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Considering the uncertainty of rainfall and prolonged droughts in semiarid regions, optimizing water management through techniques like partial root-zone drying (PRD) is crucial for sustainable banana production. This study aimed to evaluate the 'Prata-Anã Gorutuba' banana under irrigation by PRD. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five irrigation strategies (PRD7 50%–50% ETc and 7-day frequency of alternation of the irrigated side—FA, PRD14 50%–50% ETc and 14-day FA, PRD21 50%–50% ETc and 21-day FA, FX 50%–50% ETc and fixed irrigation, and irrigation with 100% ETc on both sides of the plant—FULL) with five replicates. Soil water content, physiological, vegetative, yield characteristics, and water productivity were assessed over two production cycles. PRD on the dry side lowered soil water content below optimal levels for banana cultivation, increased transpiration, and decreased photosynthesis and instantaneous water use efficiency with rising temperatures, while photosynthesis increased with stomatal conductance. PRD reduced plant vigor and delayed flowering in the first cycle. Compared to full and fixed irrigation, PRD conserves water while maintaining crop yields. Water productivity was higher under PRD, with PRD14 (50% ETc and 14-day alternation) offering the best water use efficiency while maintaining yield, making it suitable for 'Prata-Anã Gorutuba' banana cultivation. The study recommends PRD for sustainable banana farming in regions with limited water resources, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and better water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The banana crop is extremely demanding of nutrients and quite sensitive to soil-related growth factors. A field experiment was set up to evaluate the effect of irrigation and soil-cover management on the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of an Oxisol cultivated with banana, in Northeast Brazil. We tested two irrigation systems (drip or microsprinkler) and two types of fertilizer application (manual or fertigation). At the same time, the effect of mulch as soil-covering was assessed. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four replications. The soil attributes were evaluated: total porosity; macroporosity; microporosity; bulk density; pH in water; exchangeable P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na contents; potential acidity; total soil organic carbon (C); basal soil respiration; microbial biomass C and phosphatase activity. The irrigation system and mulch cover did not significantly affect the physical attributes of the soil. The combined management of banana mulch and fertigation increased the levels of P, K, Cations exchange capacity, and organic C over the two years of cultivation, besides reducing the levels of exchangeable Na. Cultivating the banana under drip fertigation and using mulch from banana biomass improved the chemical fertility and increased the microbial activity of the soil. The use of mulch tends to standardize the possible differences in the phytotechnical parameters of the banana between the drip irrigation and microsprinkler systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigated agriculture needs significant amounts of water for increasing irrigated areas to meet the increase food demand. New alternatives with high water use efficiency are needed to increase crop productivity. This work evaluates the use of plastic film mulch either as groundcover or as a percolation barrier to increase yields and water use efficiency of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). An experiment was carried out with pineapple on a loamy sand-soil. The treatments were: (i) soil tillage with plastic film as groundcover combined with plastic film as a percolation barrier installed at 0.40 m below the soil surface; (ii) soil tillage with no groundcover combined with a percolation barrier; (iii) soil tillage with plastic film as groundcover only; (iv) soil tillage without groundcover and percolation barrier. The use of plastic mulch maintained the levels of soil water availability at least 80% during the crop cycle, while without it soil water values ranged from 15% to 70%. Groundcover with plastic mulch contributed significantly to decrease evapotranspiration and the medium crop coefficient. The plastic groundcover combined with or without the plastic percolation barrier yielded the better results of productivity, irrigation water productivity, and water footprint. The mean irrigation water productivity and water footprint were 667.12 kg mm−1 ha−1 and 109.0 L kg−1, respectively, for the use of a plastic groundcover combined with a plastic percolation barrier. The percolation barrier was more effective for saving water than for increasing yield. The use of percolation barrier with plastic contributed for saving 92–103 L kg−1 ha−1 when combined with or without ground cover. • Mulch controls soil water evaporation and percolation for pineapple crop. • Mulch keeps the soil with high water availability in pineapple under irrigation. • Plastic groundcover and percolation barrier enhances yields and water footprint. • Plastic film as water percolation barrier increases yield less than as groundcover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of salinity on the absorption and utilization of nutrients by cassava. For the study, cassava was submitted to four saline concentrations: 0, 20, 40, and 60mM NaCl. Results showed that the absorption of all nutrients, except nitrogen (N), was reduced by salinity, with highest reduction for potassium (K). However, all nutrients were maintained at concentrations which did not indicate mineral deficiency problem. The abnormal concentration of calcium in the tuberous roots may have been one of the factors that contributed to the lower growth of this organ and of the plant as a whole. Transports of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur from root to the aerial part was higher under salinity treatment. Efficiency in the use of all the nutrients, mainly N, was reduced due to salinity. Given that: (i) the absorption of K was the most impaired, (ii) there was abnormal accumulation of Ca in tuberous roots, and (iii) the efficiency in