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Panax notoginseng cultivation planting conditions are harsh and require high soil moisture and slope of cultivated land, plus it takes 3–7 years from planting to harvesting. At present, the continuous crop barrier of Panax notoginseng has not been solved, which makes the arable land suitable for planting significantly reduced. And yet, there is almost no report on the impact of coupling water and slope on the growth of Panax notoginseng. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of different irrigation levels and slopes on soil water content (SWC) in the root zone, soil nutrient content, root characteristics, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), partial fertilizer productivity (PFP) and economic benefits of Panax notoginseng. During 2018–2020, a field experiment was conducted in the Panax notoginseng growing seasons with three irrigation levels (I 1 : 70–75% θ FC , I 2 : 75–80% θ FC , I 3 : 80–85% θ FC) and three slopes (S 1 : 2.43°, S 2 : 6.38°, S 3 : 16.38°). The results evidenced that soil water and nutrient content increased with increasing irrigation and decreased with increasing slope. The yield of Panax notoginseng , root morphological characteristics, WUE, PFP, and economic benefits showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with the increase of irrigation amount and slope, which increased with the increase of planting years. These parameters reached their maximum at the irrigation I 2 (75–80% θ FC) and slope S 2 (6.38°) treatments. Thus, based on the results of this study, medium irrigation I 2 (75–80% θ FC) and slope S 2 (6.38°) should be considered as the best slope and water management strategy to obtain both high Panax notoginseng yield and economic benefits. Through establishing a multi-objective optimization model with binary quadratic regression analysis. It was indicated that Panax notoginseng yield, WUE, PFP, and economic benefits simultaneously reached ≥ 98% of their maximum values when irrigation interval was 152–193 mm and slope interval was 5.4–9°. In summary, the results obtained in this study have important practical significance for the water management of Panax notoginseng cultivation in slope farmland in Yunnan Province, China. [Display omitted] • Water regulation technology for Panax notoginseng cultivation on sloping land was proposed. • Soil nutrient content and Soil water content gradually decreases with increasing slope. • I 2 S 2 treatment obtain maximum yield and economic efficiency. • Irrigation interval of 152-193 mm and slope interval of 5.4-9° determined to make yield, economic benefits, PFP and WUE reach ≥ 98% maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, called Sanqi, is a valuable herbal plant and is widely used in Chinese medicine. However, the yield and saponin content cannot be guaranteed due to irrational irrigation and fertilizer management in low-latitude regions in southwestern China. To obtain suitable irrigation and organic fertilizer modes for improving the yield and saponin content of the plant, a shelter experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments with three replications. Three irrigation regimes, D L , D M and D S (irrigation upper/lower limit: 65–50% θ f , 50–35% θ f , and 35–20% θ f , respectively, where θ f is the field capacity), three organic fertilizer levels, F L , F M and F H (33, 48 and 63 t ha−1, respectively), and a control group, CK (65–50% θ f and 3 t ha−1), were applied in the two-year and eight-month growth cycles. With the paired comparison design, the results indicated that the flower dry yield, root dry yield and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) were significantly affected by different water deficit irrigation and organic fertilizer treatments, and they first increased and then decreased with increased water deficit or organic fertilizer. Compared with D L F H , D M F M reduced water use by 42.39% and fertilizer use by 23.81%, and the flower dry yield, root dry yield, PNS , water use efficiency and partial factor productivity of fertilizer increased by 19.67%, 22.52%, 54.33%, 149.72% and 91.83%, respectively. Under the D M F M treatment, the dry root yield and saponin content for 3-year-old P. notoginseng were 3039.19 kg ha−1 and 10.85%, respectively, which were higher than those resulting from other treatments. Additionally, the PNS resulting from D M F M exhibited the highest comprehensive score and comprehensive index based on principal component analysis and the TOPSIS model. This combination could create a higher yield of flowers and roots, provide a scientific management for planting, and improve the economic benefits for planters and the