Comparison of three irrigation systems for the BX-1 system for nursery seedlings
2016
Jaafar A. H. | Teh, C. B. S | Isnar M. S. | Nabayi, Abba | Husni M. H. A.
The BX-1 system (consisting of the BX-1 media and RB 900 tube) is a new planting system introduced by a private company to replace the growth of plants in soilfilled polybags. Different irrigation systems influence plant growth differently. The main objective of this study was to compare and determine the best of three water irrigation systems: overhead sprinkler (SPR), drip (DRP) irrigation, and the capillary wick (WCK) system, for the BX-1 system. The test crop was water spinach (Ipomoea reptans), and the performance of these three irrigation systems was compared with one another in terms of their effects on plant growth, amount of water and nutrient losses via leaching, water productivity and water use efficiency. The field experiment was carried out under a rain shelter at Field No. 15, Agrobio Complex, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2o 59’ 4.96” N, 101o 44’ 0.70”E), for 5 weeks from July to August, 2014. The experimental layout was the RCBD with the treatments being the three irrigation systems with three replications per treatment. Each experimental unit was planted with 20 water spinach plants. Results from the study showed that the capillary wick system produced the least leachate volume and nutrients loss. In terms of growth, the WCK system gave the highest growth for roots dry weight and leaf area. This was because the WCK treatment had the lowest amount of leachate and nutrient losses, so it had the highest nutrient content in the plant for N, P, and K, but there was no difference (p>0.05) in the Ca and Mg content. WCK also had the highest water use efficiency, but there was no difference in water productivity between the three treatments. WCK consumed the highest amount of water (but had least water wastage) to produce the highest amount of roots biomass and leaf area compared to DRP and SPR treatments. Thus, it is suggested that the WCK system be used with the BX-1 system as it was found to be the most effective irrigation system.
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