Search

Sustainable irrigation water management is achievable only when irrigation scheduling is optimized to conserve water and soil resources in an agricultural setting. This study evaluated the use of remote sensing–based algorithms for determining actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) mapping to update crop coefficients (kc) of an irrigation scheduler software (WISE). The scheduler's kc values are based on the FAO-56 approach for crop evapotranspiration (ETc) determination. A surface-irrigated (furrow) maize (Zea mays L.) field in Fort Collins, Colorado, was used from July to September 2020 and 2021. An eddy covariance energy balance system (ECSEBS) installed on a tower at 3.5 m above the ground surface was used to determine hourly and daily maize ETa data. These EC-based ETa data were used to evaluate the performance of three approaches for maize ETa estimation and the FAO-56–based ETc predictions from WISE. Microsatellite PlanetScope multispectral imagery, at a 3-m-pixel spatial resolution, provided surface reflectance in the red and near-infrared bands for input in the remote sensing of ETa algorithms. On-site micrometeorological data were measured at the exact location of the ECSEBS tower. Optimization of kc values was done using an ordinary least-squares regression approach. The optimized kc values were calculated for the maize midseason growth stage. Results indicated that using remote sensing of ETa algorithms has excellent potential to improve irrigation scheduling by integrating optimized crop coefficients. WISE overestimated daily maize ETc predictions by as much as 26%. When remote sensing-based optimized kc values were introduced, the overestimation of daily maize ETc was reduced significantly, by 18% to 75%, depending on the remote sensing of the ETa algorithm used. The research findings support the combined use of remote sensing data and the FAO-56 approach for irrigation scheduling to improve agricultural water management at the farm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Due to the large number of parameters affecting surface irrigation and their temporal and spatial changes, surface irrigation management is very complicated in obtaining high efficiency and uniformity. Therefore, improving the irrigation performance based on variables with minimum implementation cost, ease of use, and the possibility of implementation in the field, is essential, and due to the high losses in surface irrigation, it is necessary to use tools that can maximize water efficiency with proper planning. Achievement is inevitable. Considering the current conditions of Lake Urmia due to its environmental crisis, the lack of water, and the importance of saving the lake from the current situation, one of the basic ways is to increase the efficiency of surface irrigation in fields. Therefore, the objectives of this research are a detailed examination of actual efficiency, calibration, and verification of WinSRFR software for the region, evaluation of the performance of the software in estimating the advance time parameters, and Evaluation of the software in estimating the efficiency of water use. In other words, the main goal is to evaluate the irrigation performance and achieve the appropriate performance through proper management so that we can move towards this goal with proper design. To achieve the aforementioned goals, field evaluation was done during the wheat growing season. Materials and Methods To collect field data, experiments were carried out in selected fields of Urmia Plain in 2015. These tests were carried out in five fall wheat fields, which were all irrigated by the closed-end strip method under the management of the farmers. In this way, one strip was selected as a test strip in each farm and the evaluation parameters were done for the desired strip. In this research, the hydrograph information of the incoming flow, the time of flow interruption, the geometric parameters of the strip, the amount of soil moisture discharge in the root zone, the progress stages, and other characteristics were measured and evaluated. The inflow hydrograph was measured by installing WSC flumes at the beginning of the strips. To measure the advance speed, the strip under test was nailed at 10 m intervals and the advance times were recorded with the movement of the water flow. The cutoff time was applied and recorded according to the opinion of the farmer. The geometric parameters of the strip, including the length, width, and slope of the strip, were obtained by mapping the tested strip. The net depth of irrigation was calculated based on the amount of soil moisture discharge in the root zone by sampling the soil just before irrigation and the gross depth of irrigation was calculated based on the amount of water given. Results and Discussion The model overestimated in some irrigations and underestimated in others. The maximum efficiency of irrigation application in the second farm (f2) and the third irrigation round (Irrg.3) with a value of 65.51% due to the application of irrigation management to reduce the flow and the minimum efficiency in the fourth farm (f4) and the first irrigation round (Irrg.1) with a value of zero percent due to the heavy rain a few days before irrigation (the soil was completely wet and its net water requirement was zero) and the farmer's re-irrigation, zero efficiency was achieved. Also, the WinSRFR software could not simulate the cut-back method well. The average efficiency in all tested farms was estimated at 23.58%. The reason for this is irrigation with low frequency and high depth of irrigation. Also, the non-uniform leveling and inappropriate slope of the strips can be considered as another factor in reducing the efficiency, which causes the slow movement of water along the strip and the increase of deep penetration losses at the beginning of the strip. The model has been able to correctly predict the progress of water flow in all irrigations. In the second irrigation of the third field, the advance time of the model has more accurately simulated the advance time of the flow compared to other irrigations. Conclusion According to the results, the simulation of the progress of the water flow and the prediction of the application efficiency by the zero inertia model by WinSRFR software were close to the measured and calculated results; So, it can be said that WinSRFR software can model with ideal accuracy (NRMSE<10%) the closed strip irrigation field under farmer management. The failure to accurately estimate the parameters of the KostiakovLewis infiltration equation and the Manning roughness coefficient, which is different in each irrigation cycle, is the cause of the error between the measured and predicted values. The results of this research showed that in the closed field fields under the management of farmers, excessive watering of the plants by the farmers caused deep infiltration losses from the root zone and the main factor of reducing efficiency in the mentioned fields. Also, the uneven and low slope of the fields, which the farmer is unwilling to level due to the high cost of leveling the land and causing the water to not move well in the strip, can be another reason for the decrease in efficiency in the fields. For accurate evaluation, it is suggested to use volumetric meters to measure the volume of water delivered to farms. Because the fluctuations resulting from the pump during irrigation cause errors in evaluation and modeling. On the other hand, due to the low willingness of farmers to implement irrigation systems under pressure, to reduce water losses, the efficiency of surface irrigation should be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four-year research experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, California, to investigate the effect of midsummer deficit irrigation on alfalfa yield, irrigation water productivity (IWP), and crop water productivity (CWP). The experiment was a randomized block design with two treatments: full and deficit irrigations with three replications. Applied irrigation water was measured using flow meters and soil matric potentials were monitored using watermark soil moisture sensors. Actual evapotranspiration (ETa) values were estimated from Tule Technologies stations. The deficit irrigation treatments resulted in 454, 706, 625, and 815 mm of irrigation water savings as compared to the full irrigation treatments in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. These values represent 30.3%, 40.9%, 37.0%, and 49.1% of the applied water savings. Alfalfa yield in the deficit treatments was reduced by 3.94, 2.04, 1.25, and 0.40 Mg ha−1 ; the equivalent of 18.1%, 11.1%, 7.1%, and 3.0% of the yield for the full irrigation treatment for the four years: with an average reduction of 10.7%. IWP was higher when deficit irrigation was implemented and resulted in 17.09, 16.11, 15.40, and 15.54 kg ha−1 mm−1 , in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. The production function using applied irrigation water (IW, mm) was: Y(yield in Mg ha−1)=0.50×(IW)2−1,633.75×(IW)+1,338,472 and Y=−0.1137×(IW)2+233.55×(IW)−103,036 for the full and deficit irrigation treatments, respectively. CWP was 18.6, 16.4, 14.9, and 12.3 kg ha−1 mm−1 for fully irrigated treatments, and 15.2, 14.9, 14.3, and 12.6 kg ha−1 mm−1 for the deficit irrigation treatments, for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. Results from this work provide growers with viable deficit irrigation practices that could be implemented during drought periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study: to study the surface irrigation method, as well as to obtain the necessary results about the optimal irrigation regimes needed during the study, as well as to prepare a set of ideas and concepts about this method and its special effectiveness in the design of species related to this method. Methodology of the research: the methodology of the research involves reviewing the literature related to surface irrigation, investigating the application of surface irrigation and its types, and based on these, determining the most optimal regime and also the suitability indicators for the plant to be applied and which areas. The applied importance of the research: the applied importance of the research is to select the optimal surface irrigation method suitable for certain areas and agricultural plants, and to learn the features of organizing sustainability in the design of this method even after the design of this method by achieving the efficiency due to the design of the surface irrigation method. The results of the research: the characteristics and indicators obtained in the research and design of surface irrigation methods and types, the negative and positive aspects of the characteristics of this method and its types, as well as the steps to be taken to solve the problems that arise in the design, the changes in the characteristics of water during the methods of this method. Scientific innovation: to increase efficiency and productivity by applying hydroaggregates in the surface irrigation method, to organize the joint activity of this method and the irrigation techniques of this method, and to develop a new integrated application technique by carrying out the integrated application of other irrigation types and irrigation types with aggregates. Also, to create a new manifestation of innovation, to obtain innovations in the organization of this irrigation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

