Water use of wheat, barley, canola, and lucerne in the high rainfall zone of south-western Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heping Zhang ◽  
Neil C. Turner ◽  
Michael L. Poole
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Significant Difference

Water use of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) was measured on a duplex soil in the high rainfall zone (HRZ) of south-western Australia from 2001 to 2003. Rainfall exceeded evapotranspiration in all years, resulting in transient perched watertables, subsurface waterlogging in 2002 and 2003, and loss of water by deep drainage and lateral flow in all years. There was no significant difference in water use among wheat, barley, and canola. Lucerne used water at a similar rate to annual crops during the winter and spring, but continued to extract 80−100 mm more water than the annual crops over the summer and autumn fallow period. This resulted in about 50 mm less drainage past the root-zone than for annual crops in the second and third years after the establishment of the lucerne. Crop water use was fully met by rainfall from sowing to anthesis and a significant amount of water (120−220 mm) was used during the post-anthesis period, resulting in a ratio of pre- to post-anthesis water use (ETa : ETpa) of 1 : 1 to 2 : 1. These ratios were lower than the indicative value of 2 : 1 for limited water supply for grain filling. High water use during the post-anthesis period was attributed to high available soil water at anthesis, a large rooting depth (≥1.4 m), a high proportion (15%) of roots in the clay subsoil, and regular rainfall during grain filling. The pattern of seasonal water use by crops suggested that high dry matter at anthesis did not prematurely exhaust soil water for grain filling and that it is unlikely to affect dry matter accumulation during grain filling and final grain yield under these conditions.

scholarly journals Primed Acclimation of Papaya Increases Short-term Water Use But Does Not Confer Long-term Drought Tolerance

HortScience ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Vincent ◽  
Diane Rowland ◽  
Bruce Schaffer
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Soil Water Tension

Primed acclimation (PA) is a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategy designed to improve or maintain yield under subsequent drought stress. A previous study showed photosynthetic increases in papaya in response to a PA treatment. The present study was undertaken to test the duration of the PA effect when papaya plants were challenged with severe drought stress. Potted plants were stressed at 1, 2, and 3 months after conclusion of a PA treatment consisting of 3 weeks at soil water tension (SWT) of −20 kPa. Measurements included leaf gas exchange, root growth, and organ dry mass partitioning. PA did not reduce net CO2 assimilation (A) during the deficit period. At the end of the PA period, total dry matter accumulation per plant and for each organ was unaffected, but proportional dry matter partitioning to roots was favored. After resuming full irrigation, A increased and whole plant water use was more than doubled in PA-treated plants. However, water use and A of PA-treated plants decreased to reconverge with those of control plants by 6 weeks after the PA treatment. Over the course of the study, PA plants maintained lower stem height to stem diameter ratios, and shorter internode lengths. However, these changes did not improve photosynthetic response to any of the water-deficit treatments. We conclude that papaya exhibits some signs of stress memory, but that rapid short-term acclimation responses dominate papaya responses to soil water deficit.

High ear number is key to achieving high wheat yields in the high-rainfall zone of south-western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heping Zhang ◽  
Neil C. Turner ◽  
Michael L. Poole ◽  
Senthold Asseng
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Harvest Index ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Sink Capacity

The growth and yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were examined to determine the actual and potential yields of wheat at a site in the high rainfall zone (HRZ) of south-western Australia. Spring wheat achieved yields of 5.5−5.9 t/ha in 2001 and 2003 when subsurface waterlogging was absent or minimal. These yields were close to the estimated potential, indicating that a high yield potential is achievable. In 2002 when subsurface waterlogging occurred early in the growing season, the yield of spring wheat was 40% lower than the estimated potential. The yield of wheat was significantly correlated with the number of ears per m2 (r2 = 0.81) and dry matter at anthesis (r2 = 0.73). To achieve 5–6 t/ha of yield of wheat in the HRZ, 450–550 ears per m2 and 10–11 t/ha dry matter at anthesis should be targetted. Attaining such a level of dry matter at anthesis did not have a negative effect on dry-matter accumulation during the post-anthesis period. The harvest index (0.36−0.38) of spring wheat was comparable with that in drier parts of south-western Australia, but relatively low given the high rainfall and the long growing season. This relatively low harvest index indicates that the selected cultivar bred for the low- and medium-rainfall zone in this study, when grown in the HRZ, may have genetic limitations in sink capacity arising from the low grain number per ear. We suggest that the yield of wheat in the HRZ may be increased further by increasing the sink capacity by increasing the number of grains per ear.

