Improved soil–plant water dynamics and economic water use efficiency in a maize field under locally water stress
2016
Karandish, Fatemeh
Soil–plant water dynamics is a major driving factor on crop yield which could be improved under optimal irrigation strategy. The soil water dynamics under partial root-zone drying (PRD) and its consequent effects on maize economics returns were investigated in a two-year field study in the research field of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University. Irrigation treatments included full irrigation (FI) and two PRD treatments including PRD ₁ and PRD ₂, receiving 100%, 75% and 55% of crop water demand at each irrigation event, respectively. TDRs were used for measuring soil water contents on a daily basis. Economic analysis was done based on net present value (NPV), benefit-to-cost ratio (B/C) and internal rate of return (INRR) indices. Applying PRD ₁ treatment increased soil wetting front advance by 110–330% compared those for other treatments which caused 50% increase in root water uptake. Improved soil water dynamics under PRD1 prevented a significant reduction in maize grain yield, leading to 37.7%, 6.14% and 192% increase in NPV, B/C and INRR, respectively, under PRD ₁ than those for FI treatment. Thus, PRD ₁ was the most economic water-saving irrigation strategy under which 25% of irrigation water would be saved due to a better utilization of soil water supply.
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