local government. • Study highlights role of deficit irrigation and organic fertilizer on Panax notoginseng growth. • Fertigation with highest irrigation and fertilizer amount increase root disease incidence and decrease root dry yield. • Severe drought stress significantly increased the water use efficiency for P. notoginseng. • Organic fertilizer schedule with water irrigation amount of 50~35% θf is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To investigate the effect of alternate drip irrigation on hydraulic conductivity and water-use efficiency of young pear tree, a field experiment was conducted with three drip irrigation methods, i.e. alternate drip irrigation (ADI, both sides of the root-zone irrigated alternatively), fixed drip irrigation (FDI, only one side of the root-zone irrigated), conventional drip irrigation (CDI, watering near the base of tree), and three irrigation levels, i.e. irrigation quantity of 20 (W1), 30 (W2) and 40mm (W3), respectively. Results show that compared to CDI, ADI reduced total hydraulic conductivity (root to leaf), soil evaporation, evapotranspiration, leaf area and total dry mass of young pear tree, but increased water-use efficiency (WUE ET ) and irrigation water-use efficiency (WUE I ) when the watering was reduced by 50% at W1, and it reduced soil evaporation, evapotranspiration, leaf area and total dry mass, but increased total hydraulic conductivity (root to leaf), WUE ET and WUE I when the watering was reduced by 25–33% at W2 and W3. However, FDI significantly decreased total hydraulic conductivity and total dry mass when compared to CDI. Thus ADI significantly increased total hydraulic conductivity due to its more evenly watering to the whole root-zone, which led to the increase of water-use efficiency when the watering was reduced by 25–33%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

At present, the state has introduced the policy of forest Chinese herbal medicine planting planning, strictly prohibiting the planting of Chinese herbal medicine in basic farmland, coupled with the fact that the continuous cropping obstacles of Panax notoginseng have not yet been solved, which makes the area of arable land suitable for planting become less and less. However, the effect of soil moisture regulation on the growth of Panax notoginseng cultivated on sloping arable land has not been reported. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of various irrigation levels and slopes on Panax notoginseng agronomic traits, physiological characteristics, disease attributes, biomass, and quality characteristics. During 2018–2020, a field experiment was conducted in the Panax notoginseng growing seasons with three irrigation levels (I1: 70–75% θ FC , I2: 75–80% θ FC , I3: 80–85% θ FC) and three slopes (S1: 2.43°, S2: 6.38°, S3: 16.38°). The results evidenced that the photosynthetic characteristics, root hydraulic conductivity characteristics, biomass and PNS of Panax notoginseng reached the maximum value in the I2S2 treatment, and at the same time, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was the lowest. Therefore, based on the results of this study, irrigation volume I2S2 should be regarded as the optimal slope and irrigation management strategies for reducing Panax notoginseng diseases and realizing stable yield and quality improvement of Panax notoginseng. A multi-objective optimization model was established through binary quadratic regression analysis. The findings evidenced that when the irrigation interval was 187–203 mm and the slope interval was 5–10.7°, Panax notoginseng had the lowest incidengce rate, and the root biomass and saponin content reached > 95% of the maximum values at the same time. [Display omitted] • Moisture and slope coupling reduces root rot in Panax notoginseng • Panax notoginseng had the worst hydraulic conductivity under I1S3 treatment • The most suitable slope for planting Panax notoginseng is 5–10.7° • Irrigation 152–193 mm balanced the relationship between morbidity, yield, and PNS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still a long-term challenge to decrease root rot and improve saponin content of Panax notoginseng , thus economic benefits in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, China. The objective of this study was therefore to propose a promising abiotic stresses strategy: deficit irrigation combined with sodium chloride (DISC) to cope with the challenge. A two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of deficit irrigation combined with sodium chloride on physiological traits, yield, quality attributes, water use efficiency, and economic benefit of Panax notoginseng in 2018 and 2019. Experiment treatments consisted of two