SGS Water Theme: influence of soil, pasture type and management on water use in grazing systems across the high rainfall zone of southern Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 907 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. White ◽  
B. P. Christy ◽  
A. M. Ridley ◽  
A. E. Okom ◽  
S. R. Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Deep Drainage ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Daily Weather Data ◽  
Grazing Systems

Eleven experimental sites in the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) national experiment were established in the high rainfall zone (HRZ, >600 mm/year) of Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to measure components of the water balance, and pathways of water movement, for a range of pastures from 1997 to 2001. The effect of widely spaced river red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in pasture, and of belts of plantation blue gums (E. globulus), was studied at 2 of the sites. The soil types tested ranged from Kurosols, Chromosols and Sodosols, with different subsoil permeabilities, to Hydrosols and Tenosols. The pasture types tested were kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), redgrass (Bothriochloa macra) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) included. Management variables were set stocking v. rotational grazing, adjustable stocking rates, and level of fertiliser input. Soil, pasture and animal measurements were used to set parameters for the biophysical SGS pasture model, which simulated the long-term effects of soil, pasture type, grazing method and management on water use and movement, using as inputs daily weather data for 31 years from selected sites representing a range of climates. Measurements of mean maximum soil water deficit Sm were used to estimate the probability of surplus water occurring in winter, and the average amount of this surplus, which was highest (97–201 mm/year) for pastures in the cooler, winter-rainfall dominant regions of north-east and western Victoria and lowest (3–11 mm/year) in the warmer, lower rainfall regions of the eastern Riverina and Esperance, Western Australia. Kikuyu in Western Australia achieved the largest increase in Sm compared with annual pasture (55–71 mm), while increases due to phalaris were 18–45 mm, and those of native perennials were small and variable. Long-term model simulations suggested rooting depth was crucial in decreasing deep drainage, to about 50 mm/year for kikuyu rooting to 2.5 m, compared with 70–200 mm/year for annuals rooting to only 0.8 m. Plantation blue gums dried the soil profile to 5.25 m by an average of 400 mm more than kikuyu pasture, reducing the probability of winter surplus water to zero, and eliminating drainage below the root zone. Widely spaced river red gums had a much smaller effect on water use, and would need to number at least 14 trees per hectare to achieve extra soil drying of about 50 mm over a catchment. Soil type affected water use primarily through controlling the rooting depth of the vegetation, but it also changed the partitioning of surplus water between runoff and deep drainage. Strongly duplex soils such as Sodosols shed 50% or more surplus water as runoff, which is important for flushing streams, provided the water is of good quality. Grazing method and pasture management had only a marginal effect in increasing water use, but could have a positive effect on farm profitability through increased livestock production per hectare and improved persistence of perennial species.

Growth, seed yield and water use of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in a short-season Mediterranean-type environment

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mwanamwenge ◽  
S. P. Loss ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
P. S. Cocks
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
Canopy Development

Summary. A number of studies conducted in Western Australia have shown that faba bean has considerable potential as a pulse crop in the low to medium rainfall cropping regions (300–450 mm/year). However, its yield is variable and can be low in seasons when rainfall is less than average. Traits associated with the adaptation of 10 diverse faba bean genotypes to low rainfall, Mediterranean-type environments were evaluated at Merredin in south-western Australia over 2 contrasting seasons. Plant density was varied with seed size to ensure all genotypes achieved similar canopy development and dry matter production. Time to flowering appeared to be the most important trait influencing seed yield of faba bean in this environment. Seed yield was significantly correlated with time to 50% first flower in 1994 and 1995 (r2 = 0.61 and 0.82 respectively, P<0.01). In the dry 1994 season, rapid leaf area development in ACC286 allowed a greater absorption of photosynthetically active radiation resulting in more dry matter accumulation than other genotypes. ACC286 also had greater root length density at 20–30 cm depth compared with Icarus and the standard cultivar Fiord. There were no significant differences in total water use between the genotypes examined, although the pattern of water use varied markedly. The ratio of pre- to post-flowering water use was about 1:1 in the early flowering and high yielding ACC286 and 2.6 :1 for the late maturing, low yielding Icarus. Seed yield and harvest index were positively correlated with post-flowering water use (r2 = 0.75 and 0.71 respectively). Above-average rainfall in 1995 resulted in increased yield of all genotypes, particularly ACC286 which again produced the highest yields. Early flowering genotypes with rapid dry matter accumulation in the seedling stages (such as ACC286) could widen the adaptation of faba bean to low rainfall, Mediterranean-type environments and situations where sowing is delayed.