This research was carried out in Sarvestan city of Fars province in the southwest of Iran. Due to successive droughts, the groundwater resources of this city have decreased in terms of quantity and quality. Therefore, deficit irrigation in this area is inevitable and occurs mainly by increasing the irrigation cycle in pistachio orchards. Hence, a study was conducted in a pistachio orchard of Ahmad Aghaei cultivar in Sarvestan city during 2018-2020 with the aim of comparing irrigation water productivity, crop yield and machine farm efficiency in different water distribution substrates in the surface irrigation method with constant irrigation cycle. The experimental design was performed in the form of randomized complete blocks with 4 treatments of irrigation management in three replications. The treatments were: conventional flooding method with a strip width of 6 meters (Control treatment), the creek created on both sides of the tree row (Ditcher), reducing the strip width through the border created in the middle of the row of trees (Border) and the bed of Sine-Morghi created on both sides of the rows of trees (Kadval). The amount of irrigation water according to the inflow to each treatment and the time of cut off based on the management applied by the gardener in Control, Border, Kadval and Ditcher treatments was 8400, 4648, 4200 and 3080 cubic meters per hectare, respectively. The results showed that in both years of experiment in all treatments, irrigation water productivity increased compared to the control treatment. So that in the first year that the trees had good yield, the rate of increase in Ditcher, Kadval and Border treatments compared to the control treatment was 120%, 91% and 62%, respectively. Also, according to the results of calculating the nutritional indices of pistachio leaf nutrients, it was observed that Ditcher treatment had the highest nutritional balance in the first year (1.6) and second (26.5) compared to the control. In terms of farm efficiency, there was no significant difference between the three types of Ditcher, Border, and Kadval machines, so there is no difference between their selection in the preparation of a water distribution bed for pistachio trees. Finally, Ditcher treatment was proposed as the best irrigation treatment for pistachio trees in the tested orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The groundwater irrigation of high water requiring crops has started imposing negative impacts on environment in terms of increased energy requirement and depletion of green agriculture. Thus, shifting from gravity-fed (surface) irrigation to drip irrigation is a possible way of saving a substantial amount of water in relation to decreased groundwater pumping. Keeping this in view, the present study compared the change in crop water demand, energy consumption and CO2 emission by shifting from gravity-fed/surface irrigation to drip irrigation. In the future, the potential area that can be brought under drip irrigation in the state would be about 26 times higher than that being irrigated using pressured irrigation at present. With the adoption of drip irrigation in groundwater irrigated areas, the crop water demand, energy consumption and CO2 emission can be reduced by about 35–42%, 23–31%, and 23–31%, respectively, with water application efficiencies of 85 to 95%. In canal irrigated areas, if drip irrigation is adopted over gravity-fed irrigation, up to 32–39% water demand can be reduced, whereas the energy consumption and CO2 emission would increase. Until, unless, water saving is not an issue in canal irrigated areas, gravity-fed irrigation methods may be adopted. Whereas in areas dominated with groundwater irrigation, pressurized irrigation methods particularly the drip system should be essentially adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Uruguay, the irrigation boom driven by rice cultivation between the 1970s and 2000s and the subsequent reduction of the rice area led to the underuse of impounded water. Surface irrigation of sown pastures would seem to be a good alternative to solve this problem. But, although surface irrigation has advantages, its applicability is limited by the need for precise systematization and it is not suitable for light soils, with a loamy to sandy loam texture, with a slope. This study seeks to adjust the border irrigation technology in southern Uruguay and validate the WinSRFR model in border irrigation with pastures. Nine borders were used with slopes of 2.5% to 3%, widths of 5.5 to 6.3 m and lengths of 50 to 65 m. Previously optimized flow rates were used and soil moisture was monitored with an FDR probe. Operational analysis with WinSRFR determined the necessary irrigation time. Performance parameters were evaluated: application efficiency, distribution uniformity, storage efficiency, percolation losses and runoff at the foot. The results reveal a high correlation between the model-simulated data and the observed data. Validation was carried out using 11 events of the 21 evaluated. The sensitivity analysis of the model showed a high impact on slopes of less than 1% and had no relevant effects above 3%. Variations in the roughness coefficient (n) have limited effect. Furthermore, the infiltration family influences the performance parameters.

