Program of the Queensland Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative is targeting five major irrigation regions in the state with the objective to develop better irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) through the adoption of best management practices in irrigation. The major beneficiaries of the program will be industries, irrigators and local communities. The benefits will flow via two avenues: increased production and profit resulting from improved WUE and improved environmental health as a consequence of greatly reduced runoff of irrigation tailwater into rivers and streams. This in turn will reduce the risk of nutrient and pesticide contamination of waterways. As a side effect, the work is likely to contribute to an improved public image of the cotton and grain industries. In each of the five regions, WUE officers have established grower groups to assist in providing local input into the specific objectives of extension and demonstration activities. The groups also assist in developing growersÕ perceptions of ownership of the work. Activities are based around four on-farm demonstration sites in each region where irrigation management techniques and hardware are showcased. A key theme of the program is monitoring water use. This is applied both to on-farm storage and distribution as well as to application methods and in-field management. This paper describes the project, its activities and successes.

Using market research to understand the adoption of irrigation management strategies in the stone and pome fruit industry

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kaine ◽  
D. Bewsell ◽  
A. Boland ◽  
C. Linehan
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Market Research ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Pome Fruit ◽  
Managerial Flexibility ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Extension Program

Market research was conducted to develop an extension program targeting the specific irrigation management needs of growers in the stone and pome fruit industry within the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. The process of integrating market research with extension practice proved challenging, as it required the development of an extension program that was fundamentally different from what was originally envisaged. However, it was essential to achieve this integration in order to meet the original objectives for the extension program as set by the funding body. We found, in most cases, that the motivation for stone and pome fruit growers in the Goulburn Valley to change orchard irrigation management practices was not because they needed to save water, or to increase water use efficiency. Instead, growers were changing practices in order to save time irrigating, improve the scope for managerial flexibility in the orchard, or when redeveloping their orchard to a closer planting design. These findings suggest that growers in the Goulburn Valley are more likely to respond to an extension program consistent with these motivations rather than a program promoting water use efficiency.

Irrigation and sodicity

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Rengasamy ◽  
KA Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Sodic Water ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Irrigated Soils

The productivity of irrigated agriculture in Australia is low for most crops and one important factor is the physical and chemical constraints caused by sodicity in the rootzone. Over 80% of the irrigated soils are sodic and have degraded structure limiting water and gas transport and root growth. Irrigation, without appropriate drainage, leads to the buildup of salts in soil solutions with increased sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and can develop perched watertables due to a very low leaching fraction of the soil layers exacerbated by sodicity. Therefore, irrigation management in Australia is closely linked with the management of soil sodicity.The inevitable consequence of continued irrigation of crops and pastures with saline-sodic water without careful management is the further sodification of soil layers and concentration of salt in the rootzone. This will increase the possibility of dissolving toxic elements from soil minerals. The yields of crops can be far below the potential yields determined by climate. The cost of continued use of amendments and fertilizers to maintain normal yields will increase under saline-sodic irrigation. Most of the irrigated soils in Australia need reclamation of sodicity of soil layers at least in the rootzone. The management of these sodic soils involves the application of gypsum, suitable tillage and the maintenance of structure by the buildup of organic matter and biological activity aver time. Then artificial drainage, an essential component of the management of irrigated sodic soils, is possible. By following these soil management practices, irrigated agriculture in Australia will become sustainable with increased yields and high economic returns.

scholarly journals Validation of Nursery and Greenhouse Best Management Practices through Scientific Evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 700-715
Author(s):  
Rachel Mack ◽  
James S. Owen ◽  
Alex X. Niemiera ◽  
David J. Sample
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Greenhouse Growers

Nursery and greenhouse growers use a variety of practices known as best management practices (BMPs) to reduce sediment, nutrient, and water losses from production beds and to improve efficiency. Although these BMPs are almost universally recommended in guidance manuals, or required by regulation in limited instances, little information is available that links specific BMPs to the scientific literature that supports their use and quantifies their effectiveness. A previous survey identified the most widely used water management, runoff, and fertilizer-related BMPs by Virginia nursery and greenhouse operators. Applicable literature was reviewed herein and assessed for factors that influence the efficacy of selected BMPs and metrics of BMP effectiveness, such as reduced water use and fertilizers to reduce sediment, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) loads in runoff. BMPs investigated included vegetative zones (VZs), irrigation management strategies, and controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs). Use of vegetative buffers decreased average runoff N 41%, P 67%, and total suspended solids 91%. Nitrogen, P, and sediment removal efficacy increased with vegetative buffer width. Changes in production practices increased water application efficiency >20% and decreased leachate or runoff volume >40%, reducing average N and P loss by 28% and 14%, respectively. By linking BMPs to scientific articles and reports, individual BMPs can be validated and are thus legitimized from the perspective of growers and environmental regulators. With current and impending water use and runoff regulations, validating the use and performance of these BMPs could lead to increased adoption, helping growers to receive credit for actions that have been or will be taken, thus minimizing water use, nutrient loss, and potential pollution from nursery and greenhouse production sites.

scholarly journals Correction: Mayer, A., et al. A Comprehensive Modelling Approach to Assess Water Use Efficiencies of Different Irrigation Management Options in Rice Irrigation Districts of Northern Italy. Water 2019, 11, 1833