deficit irrigation levels [ D L , light deficit level: irrigation upper∼lower limit (80–65 %) θ FC ; D M , moderate deficit level: irrigation upper∼lower limit: (70–55 %) θ FC , where θ FC represents field capacity] and five NaCl application rates [0 (C 0), 15 (C 1), 30 (C 2), 45 (C 3), and 60 (C 4) mmol L−1], respectively. All treatments were designed using a randomized complete block with three replications. The results indicated that DISC could significantly promote the physiology and growth of Panax notoginseng and improve yield, quality and economic benefits under micro-sprinkler irrigation and shaded conditions in 2018 and 2019. Compared with the D M C 0 and D L C 0 treatments, D L C 1 treatment significantly improved net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), root (k r), shoot (k sh), and canopy (k c) hydraulic conductance of Panax notoginseng. The D L C 1 treatment significantly increased root length, surface area, average diameter, and volume of root of Panax notoginseng compared with the D M C 0 and D L C 0 treatments. The D L C 1 treatment significantly improved rood dry matter, yield, saponin content of Panax notoginseng , water use efficiency, and economic benefits by decreasing the incidence of root rot, but reverse results were observed in the D L C 2 , D L C 3 , and D L C 4 treatments. Therefore, this study suggested that deficit irrigation amount [ D L , (80–65 %) θ FC ] combined with NaCl concentration (C 1 , 15 mmol L−1) should be recommended as an appropriate agronomic management strategy to alleviate root rot and improve water use efficiency, saponin content, economic benefits of Panax notoginseng in the seasonally arid region of Southwest China. [Display omitted] • Deficit irrigation combined with sodium chloride (DISC): a strategy to improve Panax notoginseng production. • The DISC decreased root rot and improved physiological features of plant. • The DISC improved yield, quality, and economic benefits of Panax notoginseng. • The DISC [ D L , (80–65 %) θ FC and C 1 , (15 mmol L−1)] should be recommended to promote production of Panax notoginseng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive rainfall and irrigation amount in the facility herbal medicine production system (FHmPS) in China leading to a severe root rot disease of Panax notoginseng , which endangers root yield and quality, compromise economic profit and waste resources. Therefore, the objective of our research was to seek optimal irrigation and cultivation management strategy for FHmPS to improve Panax notoginseng production and economic benefit. A three-year (2019, 2020 and 2021) field experiment was conducted on Panax notoginseng under two shelter-cultivation [rain-shelter cultivation (Sr) and unrain-shelter cultivation (NSr)] at three deficit irrigation levels [ I 1= 65%W, I 2= 75%W, I 3= 85% W, where W was the irrigation quota when the upper and lower limits of irrigation are (100% ∼ 40%) θ FC under shelter-cultivation] to explore the combined practices effects on yield, quality, economic benefit, water productivity (WP) and nutrients uptake of Panax notoginseng , and to obtain the optimal irrigation and cultivation supply practice by the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that SrI 2 obtained relatively high plant nutrient uptake, net profit, WP, and quality. SrI 2 significantly decreased the root rot incidence by 6–17.5% in comparison to other treatments. However, compared with rain-shelter cultivation, unrain-shelter cultivation weaken these effects in Panax notoginseng. Deficit irrigation promoted Sr to obtain higher WP than NSr. According to the result of TOPSIS, the comprehensive ranking of SrI 2 and SrI 3 were first and second among the practices, regardless of growing seasons and planting years. The SrI 2 significantly decreased the yield of Panax notoginseng by 5.4%− 20.8% in comparison to other treatments. SrI 2 and SrI 3 were highly recommended for facility herbal medicine production system (FHmPS) in the semi-arid area of Southwest China. [Display omitted] • The study proposed rain-shelter (Sr) based on traditional cultivation (NSr). • Deficit irrigation (I 2) and Sr decreased root rot rate of P. notoginseng. • The SrI 2 improved nutrient uptake and yield of P. notoginseng. • The SrI 2 improved PNS, economic benefit and WP of P. notoginseng [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational application of water and fertilizer management practices can not only improve mango (Mangifera indica L.) yield and quality but also improve irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE). However, few studies have addressed the use of water and fertilizer management practices in hot, dry environments with