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Surface irrigation is a widely utilized method for agricultural irrigation, but it often suffers from low conveyance efficiency. Improving flow conditions in surface irrigation systems is crucial for enhancing water distribution and optimizing crop production. This study presents a comprehensive hydraulic modelling approach aimed at improving flow conditions in irrigation canals. The analysis focuses on the Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme in Uganda and utilizes the HEC-RAS hydraulic model. Different canal conditions, including desilting and vegetation clearing, concrete lining, plastic lining, and brick lining, are evaluated for their impact on flow dynamics. The findings reveal that all four canal conditions lead to significant improvements in flow conditions compared to the current state of the canal. Plastic lining emerges as the most effective solution, resulting in a remarkable 48 % improvement in flow conditions. Concrete lining follows closely with a 37 % improvement, while brick lining shows a 39 % enhancement. Desilting and vegetation clearing contribute to a 20 % improvement in flow conditions. These results underscore the potential of hydraulic modelling in guiding the design and management of irrigation canals to ensure sustainable water use practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the water-food-energy nexus in the Lake Urmia basin was investigated to establish a balance between water and energy consumption, aiming to protect the environment and ensure food security. The research was conducted on 17 farms located in different parts of the Lake Urmia basin, encompassing the predominant crops in the region as well as a variety of irrigation systems. An integrated water-food-energy nexus index was developed, which included irrigation application efficiency, water productivity, energy ratio, energy efficiency, various water footprints and the carbon footprint. The implementation of drip irrigation systems can significantly reduce potential harm to water and energy resources, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for walnuts has increased due to their recognition as a nutritious food and a versatile ingredient in cooking and baking. As a result, walnut production has become a significant industry in many countries, providing income and employment opportunities for growers and processors. Despite the fact that one of the most important products in the world and Syria is walnuts, there has been little research on irrigation and, in particular, water productivity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the irrigation status and water productivity in several walnut orchards in As-Suwayda province, which is a significant production area for this product. In the course of this research, water productivity, irrigation water volume, and the crop performance of walnut orchards in three of the most important producing locations of this commodity in the province of As-Suwayda (Sweida) were evaluated and compared. Drip irrigation and surface irrigation methods were investigated. The t-test was used to compare irrigation water levels in orchards with gross water requirements. Drip irrigation systems in orchards save around 1700 m3 ha-1 of irrigation water, reduce yields by an average of 145 kg ha-1, and boost water productivity by roughly 0.02 kg m3, according to the findings, but none of these differences were statistically significant at the 5% level. In general, there was not a discernible difference found between drip and surface irrigation systems in terms of performance values, amount of water applied, or water productivity.

Surface irrigation is still by far the most common method adopted worldwide. For many developing countries, shifting to modern pressurized irrigation is hampered by system and energy costs. Gated pipes are an improvement on furrow irrigation. They offer an affordable modernization option for traditional surface systems. Designed to operate at low pressure, gated pipes have the potential to reduce conveyance losses, improve application uniformity, and minimize runoff, which is often responsible for spreading waterborne diseases and lowering water quality. However, very little pertinent data are available on their performance. In this paper, a new model (OptGate) for the design and performance analysis of self-compensated (SC) and conventional rectangular (CG) gated pipes is described and field validated. OptGate proved its reliability in simulating the discharges along the gated pipe with RMSE = 0.29 and 0.119 m3/h for CG and SC, respectively, under a range of streaming head pressures ranging from 2 to 10 m with a 2-m step. The proposed model can provide users with the ability to predict system performance under different pressures, spacings, gate shapes and behaviors, pipe diameters, and land topography scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furrow irrigation is one of the most common and suitable methods of surface irrigation that is used in the fields of Mirzakochek Khan Sugarcane Company in the southwest of Khuzestan. Considering the problems that sugarcane companies have recently had due to the water resources scarcity, increasing the efficiency of surface irrigation systems with the aim of reducing water supply from Karun River is necessary. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of slope, furrow length and discharge on water application (Ea) and storage efficiencies (Es) as split-split plots and randomized complete blocks design with three replications from August 2018 to September 2019 in one of the farms of Mirza Kochakh Khan Company. This study was carried out with three treatments, each at three levels, including: slope of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%, length of 150, 200 and 250 meters and flow rate of 2, 2.5 and 3 l/s. Ea was obtained between 64.7% and 77.4% and Es between 65.2% and 100%. The highest Ea was corresponded to a slope of 0.04%, a flow rate of 2 l/s and a length of 250 meters. The highest Es was corresponded to the slopes of 0.04 and 0.06%, flow rate of 2 l/s and the length of 250 meters. Consequently, the slope of 0.04%, the flow rate of 2 l/s and the length of 250 meters are sujestted for furrow irrigation system of the sugarcane lands in the south of Ahvaz due to the optimal value of Ea and Es. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing water productivity is one of the most important strategies in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the using of plastic mulch at field scale for improving the performance of surface irrigation in contrast to conventional practices in irrigated agriculture. The experiment was laid out in furrow and border irrigation system with three main treatments namely non-mulched furrows (NMF) (as control), plastic mulched furrows (FM) and plastic mulched-hole border (MB), and the sub main treatments were three lengths (15, 30 and 40 m). Each of the three main plots consisted of 9 irrigation parts each three of them represent one of the sub main treatments (furrow and border lengths). The spacing was 0.7m between all treatments. Squash crop was planted in April for two successive seasons. The results indicated that applied water was low in case of MB where the mulch effect reduced the number of irrigation times to the half. The maximum total yield was obtained from treatment with 30m length under MB (31.89 t/ha) followed by 15 m under MB (30.46 t/ha). As regard different irrigation practices with plastic mulch, maximum irrigation water productivity (8.33 to 9.15 kg/m³) was measured in MB for all lengths, followed by MF (5.11 to 5.41 kg/m³). The water saving was thus 10.44% and 46.3% under treatments MF and MB, respectively, when compared to NMF. The result of this study indicates that, using holemulching resulted a corresponding increasing of water productivity and water saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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 Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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.)

