Mohammad Reza Emdad; arash tafteh; saeed ghalebi
Abstract
Introduction: Simulation models have been used for decades to analyse crop responses to environmental stresses. AquaCrop is a crop water productivity model developed by the Land and Water Division of FAO. It simulates yield response to water of herbaceous crops, and is particularly suited to address ...
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Introduction: Simulation models have been used for decades to analyse crop responses to environmental stresses. AquaCrop is a crop water productivity model developed by the Land and Water Division of FAO. It simulates yield response to water of herbaceous crops, and is particularly suited to address conditions where water is a key limiting factor in crop production. It is designed to balance simplicity, accuracy and robustness, and is particularly suited to address conditions where water is a key limiting factor in crop production. AquaCrop is a companion tool for a wide range of users and applications including yield prediction. Aquacrop has high accuracy and performance for yield prediction than other models regarding to irrigation and fertilizer management base foundation. Using Aquacrop model for crop yield simulation in different soil and water managements has high accuracy and its use requires calibration and validation. The use of models saves time and cost and, if calibrated and validated, acceptable results are expected.
Material and Methods: This research was carried out in order to calibrate and validate the Aquacrop model for simulating wheat grain yield in the three selected pilots in Hamidiyeh province of Khuzestan province in two years of cultivation.In this regard, three different plots with a total area of about 10 hectares were selected in Hamidyeh region. Sampling, measuring and determining the parameters of soil, water, plant, irrigation management (information required for the Aquacrop model) and the existing conditions of the area were carried out.The climatic data required in Aquacrop model was collected from synoptic meteorological weather station of Ahvaz. Irrigation water quality with mean water salinity of 1.9 dS/m has a good quality for irrigation. In the first year, 5 irrigation events (with a total volume of 9500 cubic meters per hectare) are available to the wheat plant at different stages. In this regard, based on meteorological data and field and vegetation data that was taken from the field level in the first year, the Aquacrop model calibration and performance variations were carried out at different times of irrigation using a simulation model. In order to validate the results simulated by the model, the best scenario provided by the model in the second year was implemented at selected farm level and its results were compared with the simulation results by the model.
Results and Discussion: Aquacrop model calibrated for the first year and then compared for different scenarios of irrigation timing (3-6 irrigation event).The amount of grain yield and total in 4 irrigation intervals are not different with the corresponding values in 5 irrigation intervals. Irrigation rotations were considered in accordance with routine irrigation rotations of the region during planting, tillering, stemming, flowering and seed filling (5 turns) for 4 steps of irrigation step and for 3 irrigation stages, the tiller and stem elongation was deleted. The model showed that, using four irrigation timing is the most appropriate irrigation scenario. Using the results of the model with considering 4 irrigation times, wheat was planted in the second year for model validation. In the second year, the average of measured and simulated wheat grain yield was 3.8 and 4.4 t/h (with 14% error).Average values of total yield and simulated wheat seeds in 4 and 5 irrigation intervals were not different, while the amount of water consumed in 4 irrigation intervals decreased by 20% compared to 5 irrigation intervals. On the other hand, water use efficiency increased by up to 21% in 4 irrigation intervals compared to 5 irrigation intervals. Also, according to the simulation, it was observed that increasing the irrigation interval at the arrival stage, while not significantly increasing the grain yield and the total, did not increase the water use efficiency in order to increase the water consumption (one irrigation interval) Reduced. Considering 3 irrigation timing, the grain yield decreased by 15%. Due to the reduced yield in three irrigation intervals than the more irrigation intervals, this scenario is not recommended for performance reasons. So, according to the simulation, at least 4 irrigation intervals (during planting, stemming, flowering and seed filling) are recommended to maintain proper production level in existing conditions. Comparison of statistical indices between measured and simulation values of wheat grain yield in both years showed that the coefficient of correlation, normalized root mean square error (RMSE) and agreement index were 0.9, 0.14, and 0.89 respectively, which indicates the proper performance of the model for simulating yield of wheat for two consecutive years. The average grain yield of simulated wheat has been estimated at 3.8 ton / ha, which estimates 14% of grain yield less than actual experimental conditions compared to its measured value, indicating the accuracy and efficiency of this model in simulating wheat yield in the present situation. With considering 4 irrigation events, the water use efficiency of wheat grain yield increased by 0.7 kg/m3, which confirms the ability and accuracy of the Aquacrop model for simulating grain yield of wheat and also improving water use efficiency.
Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the simulation of wheat yield in the first year (2.6 t/ha) has a close proximity to the measured values of yield (3 t/ha). Also, validation of the model with changing conditions in the second year showed that the simulated yield of wheat (4.4 t/ha) also had a good agreement with its measured value (3.8 t/ha), which indicates the high accuracy of this model in simulating wheat grain yields every two years. Therefore, this model has the efficiency and accuracy in simulating wheat yield in research conditions.
Mohammad Jolaini; mohammad karimi
Abstract
Introduction: After wheat, rice and corn, potato is the fourth most important food plant in the world. In comparison with other species, potato is very sensitive to water stress because of its shallow root system: approximately 85% of the root length is concentrated in the upper 0.3-0.4 m of the soil. ...
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Introduction: After wheat, rice and corn, potato is the fourth most important food plant in the world. In comparison with other species, potato is very sensitive to water stress because of its shallow root system: approximately 85% of the root length is concentrated in the upper 0.3-0.4 m of the soil. Several studies showed that drip irrigation is an effective method for enhancing potato yield. Fabeiro et al. (2001) concluded that tuber bulking and ripening stages were found to be the most sensitive stages of water stress with drip irrigation. Water deficit occurring in these two growth stages could result in yield reductions. Wang et al. (2006) investigated the effects of drip irrigation frequency on soil wetting pattern and potato yield. The results indicated that potato roots were not limited in wetted soil volume even when the crop was irrigated at the highest frequency while high frequency irrigation enhanced potato tuber growth and water use efficiency (WUE). Though information about irrigation and N management of this crop is often conflicting in the literature, it is accepted generally that production and quality are highly influenced by both N and irrigation amounts and these requirements are related to the cropping technique. Researches revealed that nitrogen fertilizers play a special role in the growth, production and quality of potatoes.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out during two growing seasons. Studied factors were irrigation frequency (I1:2 and I2:4 days interval) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (applying 100 (N1), 75 (N2) and 50 (N3) % of the recommended amount). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied through irrigation water. In each plot two rows with within-and between-row spacing of 45 and 105 cm and 20 m length. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer for the control treatment was determined by soil analysis (N1). In all treatments, nitrogen fertilizer applied in 5 times until flowering stage. Potassium, phosphorus and microelements applied according to the soil analysis results. The subsurface drip tape was used for irrigation. Tapes with 300 µm thickness, 30 cm dripper spacing and 4 lit/hour discharge were applied. Tapes buried at 20 cm soil depth before planting. Water amount was measured by the volume meter at each irrigation treatment. Water amount calculated based on crop water requirement and plot area and irrigation frequency. On maturity stage, 8 m of two central rows of each plot harvested for determining tuber yields. Water use efficiency was calculated as the ratio of the tuber yield to the total consumed water volume. Statistical analysis was performed using MSTAT-C software. Means were compared by Duncan's multiple range tests at 0.05 and 0.01 significant levels.
Results Discussion: Results of combined analysis showed that yield and water use efficiency (WUE) did not affected by irrigation frequency. Yield and water use efficiency affected by nitrogen level (p
M. Gheysari; M.M. Majidi; seyed majid mirlatifi; M.J. Zareian; S. Amiri; S.M. Banifatemeh
Abstract
The response of root to water stress is one of the most important parameters for researchers. Study of growth and distribution of root under different irrigation managements helpsresearchersto a better understanding of soil water content, and the availability of water and nutrition in water stress condition. ...