the aim of achieving relatively favorable levels of these parameters concurrently. We used the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method to identify optimal water and fertilizer management practices that resulted in high fruit yields and high IWUE in Southwest China. A randomized block design study with four irrigation levels [full irrigation throughout the growth period (FI), regulated deficit irrigation during flowering (RDI FS), regulated deficit irrigation during fruit expansion (RDI ES), and regulated deficit irrigation at maturity (RDI MS)] and three fertilization levels [F H , a water-soluble compound fertilizer (N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O = 12:8:40) applied at 129.0 kg ha−1; F M , 103.2 kg ha−1; and F L , 77.4 kg ha−1] was implemented in 2018 and 2019 to investigate these relationships. The net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (Gs) of mango under the different water deficit treatments were significantly lower than those under the FI treatment with the same fertilization conditions, but the instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUEi) of the leaves increased. The fresh fruit yield, solids:acid ratio (SOAR), sugar:acid ratio (SUAR), and IWUE under the RDI FS treatment were significantly lower than those under the FI treatment at the same fertilization rates. Averaged over all fertilization rates, the fruit yield under RDI ES was 8.6–22.3% lower than that under FI in both years, but the IWUE significantly increased from 3.7% to 18.6%. Compared with the FI treatment, the RDI MS treatment had no significant effect on fruit yield but significantly increased the IWUE (35.5–44.7%), total sugar (TS) content (3.7–8.5%), and carotenoid content (CC) (1.5–13.1%) in both years. At the same irrigation level, the Pn, Gs and Tr increased with an increasing fertilization rate, while the fruit yield, IWUE, TS, and vitamin C (VC) content of fresh fruit first decreased but then increased with increasing fertilization rate. IWUE was more closely related to photosynthesis characteristics at the flowering stage than at the mature stage, but fruit quality was more closely related to photosynthesis characteristics at the mature stage than at the flowering stage. Compared with the FIF H treatment, the RDI MS F M treatment significantly increased the fruit yield by 10.1% and 6.6% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and increased the IWUE by 28.1% and 35.6%, respectively. On the basis of the TOPSIS method, the multi-target optimum scheduling of mango was achieved under the RDI MS F M treatment. The identified optimum combination of water and fertilizer can provide a scientific basis for irrigation and fertilization optimization and management in the hot, dry environment of Southwest China. • TOPSIS was used to determine the best water-saving irrigation method for mango. • IWUE was close to photosynthetic characteristics at flowering stage. • Fruit quality was closely related to photosynthetic characters in maturity stage. • The mango yield was significantly increased by RDI at maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of seasonal nutrient demand is necessary for maximizing potato yield and resources use efficiency under drip fertigation, and it also can effectively mitigate the risk of nutrient leaching caused by excessive fertilization. To explore the coupling effects of irrigation level and fertilization rate on drip-fertigated potato growth, nutrient accumulation and determine the multi-objective optimal irrigation and fertilization regimes, a two-year (2018 and 2019) field experiment was conducted in the sandy regions of northern China. The experiments included three irrigation levels (I 60 , 60% ET C ; I 80 , 80% ET C and I 100 , 100% ET C , where ETc is the crop evapotranspiration) and five fertilization rates (N 0 P 0 K 0 , 0 kg ha−1; N 1 P 1 K 1 , 100–17.5–124.5 kg ha−1; N 2 P 2 K 2 , 150–26.2–186.7 kg ha−1; N 3 P 3 K 3 , 200–34.9–248.9 kg ha−1 and N 4 P 4 K 4 , 250–43.7–311.2 kg ha−1, where the ratio of N, P and K was 1:0.17:1.24). The results showed that N, P and K accumulated rapidly from 42th to 95th, 50th to 96th and 46th to 91th days after sowing, respectively. For producing 1000 kg tuber yield, the required amounts of N, P and K were 1.97–4.16 kg, 0.55–0.81 kg and 4.83–7.65 kg, respectively. The uptakes of N, P and K in 1000 kg tubers across all treatments were 1:0.18–0.34:1.61–2.59, with the average N:P:K ratio of 1:0.23:2.05. Besides, irrigation level, fertilization rate and their interaction had significant effects on potato leaf area index, biomass, N, P and K accumulation. Deficit irrigation reduced seasonal LAI, biomass, N, P and K accumulation, tuber