the use of N was the most affected, it is suggested to prioritize studies on these three issues, as a way to better understand the aspects related to the tolerance/sensitivity of cassava plants to salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the possibility of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) to reduce the negative effect of drought on growth and physiological parameters of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Plants were grown with 390 ppm or 750 ppm of CO2, under well-watered or under water deficit conditions. The study was conducted in a climate-controlled greenhouse using 14 L pots, for 100 days. For any value of fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) the carbon assimilation was always higher for plants grown under elevated [CO2]. Still, elevated [CO2] reduced the negative effect of drought on transpiration, water use efficiency, all growth measures and harvest index. Elevated [CO2] increased the dry matter of tuber roots (DMTR) of well-watered plants by 17.4%. The DMTR of plants grown under water deficit were 124.4 g and 58.9 g, respectively, for plants under elevated and ambient CO2, an increase of 112%. Thus, the CO2 effect was relatively stronger to the production of tuberous roots when cassava were subjected to water-deficit. Our results suggest that cassava tuber production might be resilient to changes in precipitation that will accompany higher atmospheric CO2 and reinforce cassava as a specie that can significantly contribute to mitigate hunger in a changing climate environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Ceres is the property of Revista Ceres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plastic film mulches have the potential to be used in papaya production, mainly aiming to reduce water application in semi-arid regions. However, there is a lack of technical information and the need to introduce mulching practices in papaya orchards. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of plastic film mulch and irrigation depths on soil water availability (SWA), stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, and agronomic traits of papaya trees. The study was carried out during 2018 and 2019 in Jaíba city, located northern Minas Gerais state, in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The experiment was a split plot design, with soil cover conditions assigned to the plots (bare soil and mulched soil) and water replenishment levels to subplots (25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% of crop evapotranspiration [ETc]). Plants were drip irrigated with water replenishments based on climate data. Soil moisture was measured along time and agronomic and physiological characteristics of papaya trees, as well. Water tensions were higher in treatments with lower water replenishments. Results showed that the increase in irrigation depth favors leaf-area growth rate, stomatal conductance, yield, and water footprint of papaya. The use of mulch together with the increase in water replenishment levels contributes for maintenance of the soil water content between the upper limit of SWA and 75%SWA. The use black plastic mulching with drip irrigation in medium-textured soil saves up to 152 L of water per Kg of fruit, and increase productivity up to 34% by replenishing the crop evapotranspiration every irrigation event. The use of black plastic as ground cover is technically feasible for keeping soil water availability above 75% by irrigation supply of at least 75% of ETc on sand-clay-loam soil. • Plastic film mulch on medium-textured soil significantly increases papaya yields at a low water footprint. • Mulch on medium textured soil reduces the effect of irrigation level on soil water availability. • Mulch on medium textured soil keeps water available at adequate depletion levels for irrigation management. • Mulching practice is technically feasible on medium-textured soil with water supply equal to or greater than 75% of ETc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Partial rootzone drying (PRD) technique enhances the rational use of irrigation water. • Alternating the irrigated side in up to 14 days does not compromise papaya gas exchanges. • PRD with a 35 % irrigation reduction increases WUE without a yield penalty. • PRD is an effective strategy to reduce water footprint in papaya crop. Partial rootzone drying (PRD) is an irrigation technique that usually applies less water (than well-watered control treatments) to only part of the rootzone (the irrigated side) and alternates the irrigated and non-irrigated sides. However, an incomplete understanding of the effects of its components (decreased water application versus frequency of alternating the irrigated side) on physiological responses of fruit crops such as papaya, is considered to be a constraint for its adoption under semiarid conditions. Therefore, a study was performed to determine effects of PRD on soil water dynamics, leaf gas exchange, yield, water use efficiency and water footprint in field-grown papaya. Yields and physiological measurements were evaluated under control (Full Irrigation - FI) and restricted (50 % and 35 % reduction in irrigation water depth - IWD) irrigation with the irrigated side alternated every 0, 7, 14 and 21 days. A drip irrigation system with three emitters on each side of the plant was used to apply surface drip irrigation as needed to supplement natural rainfall during the study period. Physiological functions, including stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration (E) and net photosynthesis (A) did not differ among treatments, but resultant differences in plant height and diameter growth rates were found to be significantly and positively related to yield. Decreasing the irrigation applied at moderate alternate frequency (PRD7 35 % and PRD14 35 %) increased agronomic water use efficiency of papaya (AWUE) without compromising its yield and gas exchange. Therefore, PRD strategy with irrigated side alternation frequency of every 7–14 days with a 35 % reduction in the irrigation depth could become a viable technique to reduce the water footprint of papaya, thus increasing the effective use of water under semiarid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]