scholarly journals Water balance in soil covered by regenerating rainforest in the Paraíba Valley region, São Paulo, Brazil

Author(s):  
Marcelo Dos Santos Targa ◽  
Emilson Pohl ◽  
Ana Aparecida da Silva Almeida

The objective of this study was to evaluate the water balance in a Red-Yellow Latosol covered by a regenerating rainforest for 30 years in the Una River Basin between April 2016 and March 2017. Field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting-point values (PWP) used to calculate the available water capacity (AWC) in the soil were determined by the soil moisture characteristic curve obtained in pots, which made it possible to determine the soil residual water content (g / g) from the measurement of water tension in 15 Watermark (TM) sensors installed at depths of 40, 60 and 120 cm. Precipitation during the period (1962 mm) was obtained from the automatic weather station located 300 m from the experimental area. Soil surface runoff was obtained from 5 collectors distributed in the experimental area. Precipitation was characterized by a maximum of 454 mm in January 2017 and no rain in July 2016. The actual evapotranspiration was 744 mm. There were 56 runoff events (SR) totaling 60 mm. The average soil water tension remained below 37 kPa in 67% of the studied period, a condition that kept the soil moisture content high. The soil water balance of the tropical forest area, up to 120 cm deep, kept soil water content near its maximum capacity (173 mm) 49% of the time and saturated 51% of the time, so that it generated deep drainage beyond 120 cm deep and 1023 mm deep.

Author(s):  
A. Wahab ◽  
H. Talleyrand ◽  
M. A. Lugo-López

Grain and stover yields of RS 671 grain sorghum were measured at Barranquitas in an Oxisol and at Corozal in an Ultisol. Measurements were made of weather factors, soil moisture content and tension, plant growth, water deficits and rooting depths. At each site a plot was irrigated as often as necessary to maintain a soil water tension of less than 1 bar. Nonirrigated plots at Corozal were watered whenever necessary to prevent plants from wilting permanently. During a prolonged drought and at grain filling, sorghum extracted water in the Oxisol to a depth of 120 cm. Plants became water stressed after the soil water tension at a depth of 90 cm reached 15 bars. In the Ultisol, sorghum plants were unable to effectively extract available soil moisture at depths below 45 cm. Both plant growth and grain yield were greater in the Oxisol than in the Ultisol. The relative soil compaction of the Ultisol was greater than that of the Oxisol.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2761
Author(s):  
Misheck Musokwa ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya ◽  
Paxie W. Chirwa

Maize production under smallholder systems in South Africa (RSA) depends on rainfall. Incidences of dry spells throughout the growing season have affected maize yields negatively. The study examined water distribution and water use efficiency (WUE) of maize rotated with two-year pigeonpea fallows as compared to continuous maize without fertilizer. A randomized complete block design, replicated three times, was used with four treatments, which included continuous unfertilized maize, natural fallow-maize, pigeonpea + grass-pigeonpea-maize, and two-year pigeonpea fallow-maize. Soil water mark sensors were installed 0.2; 0.5; and 1.2 m on each plot to monitor soil water tension (kPa). Soil samples were analyzed using pressure plates to determine water retention curves which were used to convert soil water tension to volumetric water content. Maize rotated with two-year pigeonpea fallows had higher dry matter yield (11,661 kg ha−1) and WUE (20.78 kg mm−1) than continuous maize (5314 kg ha−1 and 9.48 kg mm−1). In this era of water scarcity and drought incidences caused by climate change, maize rotated with pigeonpea fallows is recommended among smallholder farmers in RSA because of its higher WUE, hence food security will be guaranteed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Melo Vasconcellos ◽  
Masato Kobiyama ◽  
Aline de Almeida Mota

Abstract. The objective of the present study was to determine the spatial behaviour of the Soil Water Index (SWI) by applying a distributed version of the Tank Model (D-Tank Model) to the Araponga river basin (5.26 ha) in southern Brazil and to verify its reliability through the comparison to soil moisture estimated with the measured water-tension values and the water retention curve. The study area has a monitoring system for rainfall, discharge (5-min interval), and soil-water tension (10-min interval). The simulation results showed that the D-Tank Model has a reliable performance. The correlation between SWI and HAND was reasonable (r = 0.6) meanwhile that between SWI and the Topographic Wetness Index was high (r = 0.88). The comparison between the spatially distributed values of the SWI and soil moisture confirmed the high potential of the SWI derived from the D-Tank Model to be applied for predictions related to hydrological and environmental sciences.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 487C-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Nuñez-Elisea ◽  
B. Schaffer ◽  
M. Zekri ◽  
S.K. O'Hair ◽  
J.H. Crane