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1047
Author(s):  
Alice Mayer ◽  
Michele Rienzner ◽  
Sandra Cesari de Maria ◽  
Marco Romani ◽  
Alberto Lasagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Capillary Rise ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Actual Evapotranspiration ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Irrigation Districts ◽  
Rice Irrigation ◽  
Water Use Efficiencies ◽  
Modelling Approach

In the published article [1] the authors noticed an error in the ‘Percolation or Capillary Rise’ values reported in Table 4, column 4, and wish to make the following correction to their paper [1]: Table 4 should be replaced with the following: Actual Evapotranspiration (mm) Irrigation (mm) Percolation (−) or Capillary Rise (+) (mm) WUE (%) Maize 449 620 (438, 705) −589 (−243, −732) 50 (61, 44) Irrigated poplar 348 300 (300, 300) −247 (−215, −252) 57 (50, 58) Rainfed poplar 487 0 −18 (+232, −57) 159 (149, 159) WDA rice 537 1394 (964, 1620) −1002 (−491, −1206) 34 (43, 29) WFL rice 592 1852 (1508, 2210) −1266 (−860, −1693) 28 (32, 23) [...]

scholarly journals Response of bell pepper to water replacement levels and irrigation times

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Henrique Cândido de Souza ◽  
Roberto Rezende ◽  
Marcelo Zolin Lorenzoni ◽  
Fernando André Silva Santos ◽  
Jhonatan Monteiro de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Water Replacement ◽  
Bell Peppers ◽  
Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT Different irrigation times result in variable transpiration rates, due to the water availability and its interaction with the evapotranspiration demand. The vapor pressure deficit is an accurate indicator of the atmosfere evaporative capacity and can affect plants because of the movement of water in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum system. This study aimed to evaluate the plant growth, yield and water-use efficiency of bell peppers under irrigation times (8 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and water replacement levels (60 %, 80 %, 100 %, 120 % and 140 % of the crop water requirement - ETc) based on the evapotranspiration demand. The increase in the irrigation levels could be fit to linear models for the variables number of fruits per plant, mean and total fruit weight per plant, fruit length, and root, stem and total dry weight. Irrigation at 2 p.m. increased the total and mean fruit weight and number of fruits per plant, as well as fruit length, if compared to the irrigation at 8 a.m., besides increasing the yield by 50.82 % (2,343.0 g plant-1 to 3,533.6 g plant-1) and the water-use efficiency by 55.64 %. In areas subjected to water shortages, establishing irrigation times based on irrigation management practices can increase the water-use efficiency and yield for bell peppers.

IRRIGATION SUITABILITY OF SOLONETZIC SOILS IN THE COUNTY OF NEWELL, ALBERTA

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. BENNETT ◽  
T. ENTZ
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Analysis ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Suitability ◽  
Solonetzic Soil ◽  
High Degree

A 5-yr study was conducted in the County of Newell to monitor soil salinity and sodicity, water-table levels and crop production on Solonetzic soil associations under normal irrigation management practices. All soil associations consisted of at least 50 percent Solonetzic Order soils, with Brown Solod as the dominant subgroup at all but one site. Changes in soil quality were monitored through regular measurements of water-table levels, annual fall sampling and chemical analysis of soils. Irrigation practises used by farmers did not permanently raise water-table levels at any of the sites irrigated by center pivots. Changes in soil salinity or sodicity as a result of irrigation were generally not statistically significant, suggesting that the salt status of soils at most sites did not change appreciably over the 5-yr period. The relatively low productive capability of land units dominated by Solonetzic soils was evident in the low yield and by a high degree of variability in yield within individual sites. Careful irrigation management partially compensated for some of the soil limitations in these Solonetzic soil landscapes; however, due to the low productivity observed, modification of existing land classification standards to allow irrigation of Solonetzic soils is not presently recommended. Key words: Irrigation suitability, Solonetzic soils, productive capability

Managing Landscape Irrigation to Avoid Soil and Nutrient Losses

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hochmuth ◽  
Laurie Trenholm ◽  
Don Rainey ◽  
Esen Momol ◽  
Claire Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
County Agents ◽  
The Right ◽  
Soil And Water

Proper irrigation management is critical to conserve and protect water resources and to properly manage nutrients in the home landscape. How lawns and landscapes are irrigated directly impacts the natural environment, so landscape maintenance professionals and homeowners must adopt environmentally-friendly approaches to irrigation management. After selecting the right plant for the right place, water is the next critical factor to establish and maintain a healthy lawn and landscape. Fertilization is another important component of lawn and landscape maintenance, and irrigation must be applied correctly, especially following fertilization, to minimize potential nutrient losses. This publication supplements other UF/IFAS Extension publications that also include information on the role of soil and the root zone in irrigation management. This publication is designed to help UF/IFAS Extension county agents prepare materials to directly address nutrient losses from lawns and landscapes caused by inadequate irrigation management practices. This 6-page fact sheet was written by George Hochmuth, Laurie Trenholm, Don Rainey, Esen Momol, Claire Lewis, and Brian Niemann, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss586

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