IntroductionThe effectiveness of productivity and sustainable agricultural development depends on the availability of natural resources as well as the efficiency of management measures in agricultural lands. Increasing water use efficiency is a promising way to manage agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions where there is little or no prospect of expanding water resources (Boutraa, 2010). According to Malik et al. (1993) bean yield may be reduced up to 70% when faced in competition with weeds. Extending the irrigation cycle (limited irrigation) in beans is expected to diminish not only the water consumption but also to influence the weed density along with dry matter too. Materials and MethodsThis project was conducted at Khair-abad research station in Zanjan, Iran, over a period of two years starting from the 2017 growing season. The experimental design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 24 treatments and three replications. The treatments were arranged in a strip plot layout. The vertical factor of the experiment consisted of three levels of irrigation intervals: efficient irrigation (every 4 days), limited irrigation (every 9 days), and more limited irrigation (every 12 days). The horizontal factor involved eight sub-factors of herbicides: Trifloraline, Imazethapyr, Trifloraline + Bentazone, Imazethapyr + Bentazone, Imazethapyr + Sitogate, Bentazon + Gallant Super, traditional hand mowing, and a test sub-factor with no control. Several traits were evaluated in this study, including the number of pods, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, bean grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, and productivity index. Data analysis and mean comparisons were performed using the SAS statistical software, employing Duncan's multiple range tests. Results and DiscussionThe Results indicated that both the herbicides and irrigation periods were effective on density and dry matter of weeds. Reducing irrigation intervals will allow for greater control of weed density and dry matter. Imazethapyr and Trifloraline herbicides as pre-emergence and pre-plant followed by post emergence application of Bentazone leads to about 85 and 82 % reduction at in weeds density at bean 3rd three leaflet appearance stage, 85 and 82 % reduction at 50% flowering stage bean in tow year of the study recorded the most reduction on weeds density. Moreover, these herbicides inducing about 88 and 81% decrease at bean 3rd three leaflets and 91 and 87% decrease at bean 50% flowering stage. These treatments after weeding had the highest control on weed density and dry matter. Trifloraline, when applied as a pre-plant treatment, showed the lowest effectiveness in controlling weeds among all the treatments. It resulted in an average reduction of 49% at the appearance of the bean's third three leaflets and approximately 70% reduction at the 50% flowering stage of the bean plant. This treatment consistently ranked the lowest in terms of weed control throughout the study period. The treatments of Imazethapyr, whether applied solely as a pre-emergence treatment or in combination with Situgate as a post-emergence treatment, were found to be ineffective in controlling weeds. Therefore, these treatments are not recommended for weed management in beans, particularly under limited irrigation regimes. The maximum number of sheaths, grains per sheath, and weight of 100 grains were observed in the irrigation regime of every 4 days when integrated with the application of Trifloraline, traditional hand mowing, Imazethapyr + Situgate, and Imazethapyr alone. In terms of bean harvest, the highest yields of 5175 kg/ha, 4707 kg/ha, and 4624 kg/ha were obtained from the irrigation regime of every 4 days when integrated with traditional hand mowing, the application of Imazethapyr + Bentazone, and Imazethapyr + Situgate, respectively. On the other hand the best biological performance as 9950, 9783, and 9733 kg/ha were related to 4 days interval when integrated with application of Imazethapyr + Bentazone, hand mowing, and Imazethapyr + Situgate. The maximum bean harvest index at 52.82 and 50.80 percent were related to 4 and 9 days intervals integrated with hand mowing, followed by 50.54 percent related to 4 days round integrated with Imazethapyr and 9 days round integrated with Trifloraline+ Bentazone. The highest water efficiency as 0.83 was related to 9 days interval whereas the lowest one as 0.48 was related to 4 days round. Regarding the horizontal factors, during the two years study the maximum water efficiency as 0.86, 0.77, and 0.76 were registered at treatments of hand mowing, application of combined Imazethapyr + Bentazone, and combined Imazethapyr + Situgate, respectively. ConclusionBased on the overall results and considering water shortage as well as water usage efficiency and decreasing the amount of both performance and traits of performance reduction in Chiti bean "Kosha" leading to desirable weeds control and bean yield, nine days round irrigation could be recommended provided with application of Imazethapyr or trifloraline herbicides with Bentazone.

Population growth and limited water and soil resources make it necessary to pay attention to the factors affecting food production, including the suitability of irrigation methods with agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to assess land suitability for surface, drip, and sprinkler irrigation methods based on a parametric evaluation system in an area of 250 hectares in the Shahid Rajaei plain of Khuzestan. Soil properties were analyzed, then suitability maps for different irrigation methods were prepared using a geographic information system (GIS). The results showed that for surface irrigation, 704 ha (31.3%) was marginally suitable (S3), 866 ha (38.5%) was currently not suitable (N1), and 680 ha (30.2%) was permanently not suitable (N2). For drip irrigation, 8 hectares (0.4%) are highly suitable (S1), 644 hectares (28.6%) are moderately suitable (S2), 52 hectares (2.3%) are marginally suitable (S3), 866 hectares (38.5%) were currently not suitable (N1), and 680 hectares (30.2%) were permanently not suitable (N2). For sprinkler irrigation, 652 hectares (29%) are moderately suitable (S2), 52 hectares (2.3%) are marginally suitable (S3), 866 hectares (38.5%) are currently not suitable (N1), and 680 hectares (30.2%) were permanently not suitable (N2). According to the results, sprinkler irrigation with an irrigation capability index of 29.9 to 60.7 in 2242 hectares (99.6%) is preferable to other irrigation methods. Drip irrigation in 8 hectares (0.4%) was found to be the most suitable method. The main limiting factors in using all three irrigation methods included salinity, alkalinity, and drainage. Also, soil calcium carbonate was added to the limiting factors in drip irrigation.

Irrigation performance assessments under actual operation conditions are required as a first step toward improving agricultural water management. In this study, the seasonal irrigation performance of peaches and nectarines was evaluated under actual operation conditions by monitoring 24 orchards, in Ardabil Province (Parsabad and Meshginshahr counties), Iran, during the growing season 2018-2019. The total sum of seasonal applied water and effective precipitation (I + Pe) and the fruit yield ranged from 280-1675 mm and 1.00-32.43 ton ha-1 (with a weighted average of 582 mm and 14.61 ton ha-1 ), respectively. The mean Relative Irrigation Supply index (RIS) for the drip irrigation method (1.25) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the surface irrigation method (1.66). The water productivity indicators were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the orchardist's skill level, interplantion of trees, tree spacing, irrigation method, and disease/frost (DF) damage. Post-harvest period accounted for a mean proportion of 75, 25, and 15% of the seasonal applied water in orchards with earlyseason, late-season, and mixed early- and late-season cultivars, respectively. DF damage accounted for an 87 and 85% reduction in fruit yield and water productivity (WPI+Pe), respectively, compared to the orchards without severe DF damage. Under the current technological and economic constraints, most of the study orchards experienced a rational (but yet with low productivity) irrigation water management. Improving irrigation efficiency and fruit yield, controlling DF damage, and implementing regulated deficit irrigation during preand post-harvest stages are the most effective approaches to improve water productivity indicators in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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.)

