Effect of pipe type and Emitters discharge on performance criteria of surface drip irrigation system

A field experiment was conducted in Jazeerah Al-Ramadi/Al-Hamidiyah research station (latitude33^o 27^’ 〖 11.9 〗 ^(՚՚)N, longitude 43^o 23^’ ^(՚՚) E (duration 2020. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pipe types and emitters discharge on performance criteria of surface drip irrigation system. Therefore, a two factorial experiment was set as randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor included the type of pipes and emitters, namely Turbo, GR and T-Tape. While the second factor involved the emitters discharge which consist of two levels i.e., 4 (D4) and 8 (D8) L.h-1. The irrigation system was initially evaluated in the field before planting by testing three operating pressures (50, 100 and 150 Kpa) to determine the actual discharge of the emitters closed to their design discharge (4 and 8 L.h-1) for each emitter to calculate the manufacturing coefficient of variation (CV), distribution uniformity and the discharge variation ratio at each operating pressure. Results showed that the best discharge (Closed to design discharge of 4 L.h-1) was obtained at the 50 Kpa operating pressure which gave 3.99,3.90 and 3.81 L.h-1 when using the T-Tape pipe and GR and Turbo emitter compare when the discharge of 8L.h-1 has been used which gave 7.96, 7.84 and 7.59 L.h-1 when the former pipe and emitters were used. The best coefficient of variation was observed when the T-Tape pipe and GR and Turbo emitter were used with discharge of 4 L.h-1 up to 0.1300, 0.2200 and 0.2600 compare to 0.1300, 0.2700 and 0.3500 when the same former pipe and emitters were used with discharge of 8L. h-1. Similarly, the best distribution uniformity was obtained when the T-Tape pipe and GR and Turbo emitter has been used with discharge of 4 L.h-1 which gave 94.68, 91.74 and 90%. Likewise, the most acceptable variety discharge ratio was observed when the same prior pipe and emitters were used with discharge of 4 L.h-1 by giving 7.23, 11.90 and 12.19 %.

Water budgeting in conservation agriculture-based sub-surface drip irrigation in tropical maize using HYDRUS-2D in South Asia

In water scarce regions of South Asia, diversification of rice with maize is being advocated towards sustainability of cereal-based cropping systems. Adoption of innovative agronomic management practices, i.e., conservation agriculture (CA) and sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI) are considered as key strategies for much needed interventions to address the challenges of water scarcity under projected climate change. Benefits from CA and SSDI concerning water economy are well-established, however, information about their complementarity and water budgeting in cereal-based systems are lacking. A field study was conducted with process-based model (HYDRUS-2D) to understand water transport, root water uptake and components of soil water balance in maize grown in rotation with wheat after five years of continuous adoption of conservation agriculture. In this study, altogether eight treatments comprising of 6 CA+ treatments (CA coupled with SSDI); permanent beds using sub-surface drip (PB-SSD) with (WR) and without (WOR) crop residue at different N rates, 0, 120 and 150 kg N ha−1 were compared with CA (PB using furrow irrigation-FI with crop residue-120 kg N ha−1) and conventional tillage practices (CT) (CT using FI without crop residue-120 kg N ha−1). Results showed that the model could simulate the daily changes in profile soil water content with reasonable accuracy in all the treatments. Simulated soil water balance indicated higher cumulative root water uptake (CRWU), lower cumulative evaporation (CE) and higher soil water retention in CA+ (PB-SSD+ crop residue at 150 and 120 kg N ha−1) than CA and CT plots. Hydrus-2D model efficiency > 0, RMSE between 0.009–0.026 and R2 value between 0.80–0.92 at P < 0.01 indicates that the model is performing efficiently. The mean evaporation from CA+ treatments was 10 and 36% less than CA and CT treatments, respectively. On average, CRWU under CA+ treatments were 14–48% higher than FI treatments. The mean cumulative deep drainage in CA+ plots was 80–100 mm less than CA and CT plots. In CA+ based plots significantly higher biomass production and radiation use efficiency were observed with reduced water use than CA and CT. Therefore, the study justifies the water-saving nature of CA+, while maintaining higher productivity and meeting the transpiration demand of crops and halting unnecessary evaporation and deep drainage losses.

Numerical Simulation of Water Distribution with Uptake Root in Drip Irrigation using Different Soil Hydraulic Models