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The response of root to water stress is one of the most important parameters for researchers. Study of growth and distribution of root under different irrigation managements helpsresearchersto a better understanding of soil water content, and the availability of water and nutrition in water stress condition. To investigate the effects of four levels of irrigation under two different deficit irrigation managements on the root length of maize, a study was conducted in 2009. Irrigation managements included fixed irrigation interval-variable irrigation depth (M1) and variable irrigation interval-fixed irrigation depth (M2). Maize plants were planted in 120 large 110-liter containers in a strip-plot design in a randomized complete block with three replications. Root data sampling was done after root washing in five growth stages. The results showed that the effect of irrigation levels on root length was significant (P
H. Afshar; Hossin Sadrghaen; hamid reza mehrabadi
Abstract
To decree evapotranspiration from soil surface and improving irrigation efficiency and reduce water usage in cotton cultivation , plastic mulch was applied in furrow irrigation. This study was performed as a split plot experiment in capability randomized complete block design, in 3 replications. The ...
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To decree evapotranspiration from soil surface and improving irrigation efficiency and reduce water usage in cotton cultivation , plastic mulch was applied in furrow irrigation. This study was performed as a split plot experiment in capability randomized complete block design, in 3 replications. The experiment was located in Khorasan Razavi –Kashmar- Kashmar agricultural research station and was applied in 2 years, 2004-2005. The treatments were consist of irrigation period at three levels ; 6, 9 and 12 days as main plot and plastic mulch at three levels I-black plastic mulch, II- white plastic mulch and III- control (without plastic mulch)as a subplot on furrow irrigation. Each treatment was irrigated up to field capacity. The results showed that application of plastic mulch used better water usage and black plastic mulch was more effective. Meanwhile The results showed that the use of plastic mulch had significant effect on reducing of weed growth, plant height increasing, yield and water use efficiency in respect with control.
M. Jolaini; H.R. Mehrabadi
Abstract
Given the scarcity of water resources using modern methods of irrigation in agriculture will be inevitable. Today, process improvement, development and use of drip irrigation practices as one of the most advanced methods of irrigation in agriculture is increasing. So this study was conducted to determine ...
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Given the scarcity of water resources using modern methods of irrigation in agriculture will be inevitable. Today, process improvement, development and use of drip irrigation practices as one of the most advanced methods of irrigation in agriculture is increasing. So this study was conducted to determine the impacts of irrigation interval and drip irrigation method and their interactions on yield, water use efficiency and quality characteristic of cotton in Kashmar Agricultural Research Station, Khorasan Razavi Province. The study was carried out during 2006-2008. Experimental design was a completely randomized design with four replications. Treatments were included irrigation intervals (2, 4 and 6 day) and drip irrigation methods (surface and subsurface drip irrigation). The results showed that the irrigation methods had significant effect on Yield and Water Use efficiency (P≤ 0.01). There was significant difference between yield in surface and subsurface drip irrigation that was 3074 and 3988 kg/ha, respectively. Water use efficiency was 0.349 kg/m3 in subsurface drip irrigation that was greater than surface drip irrigation. The highest yield and water use efficiency in drip irrigation and subsurface irrigation 4 days, 4315 kg/ha and 0.375 kg/m3 respectively and the lowest with 2 days 3107 kg/ha and 0.265 kg/m3, respectively. Yields in irrigation intervals of 2, 4 and 6 days were 3491, 3725 and 3364 kg/ha, respectively, with no significance difference. The highest water use efficiency and yield were obtained in subsurface irrigation method with 4 days interval as 4315 kg/ha and 0.375 kg/m3 respectively, while the least water use efficiency and yield was obtained in surface irrigation method with 2 days interval as 3107 kg/ha and 0.265 kg/m3, respectively. Finally, using subsurface drip irrigation with irrigation every 4 days was chosen as the best treatment.