Reliable estimates of the seasonal applied water and irrigation performance assessment indicators under current irrigation and farm management are perquisites for improving water resources management. In this study, seasonal applied water and irrigation performance assessment indicators of winter barley were studied by monitoring 25 farms under actual conditions, in Ardabil Province (Ardabil, Namin, Nir and Kosar counties), Iran, during the growing season 2020-2021. The seasonal estimates of the net irrigation requirement during the growing season 2020-2021 and its 10-year average ranged from 476 to 652 mm and from 403 to 535 mm (with a mean of 530 and 449 mm), respectively, over the study farms. The total sum of seasonal applied water and effective precipitation (I + Pe) and the barley grain yield ranged from 266 to 716 mm and from 0.14 to 4.07 ton ha-1 (with a weighted average, WA, of 475 mm and 2.33 ton ha-1 ), respectively. As a result of limited irrigation water availability, 3- 91% (with a WA of 52%) of the intended yield of irrigated barley in the study area (4.5 ton ha1 ) was achieved. Physical and economic water productivity indicators were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by farmer's skill level, crop rotation, type of irrigation water source, and irrigation method. The results indicated that farms with surface water supply showed the highest vulnerability to drought periods. Improving the on-farm water management flexibility and mitigating the negative impacts of hot and windy days during the grain filling stage can improve water productivity indicators in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing water scarcity is lowering the agricultural production of the Tadla region in Morocco. This necessitates the Moroccan government to actively stimulate farmers about converting their irrigation systems from surface irrigation (furrow) to drip irrigation and subsidize the investment costs by 80%-100%. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the impact of the drip irrigation system on the planning and management of water delivery after the conversion program from surface (furrow) irrigation to drip irrigation in the Beni Amir irrigation district on the right side of the Tadla region. The water management practices before and after conversion were gathered through discussions and interviews with officials and representatives of the management team responsible for the study irrigation scheme. An open questionnaire survey was also conducted, focusing on farmers' irrigation management practices such as on-farm water distribution methods, application rate, water adequacy, and equity water satisfaction level before and after conversion, and the results were analyzed by paying attention to their farms' upstream, midstream, and downstream locations. The analysis reveals that most of the interviewed farmers indicated satisfaction with equitable water distribution. Some variations in the water management system may occur due to the conversion project, such as an increase in irrigation time and increased cost and labor in water management. These will have an impact on the CDA's (Agriculture Development Center) overall water management monitoring and planning at the tertiary canal, as well as farmers' water management labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The effectiveness of productivity and sustainable agricultural development depends on the availability of natural resources as well as the efficiency of management measures in agricultural lands. Increasing water use efficiency is a promising way to manage agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions where there is little or no prospect of expanding water resources (Boutraa, 2010). According to Malik et al. (1993) bean yield may be reduced up to 70% when faced in competition with weeds. Extending the irrigation cycle (limited irrigation) in beans is expected to diminish not only the water consumption but also to influence the weed density along with dry matter too. Materials and Methods This project was conducted at Khair-abad research station in Zanjan, Iran, over a period of two years starting from the 2017 growing season. The experimental design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 24 treatments and three replications. The treatments were arranged in a strip plot layout. The vertical factor of the experiment consisted of three levels of irrigation intervals: efficient irrigation (every 4 days), limited irrigation (every 9 days), and more limited irrigation (every 12 days). The horizontal factor involved eight sub-factors of herbicides: Trifloraline, Imazethapyr, Trifloraline + Bentazone, Imazethapyr + Bentazone, Imazethapyr + Sitogate, Bentazon + Gallant Super, traditional hand mowing, and a test sub-factor with no control. Several traits were evaluated in this study, including the number of pods, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, bean grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, and productivity index. Data analysis and mean comparisons were performed using the SAS statistical software, employing Duncan's multiple range tests. Results and Discussion The Results indicated that both the herbicides and irrigation periods were effective on density and dry matter of weeds. Reducing irrigation intervals will allow for greater control of weed density and dry matter. Imazethapyr and Trifloraline herbicides as pre-emergence and pre-plant followed by post emergence application of Bentazone leads to about 85 and 82 % reduction at in weeds density at bean 3rd three leaflet appearance stage, 85 and 82 % reduction at 50% flowering stage bean in tow year of the study recorded the most reduction on weeds density. Moreover, these herbicides inducing about 88 and 81% decrease at bean 3rd three leaflets and 91 and 87% decrease at bean 50% flowering stage. These treatments after weeding had the highest control on weed density and dry matter. Trifloraline, when applied as a pre-plant treatment, showed the lowest effectiveness in controlling weeds among all the treatments. It resulted in an average reduction of 49% at the appearance of the bean's third three leaflets and approximately 70% reduction at the 50% flowering stage of the bean plant. This treatment consistently ranked the lowest in terms of weed control throughout the study period. The treatments of Imazethapyr, whether applied solely as a preemergence treatment or in combination with Situgate as a post-emergence treatment, were found to be ineffective in controlling weeds. Therefore, these treatments are not recommended for weed management in beans, particularly under limited irrigation regimes. The maximum number of sheaths, grains per sheath, and weight of 100 grains were observed in the irrigation regime of every 4 days when integrated with the application of Trifloraline, traditional hand mowing, Imazethapyr + Situgate, and Imazethapyr alone. In terms of bean harvest, the highest yields of 5175 kg/ha, 4707 kg/ha, and 4624 kg/ha were obtained from the irrigation regime of every 4 days when integrated with traditional hand mowing, the application of Imazethapyr + Bentazone, and Imazethapyr + Situgate, respectively. On the other hand the best biological performance as 9950, 9783, and 9733 kg/ha were related to 4 days interval when integrated with application of Imazethapyr + Bentazone, hand mowing, and Imazethapyr + Situgate. The maximum bean harvest index at 52.82 and 50.80 percent were related to 4 and 9 days intervals integrated with hand mowing, followed by 50.54 percent related to 4 days round integrated with Imazethapyr and 9 days round integrated with Trifloraline+ Bentazone. The highest water efficiency as 0.83 was related to 9 days interval whereas the lowest one as 0.48 was related to 4 days round. Regarding the horizontal factors, during the two years study the maximum water efficiency as 0.86, 0.77, and 0.76 were registered at treatments of hand mowing, application of combined Imazethapyr + Bentazone, and combined Imazethapyr + Situgate, respectively. Conclusion Based on the overall results and considering water shortage as well as water usage efficiency and decreasing the amount of both performance and traits of performance reduction in Chiti bean "Kosha" leading to desirable weeds control and bean yield, nine days round irrigation could be recommended provided with application of Imazethapyr or trifloraline herbicides with Bentazone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the water and economic productivity of wheat using different planting and irrigation methods under dry and wet seasons. They were carried out in randomized blocks according to the split-plot design with three replications for two growing seasons. The main plots were P1: Conventional flat planting (CFP), P2: Raised-bed planting (RBP); sub-plots were; I0: Rainfed conditions (RFC), I1: Surface irrigation (SI); basin irrigation (BI) and/or furrow irrigation (FI) and I2: drip irrigation (DI). The highest grain yield (4.61 t ha−1) was in the CFP and BI. Irrigation water productivity (IWP) in the CFP and RBP were 1.31 and 1.60 kg m−3, respectively. DI resulted in 1.82 kg m−3 compared to the SI (1.09 kg m−3). The highest net income, 828 $ ha−1, was in the CFP and BI and the second (749 $ ha−1) was in the RBP and FI. Water economic productivity (WEP) was 0.171 $ m−3 in the CFP compared to 0.151 $ m−3 in the RBP. The SI resulted in more WEP (0.164 $ m−3) than DI (0.159 $ m−3). Thus DI and RBP were not feasible in the study region. All data evaluated were much higher in the wet season.