Tropical fruit trees in southern Florida are grown in porous, oolitic limestone soil that has very low organic matter content and water-holding capacity. Thus, trees require frequent irrigation during dry periods. In these soils, a quantitative basis for monitoring soil water content to determine when and how much to irrigate has been lacking. Multi-sensor capacitance probes (EnviroSCAN™, Sentek, Australia) were installed in commercial carambola, lime, and avocado orchards to continuously monitor changes in soil water content at depths of 10, 20, 30, and 50 cm. Eight probes were installed per orchard. Volumetric soil water content was recorded at 15-min intervals with a solar-powered datalogger. Results were downloaded to a laptop computer twice a week. Monitoring the rate of soil water depletion (evapotranspiration) allowed irrigation before the onset of water stress. The time at which soil reached field capacity could be determined after each irrigation (or rain) event. Soil water tension was recorded periodically using low-tension (0–40 cbars) tensiometers placed adjacent to selected capacitance probes at 10- and 30-cm depths. Soil water tension was better correlated with volumetric soil water content at a 10-cm depth than at 30-cm depth. Using multi-sensor capacitance probes is a highly accurate, although relatively expensive, method of monitoring soil water content for scheduling irrigation in tropical fruit orchards. Whereas tensiometers require periodic maintenance, the multi-sensor capacitance probe system has been virtually maintenance free. The correlation between soil water content and soil water tension obtained in situ indicates that tensiometers are a less precise, but considerably cheaper, alternative for scheduling irrigation in tropical fruit orchards in southern Florida.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (Special Issue No. 1) ◽  
pp. S95-S104 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lukács ◽  
G. Pártay ◽  
T. Németh ◽  
S. Csorba ◽  
C. Farkas

Biotic and abiotic stress effects can limit the productivity of plants to great extent. In Hungary, drought is one of the most important constrains of biomass production, even at the present climatic conditions. The climate change scenarios, developed for the Carpathian basin for the nearest future predict further decrease in surface water resources. Consequently, it is essential to develop drought stress tolerant wheat genotypes to ensure sustainable and productive wheat production under changed climate conditions. The aim of the present study was to compare the stress tolerance of two winter wheat genotypes at two different scales. Soil water regime and development of plants, grown in a pot experiment and in large undisturbed soil columns were evaluated. The pot experiments were carried out in a climatic room in three replicates. GK Élet wheat genotype was planted in six, and Mv Emese in other six pots. Two pots were left without plant for evaporation studies. Based on the mass of the soil columns without plant the evaporation from the bare soil surface was calculated in order to distinguish the evaporation and the transpiration with appropriate precision. A complex stress diagnosis system was developed to monitor the water balance elements. ECH<sub>2</sub>O type capacitive soil moisture probes were installed in each of the pots to perform soil water content measurements four times a day. The irrigation demand was determined according to the hydrolimits, derived from soil hydrophysical properties. In case of both genotypes three plants were provided with the optimum water supply, while the other three ones were drought-stressed. In the undisturbed soil columns, the same wheat genotypes were sawn in one replicate. Similar watering strategy was applied. TDR soil moisture probes were installed in the soil at various depths to monitor changes in soil water content. In order to study the drought stress reaction of the wheat plants, microsensors of 1.6 mm diameter were implanted into the stems and connected to a quadrupole mass spectrometer for gas analysis. The stress status was indicated in the plants grown on partly non-irrigated soil columns by the lower CO<sub>2</sub> level at both genotypes. It was concluded that the developed stress diagnosis system could be used for soil water balance elements calculations. This enables more precise estimation of plant water consumption in order to evaluate the drought sensitivity of different wheat genotypes.


