Effect of Planting Density on the Growth, Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Dry-farming Potato under Different Rainfall Year Types

Elucidating the mechanisms underlying the relationships between root growth and water use efficiency is important for achieving full yield potential. We conducted a field experiment with maize under high planting density (105,000 plants ha−1) in 2013 and 2014. Four treatments were implemented: traditional cultivation, root optimization cultivation, canopy optimization cultivation, and shoot–root optimization cultivation. Compared to the treatments involving rotary tillage, subsoil tillage significantly improved the soil structure and promoted soil water storage. Moreover, the distribution of roots was significantly deeper under shoot–root optimization cultivation than traditional cultivation treatment. Shoot dry matter and leaf area were slightly higher under the plant growth-regulator treatments than that under the other treatments. Thus, relative to the shoot–root optimization cultivation treatment, the root optimization cultivation and canopy optimization cultivation treatments reduced the shoot–root area ratio by 8% and 4%, respectively, and these reductions were significantly lower than the reduction under the traditional cultivation treatment (16%). Rainfall storage can be enhanced by improving tillage practices, promoting root growth (particularly at depths >20 cm), promoting access to water, and regulating plant growth by the foliar spraying of ECK (ethylene-chlormequat-potassium). This approach has the potential to achieve highly efficient resource utilization without additional inputs, thereby increasing yield.

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

Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical ◽

10.1590/1983-40632019v4953036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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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

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb839855 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 334-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

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.

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Increased photosynthesis and grain yields in maize grown with less irrigation water combined with density adjustment in semiarid regions

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9959 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9959

Author(s):

Donghua Liu ◽

Qianmin Jia ◽

Juan Li ◽

Peng Zhang ◽

Xiaolong Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Relative Water Content ◽

Photosynthetic Capacity ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Planting Density ◽

Supplementary Irrigation ◽

Relative Water ◽

Use Efficiency

In order to design a water-saving and high-yield maize planting model suitable for semiarid areas, we conducted trials by combining supplementary irrigation with different planting densities. Three planting densities (L: 52,500, M: 75,000, and H: 97,500 plants ha–1) and four supplementary irrigation modes (NI: no irrigation; IV: 375 m3 ha–1 during the 11-leaf stage; IS: 375 m3 ha–1 in the silking stage; and IVS: 375 m3 ha–1 during both stages) were tested. The irrigation treatments significantly increased the leaf relative water content, but the high planting density significantly decreased the relative water content during the silking and filling stages. After supplementary irrigation during the 11-leaf stage, IV and IVS significantly increased the photosynthetic capacity, but decreased the leaf water use efficiency. IS and IVS significantly increased the photosynthetic capacity after supplementary irrigation in the silking stage over two years. During the filling stage, IV, IS, and IVS increased the two-year average net photosynthetic rate by 17.0%, 27.2%, and 30.3%, respectively. The intercellular CO2 concentration increased as the density increased, whereas the stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, and leaf water use efficiency decreased, and the high planting density significantly reduced the leaf photosynthetic capacity. The highest grain yield was obtained using the IVS treatment under the medium planting density, but it did not differ significantly from that with the IS treatment. Furthermore, the IVS treatment used two times more water than the IS treatment. Thus, the medium planting density combined with supplementary irrigation during the silking stage was identified as a suitable water-saving planting model to improve the photosynthetic capacity and grain yield, and to cope with drought and water shortages in semiarid regions.

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