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

This study was aimed to evaluate the Aqua program in calibration and validity and its use in simulation to study the productive and water characteristics of maize crop.. The experiment was conducted in two irrigation methods, sprinkler irrigation and surface irrigation, and two cultivation methods are borders (lines) and furrows (lines and then furrows) and for two cultivars of maize, a hybrid (unlocal) and a local variety. The results that sprinkler irrigation reduced water consumption compared to surface irrigation, as it reached (558.38) mm for sprinkler irrigation, and (668.79) mm for surface irrigation. While the method of furrows after borders outperformed the borders only in improving growth characteristics and increasing productivity, and the hybrid (unlocal) cultivar outperformed the local cultivar. The various experimental parameters were also calibrated using Aquacrop program, and it was found that the program gave a good convergence between the simulated and field values, as it gave R² values that ranged between (0.71-0.92) and RMSE between (0.12-23.76) for all studied traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For optimal water and fertilizer management under furrow irrigation, it is important to understand the water and solute dynamics on the land surface and in the subsurface. An efficient mathematical tool is required to describe these dynamic processes. We propose a coupled model in which surface water flow and solute transport are described using the zero-inertia equation and the average cross-sectional convection-dispersion equation, respectively, while the two-dimensional Richards equation and the convection-dispersion equation are used to simulate water flow and solute transport in soils, respectively. Solutions are computed numerically using finite differences for surface water flow and finite volumes for solute transports in furrow. Subsurface water flow and solute transport equations are solved using the CHAIN_2D code. An iterative method is used to couple computations of surface and subsurface processes. Both surface and subsurface water flow and solute transport modules are coded in program subroutines and functions in the Intel FORTRAN environment. The coupled model was validated by comparing its simulation results with measured data. Results showed that simulated water front advances in the furrow and water contents in the soil agreed with the observations reasonably well. Good simulations can be achieved with a relatively fine temporal resolution. Numerical oscillations can be eliminated by adopting appropriate time steps. As compared with the traditional furrow irrigation model, the proposed model can better quantify soil water and solute dynamics by considering interactions between surface and subsurface water flow and solute transport processes. The proposed model can be used as a decision tool to design and manage furrow irrigation.

For optimal water and fertilizer management under furrow irrigation, it is important to understand the water and solute dynamics on the land surface and in the subsurface. An efficient mathematical tool is required to describe these dynamic processes. We propose a coupled model in which surface water flow and solute transport are described using the zero-inertia equation and the average cross-sectional convection-dispersion equation, respectively, while the two-dimensional Richards equation and the convection-dispersion equation are used to simulate water flow and solute transport in soils, respectively. Solutions are computed numerically using finite differences for surface water flow and finite volumes for solute transports in furrow. Subsurface water flow and solute transport equations are solved using the CHAIN_2D code. An iterative method is used to couple computations of surface and subsurface processes. Both surface and subsurface water flow and solute transport modules are coded in program subroutines and functions in the Intel FORTRAN environment. The coupled model was validated by comparing its simulation results with measured data. Results showed that simulated water front advances in the furrow and water contents in the soil agreed with the observations reasonably well. Good simulations can be achieved with a relatively fine temporal resolution. Numerical oscillations can be eliminated by adopting appropriate time steps. As compared with the traditional furrow irrigation model, the proposed model can better quantify soil water and solute dynamics by considering interactions between surface and subsurface water flow and solute transport processes. The proposed model can be used as a decision tool to design and manage furrow irrigation.

This study was aimed to evaluate the Aqua program in calibration and validity and its use in simulation to study the productive and water characteristics of maize crop.. The experiment was conducted in two irrigation methods, sprinkler irrigation and surface irrigation, and two cultivation methods are borders (lines) and furrows (lines and then furrows) and for two cultivars of maize, a hybrid (unlocal) and a local variety. The results that sprinkler irrigation reduced water consumption compared to surface irrigation, as it reached (558.38) mm for sprinkler irrigation, and (668.79) mm for surface irrigation. While the method of furrows after borders outperformed the borders only in improving growth characteristics and increasing productivity, and the hybrid (unlocal) cultivar outperformed the local cultivar. The various experimental parameters were also calibrated using Aquacrop program, and it was found that the program gave a good convergence between the simulated and field values, as it gave R2 values that ranged between (0.71-0.92) and RMSE between (0.12-23.76) for all studied traits.

Land suitability assessment for irrigation is critical to inform as well as manage current and future irrigated agriculture production systems. Land suitability analysis determines whether a given land area could potentially be used for specific crop production. The objective of this study was to identify the availability of suitable land for surface irrigation systems for the production of millet, sorghum, sugarcane, and wheat production in the Lower Omo Gibe plain, Southern Ethiopia. Land suitability analysis was performed by a parametric method using factors such as soil texture, effective soil depth, Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), soil electrical conductivity (ECe), drainage class, and slope. Five land suitability classes were identified that include highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), currently not suitable (N1), and permanently not suitable (N2). Results showed that 6.6, 7.5, 6.6, and 6.6% of the study area mostly located in the western part of the basin, were highly suitable (S1) for irrigated millets, sorghum, sugarcane, and wheat crops production, respectively. However, the mountainous areas in the central part of the basin were classified as N2 due to the steep slope and shallow soil depth. Overall, the results of the study revealed that the use of various suitability analysis techniques could assist in identifying suitable land for irrigated agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research was performed to present a quick and proper method for basin irrigation infiltration equation estimation by optimization of the Manning roughness coefficient. A two-level optimization of the Manning roughness coefficient method was presented by developing a zimod simulation model and initial intake families method, USDA-NRCS, (infiltration equation based on soil characteristics), and modified intake families (infiltration equation based on soil characteristics and inflow discharge). The investigation of the results of the model based on observed advance, recession, and surface storage showed the relative error of surface storage volume estimation was decreased by 38 to 50 % by adjusting the initial intake families method. The normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of the advance estimation was between 0.22 to 0.85 for initial intake families and this parameter was between 0.09 to 0.5 for modified intake families. NRMSE of the recession estimation was between 0.13 to 0.75 for initial intake families and this parameter was between 0.09 to 0.19 for modified intake families. The presented method based on modified intake families increases the accuracy of infiltration estimation as compared to the initial intake families method and can evaluate basin irrigation acceptably. In addition, this method needs less time for basin irrigation evaluation as compared to the complete methods of optimization of infiltration parameters and roughness coefficient.