yield and apparent fertilizer recovery (AFR), but increased water productivity. High fertilization rate was conducive to promoting nutrient absorption, plant growth and improving tuber yield, while it reduced the unit nutrient productivity. The AFR increased first and then decreased with the increase of fertilization rate. To simultaneously achieve high potato yield and resources use efficiency, a multi-objective optimization model was established using the binary quadratic regression analysis between tuber yield, net income, water productivity, AFR and water–fertilizer regimes, which showed that tuber yield, net income, water productivity, and AFR could obtained ≥ 90% of their maximum values simultaneously when the irrigation interval was 204–262 mm and fertilization (N-P-K) interval ranged from 200–24–248 to 247–42–306 kg ha−1. The findings can provide useful information for optimizing irrigation and fertilization regimes in sandy regions of northern China. ● Nutrient uptake process under virous drip fertigation combinations was explored. ● Water and fertilization had significant effects on nutrient accumulation and yield. ● 1.97–4.16 kg N, 0.55–0.81 kg P and 4.83–7.65 kg K were needed to produce 1 t tuber. ● Interval of fertigation was put forward through a multi-objective optimization model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield and quality of Arabica coffee ( Coffea arabica ) cannot be guaranteed due to irrational irrigation and light management in dry and hot regions of southwest China. The objective of this study was to obtain rational irrigation and shading mode for efficient light and water use, suitable yield and high nutritional quality of Arabica coffee. Taking full irrigation (FI) as the control, the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) (DI75 and DI50, 75 and 50% of full irrigation amount, respectively) on photosynthesis, yield, nutritional quality and water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated under four shading levels (Sh0 no shading, Sh30, Sh45 and Sh60, 30, 45 and 60% shading, respectively) using the field experiments, and a comprehensive benefit assessment model of yield, nutritional quality and WUE was established under different irrigation and shading treatments. Results indicated that DI75 increased leaf apparent radiation use efficiency and the contents of crude fat and chlorogenic acid in dry bean if compared to FI. In comparison with Sh0, Sh30 enhanced dry bean yield, WUE and the contents of total sugar and chlorogenic acid in dry bean. Compared with FISh0 (CK), DI75Sh30 raised dry bean yield, WUE, and the contents of total sugar, protein, crude fat and chlorogenic acid, but reduced the caffeine content. Principal component analysis showed that DI75Sh30 had optimal comprehensive nutritional quality, and TOPSIS method indicated that DI75Sh30 had the optimal comprehensive benefit, showing that our results can provide scientific basis for rational irrigation and light management of Arabica coffee in dry and hot regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper irrigation by Panax notoginseng growers can lead to soil consolidation, low fertilizer utilization, and decreased yield quality. In an attempt to provide a scientific and theoretical basis for Panax notoginseng cultivation to improve soil microhabitat and yield quality, field experiment were conducted on three-year-old Panax notoginseng in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The experimental design consisted of two control factors, the amount of irrigation (W) and the amount of fertilizer (F) applied. The irrigation was set to three levels, as W1, W2, and W3, with exact irrigation volumes of 5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm. The amount of fertilizer applied was different in all four growth stages. The amount of fertilizer applied according to the four growth stages (rooting stage: seedling stage: flowering stage: fruiting stage), where F1 (360–360–360–360 kg∙hm−2), F2 (288–360–432–360 kg∙hm−2), F3 (216–432–432–360 kg∙hm−2) and F4 (144–576–288–432 kg∙hm−2). The W and F were randomly combined to form a total of 12 treatments. And a control treatment (CK), was added, and CK was neither irrigated nor fertilization. For obtaining the best treatment results, the TOPSIS method was used to comprehensively evaluate the soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, enzyme activity, physiological growth and saponin content of Panax notoginseng in 13 different water and fertilizer treatments. The results indicated that microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, urease, sucrase, acid phosphatase and catalase activities of Panax notoginseng soil were significantly