Surface drip irrigation is one of the most conservative irrigation techniques that help control providing water directly on the soil through the emitters. It can supply fertilizer and providing water directly to plant roots by drippers. One of the essential needs for trickle irrigation nowadays is to obtain more knowledge about the moisture pattern under the trickling source for various types of soil with various discharge levels with trickle irrigation. Simulation numerical using HYDRUS-2D software, version 2.04 was used to estimate an equation for the wetted area from a single surface drip irrigation in unsaturated soil is taking into account water uptake by roots. In this paper, using two soil types were used, namely sandy loam and clay loam, with three types of plants; (corn, tomato, and sweet sorghum). The soil wetting pattern was analyzed each half an hour for three hours of irrigation time and three initial soil moisture content. Equations for wetted radius and wetted depth were predicted and evaluated by utilizing the statistical parameters for the different hydraulic soil models (Model Efficiency (EF) and Root Mean Squares Error (RMSE)). The values RMSE does not exceed 0.40 cm, and EF is greater than 0.96 for all types of soil. These values were between the values obtained from program HYDRUS-2D and the values obtained from formulas. This shows that evolved formula can be utilized to describe the soil wetting pattern from the surface drip irrigation system. The relative error for the different hydraulic soil models was calculated and compared with Brooks and Corey's model, 1964. There was good agreement compared with different models. RMSE was 0.23 cm, while the relative error -1% and 1 for EF for wetted radius.

The MEDWATERICE project: Towards a sustainable water use in Mediterranean rice-based agro-ecosystems

&lt;p&gt;In the Mediterranean basin, rice is cultivated over an area of 1,300,000 hectares. The most important rice-producing countries are Italy and Spain in Europe (72% of the EU production; 345,000 ha), and Egypt and Turkey among the extra-EU countries (almost totality of the production; 789,000 ha). Traditionally, rice is grown under continuous flooding; thus, it requires more water than non-ponded crops. On the other hand, rice is strategic for food security in some countries such as Egypt, and human consumption in the whole Mediterranean is steadily increasing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The MEDWATERICE project (PRIMA-Section 2-2018; https://www.medwaterice.org/), which started in April 2019, aims to explore the sustainability of innovative rice irrigation methods and technologies in the Mediterranean basin, in order to reduce rice water use and environmental impacts, and to extend rice cultivation outside of traditional paddy areas to meet the growing demand. The MEDWATERICE consortium includes universities, research centres and private companies operating in the Mediterranean area (IT, ES, PT, EG, TR, IL). Case studies (CSs) are implemented in pilot farms of the countries involved in the project. Tested alternative irrigation methods and technologies adopted in each CS are being tailored to local conditions using a participatory action research approach through the establishment of Stake-Holder Panels in each country, which include regional authorities, water managers, farmers&amp;#8217; associations and consultants, and private companies of the rice production chain. Irrigation strategies experimented in the pilot farms and compared to the continuous flooding (considered as the &amp;#8216;reference&amp;#8217; irrigation method in all CSs), are: dry seeding and delayed flooding, alternate wetting and drying, lengthening of drying periods, reduction in irrigation inflow/outflow, hybrid irrigation, multi-nozzle sprinkler irrigation, surface and sub-surface drip irrigation, and waste-water reuse through sub-surface drip irrigation. For each irrigation solution, innovative technologies and the most appropriate rice varieties and agronomic practices are tested to minimize impacts of irrigation water reduction on yield quantity and quality. Data collected at the farm level are extrapolated to the irrigation district level to support water management decisions and policies. Indicators for quantitative assessment of environmental, economic and social sustainability of the irrigation options are also being defined. Outcomes produced by MEDWATERICE are expected to generate knowledge on how to improve sustainability of rice production in the countries of the Mediterranean area, with particular attention to the adoption of water-saving techniques.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;During the conference, approaches and methodologies adopted and developed within the project, and results obtained so far will be presented, with particular attention to the experimentation conducted in the pilot farms, to the methods for the upscaling the achievements to the irrigation district scale, and to the set of indicators for quantifying economic, environmental and social sustainability of irrigation methods and technologies currently under definition.&lt;/p&gt;

Performance of Tomato under Subsurface Drip Irrigation Laterals placed at various Depths in Inceptisols

Tomato is one of the important vegetable crops for nutrition security. The vegetables respond very well to proper irrigation water management towards increasing yield. A study on response of tomato under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with laterals placed at 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm depth below soil surface was carried out in inceptisols at ICAR- Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. It was found that soil water content variation was less and more favorable within top 30 cm depth of soil profile under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. The maximum yield of tomato 52.85 t/ha was realized under SDI with lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface followed by yield under 15 cm and 5 cm depth of lateral placement. It was 14.67% higher than the surface drip irrigation. The lowest yield of tomato was recorded 46.09 t/ha with surface drip irrigation. Maximum water use efficiency 1.968 t/ha-cm was obtained with SDI lateral placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface. To realize maximum yield and water use efficiency of tomato, SDI laterals could be placed at 10 cm depth below soil surface.