Abstract Irrigation development necessitates suitable lands for higher yield production and the development of long-term irrigation systems. The purpose of this research was to identify appropriate irrigation lands for irrigation in the Minch Yekest watershed in West Amhara, Ethiopia. Geospatial and multi-criteria decision-making techniques were used in this study. For land suitability analysis for surface irrigation, slope, land use, altitude, distance from the water source, soil characteristics, and available water storage capacity parameters were used. To find the best location for surface irrigation, the values were weighted and combined using the weighted overlay tool. The irrigation land suitability of each physical land parameter was classified into four suitability classes (S1, S2, S3, and N) based on the Food and Agricultural Organization guideline. According to the findings, 63% of the watershed area is highly suitable, 6.25% is moderately suitable, 28.69% is marginally suitable, and 2.06% is not suitable for the aforementioned purposes. The methodological approach and study findings could help policymakers make better decisions when developing irrigation projects in Ethiopia.

This study was conducted in the Abbay basin of Ethiopia to evaluate land suitability for irrigation considering both surface and groundwater sources using the analytic hierarchy process. Multiple factors which affect irrigated agriculture productivity were considered, and an 85% threshold was applied to identify irrigable land. The suitability result was validated using ground truth data from existing irrigation projects for surface water sources and depth to groundwater data for groundwater sources. The low flow potential of rivers, which is dependable for surface irrigation, was evaluated against suitable land considering the most dominant crops. The result showed that nearly 10% of the basin area (19 192 km2) and 5.3% of the basin (10 364 km2) were found suitable for surface irrigation from rivers and groundwater, respectively. South Gojam was found to be the most suitable sub-basin (approx. 3880 km2) for surface irrigation, whereas Muger was found to be the most suitable sub-basin (approx. 2105 km2) for surface irrigation from rivers and groundwater, respectively. Depth to groundwater was shallow for Muger as compared with other sub-basins. The validation result depicted more than 83% and 73% overlap for surface and groundwater sources, respectively. Land suitability and water availability assessment result in the Abbay basin shows a promising result for surface irrigation developments.

The suspension of eroded soil in surface runoff ultimately leads to the transfer of nutrients to land and water resources. Placing soil or straw (as a barrier) inside irrigated furrows in order to reduce water flow velocity, as a traditional local practice, has not been investigated from the environmental point of view. In this research, the effect of micro‐dams (barriers built inside the irrigated furrows, also known as tied ridges or furrow dikes) on the reduction of soil and phosphorus losses was investigated. Field experiments were performed in four consequent irrigation events. Two erosive inflow discharges (0.6 and 0.9 L/s) and two micro‐dam distances (10 and 20 m) were implemented as test treatments. A control treatment, without micro‐dams, was used for comparison purposes. For the discharge of 0.6 L/s, micro‐dams reduced furrow soil loss by 25% and 33% for distances of 20 and 10 m, respectively. For 0.9 L/s, soil loss was reduced by 25% and 59% for distances of 20 and 10 m, respectively. Micro‐dams also reduced dissolved phosphorus losses in runoff water by 13% to 37%, depending on discharge and distance, as compared to the control treatment. Micro‐dams can effectively reduce water, soil and phosphorus losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

This study aims to evaluate the water and economic productivity of wheat using different planting and irrigation methods under dry and wet seasons. They were carried out in randomized blocks according to the split-plot design with three replications for two growing seasons. The main plots were P1: Conventional flat planting (CFP), P2: Raised-bed planting (RBP); sub-plots were; I0: Rainfed conditions (RFC), I1: Surface irrigation (SI); basin irrigation (BI) and/or furrow irrigation (FI) and I2: drip irrigation (DI). The highest grain yield (4.61 t ha−1) was in the CFP and BI. Irrigation water productivity (IWP) in the CFP and RBP were 1.31 and 1.60 kg m−3, respectively. DI resulted in 1.82 kg m−3 compared to the SI (1.09 kg m−3). The highest net income, 828 $ ha−1, was in the CFP and BI and the second (749 $ ha−1) was in the RBP and FI. Water economic productivity (WEP) was 0.171 $ m−3 in the CFP compared to 0.151 $ m−3 in the RBP. The SI resulted in more WEP (0.164 $ m−3) than DI (0.159 $ m−3). Thus DI and RBP were not feasible in the study region. All data evaluated were much higher in the wet season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, India during 2016–2019 to estimate the crop water requirement (CWR) of pineapple during different growth stages and compare the pineapple crop performance and economic viability at different irrigation systems. Crop water requirement of pineapple was calculated based on the consolidated weather data of 14 years and crop evapotranspiration (ETc ) of pineapple at different growth stages using Penman-Montieth equation using CROPWAT 8.0 software. In the experiemtal location, maximum crop evapotranspiration was found in the month of May (81 mm month-1) and the minimum was in the month of July (25 mm month-1). Crop water requirement was the highest in April (0.67 litre day-1 plant-1). During the period of monsoon, irrigation was withdrawn due to sufficienct soil moisture situation. Performance of pineapple crop under different systems of irrigation viz., surface irrigation, drip irrigation and drip fertigation was studied and found that the highest plant height (76.90 cm), D leaf width (5.45 cm), number of leaves (43), D leaf weight (150.3 g) and fruit weight (2.35 kg) were in drip fertigation. An estimated yield of 96.80 t ha-1 was recorded under drip fertigation treatment followed by drip irrigation (90.99 t ha-1) and surface irrigation (76.45 t ha-1) treatments. The cost economics analysis of pineapple production under different treatments revealed that the highest gross returns (` 14.5 lakhs), net returns (` 7.9 lakhs) and B:C ratio (1.2) were in drip fertigation treatment. Adoption of drip fertigation system in pineapple crop under west coast agro-climatic conditions of Goa is helpful to enhance the crop growth and yield of pineapple and fetch good economic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi 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.)