different (P < 0.05) and varied with the growth stage. The comprehensive evaluation by the TOPSIS method ranked W3F4 first and was the optimal treatment. The W3F4 treatment was more beneficial to the quality of Panax notoginseng than the other 12 treatments. W3F4 had the largest soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content. W3F4 had the highest urease, sucrase, acid phosphatase, and catalase activities, which were 1.95, 1.69, 2.32, and 1.47 times higher than the CK treatment, respectively. W3F4 significantly improved R 1 , Rg 1 , Re, Rb 1 , and Rd saponin content. This study provided a theoretical basis for the water and fertilizer regulation of Panax notoginseng with its green, healthy and efficient quality cultivation. • W3F4 treatment was most beneficial for the increase of ginsenoside content. • Soil microbial biomass C and N were negatively associated with Re, and were positively associated with R 1. • Soil water content, sucrase, acid phosphatase, catalase, and urease were negatively correlated with Rb 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and fertilizer are two important factors affecting crop growth and yield. Crop growth models are powerful tools for making irrigation and fertilization scheduling and predicting crop yield. The performance of crop models on potato under different irrigation amounts along with different N, P and K rates has been rarely evaluated, especially under drip fertigation. In this study, the accuracy of AquaCrop and DSSAT-SUBSTOR-Potato models in simulating potato growth, yield and water productivity under different drip fertigation regimes was compared. For model calibration and validation, a two-year field experiment with three irrigation levels (W 1 , 60% ET C ; W 2 , 80% ET C and W 3 , 100% ET C , where ET C was the crop evapotranspiration) and four fertigation (N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O) rates (F 1 : 100–40–150 kg ha−1, F 2 : 150–60–225 kg ha−1, F 3 : 200–80–300 kg ha−1 and F 4 : 250–100–375 kg ha−1) was carried out in a sandy region of northwest China in 2018 and 2019. The statistical indicators showed that the AquaCrop model gave satisfactory predictions of canopy cover (R 2 ≥ 0.92, NRMSE ≤ 14.7%, d ≥ 0.96 and RMSE ≤ 10.8%), total dry matter (R 2 ≥ 0.92, NRMSE ≤ 25.0%, d ≥ 0.94 and RMSE ≤ 2.2 t ha−1), final dry tuber yield (R 2 ≥ 0.57, NRMSE ≤ 12.21%, d ≥ 0.82 and RMSE ≤ 0.83 t ha−1) and fresh tuber yield (R 2 ≥ 0.53, NRMSE ≤ 12.02%, d ≥ 0.81 and RMSE ≤ 4.91 t ha−1) in the four fertigation treatments (F 1 -F 4) under W 3 and W 2 during the two potato growing seasons. The final total dry matter and tuber yield under W 1 were over-estimated. The simulated water productivity and soil water content also agreed well with the observations (R 2 ≥ 0.91 , NRMSE ≤ 5.51%, d ≥ 0.94 and RMSE ≤ 0.48 kg m−3, and R 2 ≥ 0.40 , NRMSE ≤ 14.8%, d ≥ 0.77 and RMSE ≤ 11.5 mm). The simulation accuracy of DSSAT-SUBSTOR-Potato model was lower than that of AquaCrop model, which only showed a goodness of fit between simulated total dry matter, soil water content, tuber yield, water productivity and observations under high irrigation amount with high fertilization rate (W 3 F 4). Since the observed tuber yield increased with the increase of irrigation level (60–100% ET C) under the same fertigation rate, 120%ET C and 40%ET C were further simulated using the AquaCrop model to test the changes in tuber yield with further increased or decreased irrigation levels. The scenarios simulation showed that the tuber yield was only increased by 0.19%−1.52% under 120%ET C compared with that under 100% ET C , but 18.0% more irrigation water was consumed. Comprehensively considering water resources and tuber yield, the irrigation level of 100% ET C (W 3) along with fertigation (N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O) rate of 200–80–300 kg ha−1 (F 3) was recommended for the sustainable potato production in the study region. The results of this study can provide guidance for the application of crop models in drip-fertigated potato. • AquaCrop and DSSAT-SUBSTOR-Potato were evaluated under various drip fertigation regimes. • AquaCrop adequately simulated the effects of irrigation and fertilization regimes on potato. • Simulation accuracy of DSSAT-SUBSTOR-potato was lower than that of AquaCrop. • 100% ET C along with N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O rate of 200–80–300 kg ha−1 was recommenced for potato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to obtain water and nitrogen (N) management mode for water saving, high quality and proper yield of Arabica coffee in dry and hot region of southwest China. Taking full irrigation (FI) as the control, the effects of