Agronomic Performance and Economic Benefits of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Under Drip Irrigation for Sandy and Clay Soils in East Java, Indonesia

<p class="teksabst"><strong>Abstract.</strong><em> </em>Sugarcane (<em>Saccharum officinarum</em> L.) growth and production are greatly affected by water availability. The lack of water availability in sugarcane cultivation can be surmounted by irrigation. In performing irrigation, it is essential to understand the sugarcane crop water requirement and soil texture as they influence the irrigation efficiency. To date, drip irrigation is considered as the most efficient type of irrigation. This study aimed to investigate both agronomic performance and economic benefits of different irrigation methods for sugarcane grown in sandy (in Kediri) and clay (in Pasuruan) soils. The irrigation treatments were surface drip irrigation, sub-surface drip irrigation, and conventional irrigation, while the conventional irrigation through drains was the control treatment. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. In sandy soil, both surface and sub-surface drip irrigation led to better agronomical performance yet the conventional irrigation showed a contrasting result. Sugarcane productivity under surface drip irrigation, sub-surface drip irrigation, and conventional irrigation were 81.29, 110.33, and 69.25 tons ha^-1, respectively. Meanwhile, in clay soil, there were no prominent differences of agronomic parameters between all irrigation treatments. Sugarcane productivity under surface drip irrigation, sub-surface drip irrigation, and conventional irrigation were 79.03, 60.58, and 78.16 tons ha^-1,respectively. The water cost used to produce one kg of sugarcane biomass under conventional irrigation, surface drip irrigation, and sub-surface drip irrigation in sandy soil were IDR 169, IDR 103, and IDR 87, while the cost in clay soil were IDR 443, IDR 218, and IDR 293, respectively.<strong></strong></p><strong><em>Abstrak</em>. </strong>Pertumbuhan dan produksi tebu (<em>Saccharum officinarum</em> L.) dipengaruhi oleh ketersediaan air. Kekurangan air dalam budidaya tebu dapat dipenuhi melalui irigasi. Dalam melakukan irigasi, penting untuk mengetahui kebutuhan air tebu dan tekstur tanah karena kedua faktor tersebut mempengaruhi efisiensi irigasi. Hingga saat ini, irigasi tetes merupakan salah satu jenis irigasi yang paling efisien dalam pertanian. Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui performa agronomis serta keuntungan ekonomis berbagai metode irigasi pada tanaman tebu yang ditanam di tanah bertekstur pasir (di Kediri) dan lempung (di Pasuruan). Perlakuan irigasi pada penelitian ini yaitu irigasi tetes permukaan, irigasi tetes bawah permukaan, dan irigasi konvensional, dimana irigasi konvensional yang diberikan melalui parit menjadi perlakuan kontrol. Desain percobaan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok Lengkap, dengan tiga ulangan. Pada tanah pasir, performa agronomis tebu pada perlakuan irigasi tetes permukaan dan bawah permukaan lebih baik daripada irigasi konvensional. Produktivitas tebu pada irigasi tetes permukaan, irigasi tetes bawah permukaan, dan konvensional di tanah pasir masing-masing sebesar 81,29 ton ha^-1, 110,33 ton ha^-1 dan 69,25 ton ha^-1. Pada lokasi percobaan di tanah lempung, tidak ada perbedaan agronomis tebu yang signifikan antar perlakuan irigasi. Produktivitas tebu pada irigasi tetes permukaan, irigasi tetes bawah permukaan, dan konvensional di tanah lempung masing-masing sebesar 79,03 ton ha^-1, 60,58 ton ha^-1, dan 78,16 ton ha^-1. Biaya air yang digunakan untuk memproduksi satu kilogram tebu dengan perlakuan irigasi konvensional, irigasi tetes permukaan, dan irigasi tetes bawah permukaan di tanah pasir masing-masing sebesar IDR 169, IDR 103, dan IDR 87, sedangkan di tanah lempung masing-masing sebesar IDR 443, IDR 218, dan IDR 293.

Impacts of Fertigation via Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation on Growth Rate of Rockmelon

Fertigation is one of the most important application of irrigation that are being used in commercial farming. This aplication help farmers to timely supply the water through drip irrigation coupled with accurate amout of water, rate of fertilizer application, and at the same time improving the nutrient uptake and water use efficiency (WUE) by the plant. The water supply through surface and subsurface drip irrigation system is the most efficient irrigation practice compared to others.Water supply from subsurface drip irrigation system is directly into the root zone, while for surface drip irrigation, water is supplied above the root zone. However, the use of surface drip irrigation system can cause the irrigation water easily evaporate to environment and reduce the WUE by plant. Rockmelon (cucumis melo) was selected as plant material in this study. Rockmelon is one of the plant that contain sweet and juicy along with other nutritional value. It also has commercial interest in a number of countries, including Europe, the United States, Mediterranean and Asia. The objectives of the study were to observe the different growth rate of rockmelon between surface and subsurface drip irrigation as well as to observe the efficiency of irrigation. This study was conducted under the rain shelter at Unit Fertigasi Projek Keusahawanan Ladang 10, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). There were two treatments of irrigation tested, surface drip irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation. Data collection include leaf diameter, leaf length and fruit circumferences. The effect of irrigation on growth performance of rockmelon were observe during week one and week six and was analyzed with Statistically Analysis System (SAS). The result of this study showed that, the growth for surface drip irrigation is higher compared to subsurface drip irrigation and both of the treatments achieved 25% of irrigation application efficiency.