Introduction: North of Khuzestan province is one of the major areas for autumn sugar beet planting. Conventional tillage (CT) is widely practiced by sugar beet growers in this region. CT in sugar beet consists of burning wheat residue, using deep plowing with a moldboard plow or ripper plowing followed by several passes of disking, leveling, and furrowing. These aggressive tillage practices have many negative consequences for soils. Losses of soil organic carbon decreases soil permeability and consequently increases soil erosion and surface runoff. Therefore, applying conservation agriculture principles in sugar beet planting, conservation of residues and elimination or reduction of tillage, can help to optimize water use management and improve soil health on a farm scale. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the possibility of direct planting of autumn sugar beet in wheat residues, (ii) to estimate sugar beet yield and crop water productivity (WP) under CT, chisel (CH), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) systems, (iii) to evaluate the response of sugar beet cultivars (Sharif and Palma) to different soil tillage systems, and (iv) to determine the effect of soil tillage systems on some soil physical properties.Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted for two years (2016—2017) at the Safiabad Dezful Agricultural Research Center (32° 14.44´-32°15.93´ and 48° 25.41´-48°47). The soil of the study site was deep, well-drained with a silty clay loam texture. The mean annual precipitation and evaporation are 317 and 2400 mm, respectively, with an elevation of 108 m above mean sea level. Irrigation water was supplied from the Dez irrigation network without any salinity restrictions. The experimental was conducted in a split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The main-plot treatment was tillage method and the subplot treatment was two sugar beet cultivars (Palma and Sharif). Tillage treatments included conventional tillage (CT) (moldboard ploughing + MT steps), chisel (CH) (chisel ploughing + MT steps), minimum tillage (MT) (two perpendicular disks, fertilizing centrifugal machine, disking, furrowing, planting with pneumatic row planter), and no-tillage (NT) (spraying, planting with NT pneumatic row planter). The length and width of each plot were 100 and 6 m, respectively, and row spacing was 75 cm.Soil penetration resistance or cone index (CI) readings were recorded in 2 cm increments to a depth of 50 cm using SP1000 digital penetration tester to reflect the soil compaction. Soil bulk density was determined in 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers. In the first and second year, sugar beet samplings were done 216 and 220 days after planting, by harvesting a row of 75 cm with length of 10 m (7.5 m2). WP was calculated by dividing the root and sugar yield to irrigation water and effective rainfall (effective rainfall was calculated every year with SCS method). Composite data analysis and mean comparison were performed with MSTATC statistical software.Results and Discussion: Results of CI showed no significant difference between four tillage methods at 0-10 cm depth. With increasing depth up to 30 cm, slight differences in soil compaction were observed for different tillage treatments, especially in the second year. Overall, compaction in the 0-50 cm profile in the CT and CH method were about 45% and 33%, respectively, lower than NT method, whereas in MT method it was about 37% higher than NT method. Results of root branch number analysis showed that the NT and CT treatments had the lowest branching (2.67 and 2.83, respectively) and the two CH and MT treatments had the highest branching (4.2 and 5.3, respectively). Therefore, NT had no negative effect on root growth of sugar beet. The results of bulk density measurements in the 0-10 cm layer were consistent with the results of the CI, but at depth of 10-20 cm, NT method with the highest bulk density (1.71 g cm-3) had significant difference with the other three tillage methods. Tillage method had no significant effect on root and sugar yield and root and sugar WP. However, in CT treatment, root yield increased by 6-8.5% and sugar yield by 6-12%, while root and sugar WP in NT treatment was about 8% higher than in the other three tillage treatments. On the other hand, changing climate conditions, especially rainfall during two years of the experiment, resulted in significant interaction between year and cultivar for yield and WP at 1% probability level. In the first year, the yield of Sharif cultivar (86.7 t ha-1) was higher than Palma (80.2 t ha-1), but in the second year, despite the decreasing yield of both cultivars, higher resistance of Palma cultivar to Cercospora disease resulted in a significant increase in sugar yield and WP over last year.Conclusion: The two-year results of this study showed that the direct planting of autumn sugar beet in wheat residues (NT) is possible. Sugar beet yield and WP were not significantly different in tillage methods, but NT reduced tillage traffic from 7 times to 2 times and reduced energy consumption. The response of the two sugar beet cultivars to different tillage methods was the same and among them the Palma cultivar had the highest yield because of its higher resistance to Cercospora disease.

This data article contains a description of a dataset collected by a survey on a traditional communal water irrigation system. This is the Muang fai, a 700-years old communal irrigation system in Northern Thailand. The Muang fai is managed through a series of regulations that are close to Ostrom's principles of effective common property resources (Ostrom, 1990). The survival of this long-standing practice, including its knowledge of the water-flow characteristics of the watershed, is under threat as new technologies, such as groundwater pumping, become increasingly accessible. The target population of the survey was the group of Longan farmers who are located within the 12 villages that are engaged in Muang fai Sop Rong in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. Information was specifically collected about irrigation practices, farmland characteristics and socio-economic variables from 570 longan (their main crop) farmer households. Roughly half of these sampled farmers practise Muang fai, the other half practise underground pumping irrigation. The irrigation information collected includes type of irrigation (surface or underground), the quantity of water used, pumping methods (if pumps are used). Farming characteristics collected include volume and value of the harvests, land size, and distance to irrigation canal. Socioeconomic characteristics included among others: farmers’ income, expenditure, education, off-farm employment and Muang-fai membership. This dataset can be a source of baseline information for future research as well as help preserve the knowledge of this tradition.

A subsurface drip irrigation system delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant root zone; other conventional nozzles-type or sprinklers-type irrigation are not used, and water-saving can reach 42–78%. In order to achieve this impact effectively, the drip irrigation requires a constant water supply under variations in pressure, which is so-called pressure compensating (PC) performance. The pressure compensating feature can be obtained by physical interaction between water flow and deformable silicone rubber in the PC dripper. In addition, pressure condition to ensure uniform water flow as a tresholding point also should be well designed, but it is generally have relied on the empiricial optimization. Here, we applied computational fluid dynamics to investigate water flow features in terms of flow rate and pressure drop of a conventional PC dripper. To understand the quantitative effects of changes in design parameters, we explored the fluid-structure interaction scheme in the CFD analysis between water flow and silicone rubber deformation. In this study, it is found that the marginal space for the silicone rubber deformation determined the threshold pressure condition; the friction condition of the tortuous channel of the dripper controlled the flow rate. This parametric study gave the logical insight to design new drip emitter with well-controlled and improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]