1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M.H. Hendrickx ◽  
P.J. Wierenga ◽  
M.S. Nash

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.G. Fredlund ◽  
Anqing Xing ◽  
Shangyan Huang

The coefficient of permeability for an unsaturated soil is primarily determined by the pore-size distribution of the soil and can be predicted from the soil-water characteristic curve. A general equation, which describes the soil-water characteristic curve over the entire suction range (i.e., from 0 to 106 kPa), was proposed by the first two authors in another paper. This equation is used to predict the coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils. By using this equation, an evaluation of the residual water content is no longer required in the prediction of the coefficient of permeability. The proposed permeability function is an integration form of the suction versus water content relationship. The proposed equation has been best fit with example data from the literature where both the soil-water characteristic curve and the coefficient of permeability were measured. The fit between the data and the theory was excellent. It was found that the integration can be done from zero water content to the saturated water content. Therefore, it is possible to use the normalized water content (volumetric or gravimetric) or the degree of saturation data versus suction in the prediction of the permeability function. Key words : coefficient of permeability, soil-water characteristic curve, unsaturated soil, water content, soil suction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-386
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Earl D. Vories

HighlightsSensor-based irrigation scheduling methods (SBISM) were compared with computerized water balance scheduling.Number and time of irrigation events scheduled using the SBISM were often different from those predicted by the computerized method.The highly variable soils at the Missouri site complicated interpretation of the sensor values.Both SBISM and computerized water balance scheduling could be used for irrigation scheduling with close attention to soil texture and effective rainfall or irrigation.Abstract. Sensor-based irrigation scheduling methods (SBISM) measure soil moisture to allow scheduling of irrigation events based on the soil-water status. With rapid development of soil moisture sensors, more producers have become interested in SBISM, but interpretation of the sensor data is often difficult. Computer-based methods attempt to estimate soil water content and the Arkansas Irrigation Scheduler (AIS) is one example of a weather-based irrigation scheduling tool that has been used in the Mid-South for many years. To aid producers and consultants interested in learning more about irrigation scheduling, field studies were conducted for two years in Mississippi and a year in Missouri to compare SBISM with the AIS. Soil moisture sensors (Decagon GS-1, Acclima TDR-315, Watermark 200SS) were installed in multiple locations of a soybean field (Mississippi) and cotton field (Missouri). Soil water contents of the fields were measured hourly at multiple depths during the growing seasons. The AIS was installed on a computer to estimate soil water content and the required data were obtained from nearby weather stations at both locations and manually entered in the program. In Mississippi, numbers and times of the irrigation events triggered by the SBISM were compared with those that would have been scheduled by the AIS. Results showed the number and time of irrigation events scheduled using the SBISM were often different from those predicted by the AIS, especially during the 2018 growing season. The highly variable soils at the Missouri site complicated the interpretation of the sensor values. While all of the sites were within the Tiptonville silt loam map unit, some of the measurements appeared to come from sandier soils. The AIS assumed more water entered the soil than the sensors indicated from both irrigations and rainfalls less than 25 mm. While the irrigation amounts were based on the pivot sprinkler chart, previous testing had confirmed the accuracy of the charts. Furthermore, the difference varied among sites, especially for rainfall large enough to cause runoff. The recommendations based on the Watermark sensors agreed fairly well with the AIS in July after the data from the sandiest site was omitted; however, the later irrigations called for by the AIS were not indicated by the sensors. Both the sensor-based irrigation scheduling method and the AIS could be used as tools for irrigation management in the Mid-South region, but with careful attention to soil texture and the effective portion of rainfall or irrigation. Keywords: Irrigation scheduling, Soil moisture sensor, Soil water content, Water management.


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengqi Jian ◽  
Chuanyan Zhao ◽  
Shumin Fang ◽  
Kai Yu

Abstract In this paper, to evaluate the hydrological effects of Caragana korshinskii Kom., measured data were combined with model-simulated data to assess the C. korshinskii soil water content based on water balance equation. With measured and simulated canopy interception, plant transpiration and soil evaporation, soil water content was modeled with the water balance equation. The monthly variations in the modeled soil water content by measured and simulated components (canopy interception, plant transpiration, soil evaporation) were then compared with in situ measured soil water content. Our results shows that the modeled monthly water loss (canopy interception + soil evaporation + plant transpiration) by measured and simulated components ranges from 43.78 mm to 113.95 mm and from 47.76 mm to 125.63 mm, respectively, while the monthly input of water (precipitation) ranges from 27.30 mm to 108.30 mm. The relative error between soil water content modeled by measured and simulated components was 6.41%. To sum up, the net change in soil water (ΔSW) is negative in every month of the growing season. The soil moisture is approaching to wilting coefficient at the end of the growth season, and the soil moisture recovered during the following season.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document