three deficit irrigation (DI) levels (DI 80 , DI 60 and DI 40 , with irrigation amount of 80, 60 and 40% FI, respectively) in dry season on growth, yield, nutritional quality and water use efficiency (WUE) of Arabica coffee were investigated under three N rates (N H : 140, N M : 100 and N L : 60 g N plant −1 ) using field experiments from 2013 to 2015, and the comprehensive benefit of yield and nutritional quality was evaluated using the technique for ordering preferences by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. Compared with FI, DI 80 increased two-year averaged contents of protein, crude fat and chlorogenic acid in dry bean by 9.4, 26.0 and 12.5%, respectively, but reduced dry bean yield by 6.4%. DI 60 and DI 40 reduced dry bean yield and water use efficiency (WUE) greatly, but increased the contents of caffeine and crude fiber in dry bean. Compared with N L , enhancing N rate increased dry bean yield, WUE, and the contents of protein and chlorogenic acid in dry bean by 32.9–42.6, 32.1–45.4, 5.9–9.7 and 7.0–12.6%, respectively, and N M level had the largest dry bean yield, WUE and chlorogenic acid content in dry bean. FIN M treatment had the largest two-year averaged dry bean yield of 5587.42 kg ha −1 and 31.8% higher than FIN L treatment. DI 80 N H treatment had the best comprehensive benefit of yield and nutritional quality. Compared with FIN L treatment, DI 80 N H treatment increased two-year averaged dry bean yield, WUE and the contents of protein and chlorogenic acid by 29.5, 42.7, 19.3 and 20.0%, respectively. Thus the treatment of high N (140 g plant −1 ) and moderate deficit irrigation (irrigation amount was 80% of FI) was the suitable mode of water and nitrogen management for Arabica coffee, which could realize water-saving, high quality and proper yield of Arabica coffee simultaneously in the dry and hot region of southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the widely grown fruit crops and brings remarkable economic benefit in the xerothermic regions of southwest China. However, mango yield and quality can not be guaranteed due to the severe seasonal drought, low precipitation and extensive management of water and fertilizer. To investigate the effects of irrigation amount and fertilizer regime on mango yield, fruit quality, water use efficiency (WUE) and partial fertilizer productivity (PFP), an orthogonal experiment [L 9 (3)4] was conducted on mango under drip fertigation during 2018–2019. The four factors were irrigation amount (IA) and fertilization rate at the flowering (F Ⅰ), fruit expansion (F Ⅱ) and fruit ripening (F Ⅲ) growth stages. There were three irrigation amounts, i.e., full irrigation (FI: 100%ET c), mild deficit irrigation (DI M : 75%ET c) and severe deficit irrigation (DI S : 50%ET c), and three fertilization rates, i.e., 75 (F 75), 50 (F 50) and 25 (F 25) kg ha−1 using a compound water-soluble fertilizer (N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O=20%:20%:20%). The results showed the order of factors influencing fruit yield and WUE in terms of their importance was IA, F Ⅱ , F Ⅰ and F Ⅲ , that influencing water, vitamin C and carotenoid contents in fruit was IA, F Ⅲ , F Ⅱ and F Ⅰ , and that influencing soluble solids and total sugar contents was IA, F Ⅲ , F Ⅰ and F Ⅱ. The WUE of DI M F Ⅰ50 F Ⅱ75 F Ⅲ25 was highest. FIF Ⅰ25 F Ⅱ75 F Ⅲ50 achieved the highest fruit yield, PFP and contents of soluble solid, vitamin C and carotenoid. DI M F Ⅰ25 F Ⅱ50 F Ⅲ75 had the highest total sugar content and the lowest titratable acid content. Based on the comprehensive scoring method, DI M F Ⅰ50 F Ⅱ75 F Ⅲ25 achieved the optimum score in terms of fruit yield and water–fertilizer use efficiency, while FIF Ⅰ25 F Ⅱ75 F Ⅲ50 was optimum for fruit quality. Further, the TOPSIS method indicated DI M F Ⅰ50 F Ⅱ75 F Ⅲ25 had the optimal comprehensive benefit. To obtain high yield, quality and water–fertilizer use efficiency, the recommended water and fertilizer scheduling was irrigation with 75% ET c and fertilization with 50, 75 and 25 kg ha−1 at the flowering, fruit expansion and fruit ripening stages, respectively. The research results provided a scientific reference for identified optimum combination irrigation and fertilizer in the xerothermic environment of southwest China. • Fruit yield, WUE, PFP and quality were more sensitive to irrigation than staged fertilization. • Increasing fertilizer allocation at fruit expansion stage, FI elevated fruit yield and PFP, while DI M increased WUE. • Improving fertilizer allocation at the later growth, FI increased SS, VC and CC, while DI M increased TS. • Optimal strategy of irrigation and split fertilization for mango was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]