Use of long-season annual legumes and herbaceous perennials in pastures to manage deep drainage in acidic sandy soils in Western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. P. Fillery ◽  
R. E. Poulter
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Herbaceous Perennials ◽  
C3 Grasses

The effect of including phases of long-growing-season annuals and herbaceous perennial pastures on water use was examined at 2 sites (deep sand and duplex soil) in Western Australia. Herbaceous perennials used were lucerne (Medicago sativa), and a mix of C3 grasses comprising phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), tall wheat grass (Thinopryum ponticum), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) (perennial grass treatment). The long-season annual treatment was a mix of yellow and pink serradella (Ornithopus sp.) and Casbah biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus). These treatments were compared with annual-based pasture that was a mixture of subterranean clover with capeweed and Brassica species, and annual crops. Pasture treatments were first sown in 1998. High senescence of C3 grasses over the 1998–99 summer and poor germination of serradella/Casbah biserrula in the autumn of 1999 necessitated the re-seeding of the long-season annual and the perennial grass treatment in 1999. Wheat was sown in 1998, lupin in 1999, and barley in 2000 in an annual crop treatment. Soil water content to 1.5 m was measured hourly using frequency domain reflectometer probes, and a neutron probe was used monthly to measure changes in soil water to 5 m. Herbage production and species composition were determined. In each year of the study, annual pasture species senesced by November. About 20 lucerne plants/m2 persisted through the first summer–autumn in deep loamy sand and 40 lucerne plants/m2 in a duplex soil. Perennial C3 grass species did not survive the summer–autumn in sufficient density and distribution to evaluate their effect on soil water. Annual dry matter (DM) production in lucerne-based and subterranean clover-based pasture was not significantly different. Dry matter production in lucerne between 1 December and the following May–June, when germination of annual-based pastures occurred, was 1.2–1.9 t/ha at one site and 0.2–1.6 t/ha at another site. Long-season annual pastures produced significantly more DM than either lucerne or subterranean clover-based pastures in one season at one site but produced significantly less DM than either lucerne or subterranean clover-based pasture at another site in another season. Long-season annual-based pastures extracted amounts of soil water to a depth of 5 m similar to subterranean clover-based pasture when these were grown on deep sand and a duplex soil. In contrast, lucerne removed an additional 128 mm of water to 5 m, with 70 mm of this water being drawn from 2.5–5 m, compared with subterranean clover-based pasture. Lucerne was comparatively less effective in extracting water from a duplex soil where rooting depth was restricted to 2 m by a saline watertable. Early germination of annual pastures appeared to reduce drainage compared with a crop treatment where weeds were killed in autumn and early winter ahead of seeding. The need for studies at landscape scales that include concurrent measurements of groundwater levels and changes in soil water content to a depth of at least 5–6 m under perennial-based production systems is highlighted.

Using soil, climate, and agronomy to predict soil water use by lucerne compared with soil water use by annual crops or pastures

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Ward ◽  
S. F. Micin ◽  
F. X. Dunin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Buffer Size ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Matter Production

The incorporation of perennials in general, and lucerne in particular, into farming systems of southern Australia has been proposed as a possible means to slow or stop the spread of dryland salinity. In order to be effective, lucerne roots must remove substantially more water from the soil than roots produced by annual crops and pastures. The term ‘buffer’ is used here to denote the extra water storage created by lucerne in addition to that normally created by an annual crop or pasture. In trials across southern Australia, lucerne has proved variable in its ability to create a buffer. In this research, we established 3 new trials, and collated results from current and published trials across Australia, to determine the effect of various edaphic (soil pH, texture, depth, and density for A and B horizons), climatic (average and actual seasonal rainfall), and agronomic (lucerne age, plant density, dry matter production, and rooting depth) factors on buffer size created by lucerne. Data from 26 trials were analysed, representing 84 site × year comparisons. The mean lucerne buffer for all comparisons was 91 mm, and increased with lucerne age. Buffers were generally greater for heavier-textured soils, but standard deviations of the means were large. Within a broad soil type, regression equations were developed to predict buffer size from climatic, edaphic, and agronomic factors, with r2 values ranging between 0.96 and 0.84, and standard errors ranging between 40 and 44 mm. For all soil types, average summer rainfall (but not actual summer rainfall) was a significant component of the regression, suggesting that management of the lucerne stand, in terms of maintaining leaf area during summer, may have an important role in buffer development.

Effect of shelter on the yield and water use of wheat

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Nuberg ◽  
S. J. Mylius
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Head Weight

Wheat was grown in the field and lysimeters under 3 experimental regimes — full exposure to wind, full shelter within an enclosure, and partial shelter behind an artificial windbreak — to test the hypothesis that a crop in a sheltered environment will be more conservative in its water use and more efficient in using that water to grow biomass. The fully sheltered wheat crop in the field produced 11% more above-ground biomass than the exposed crop and most of this difference was attributed to leaf (20%) and stem (21%) material. However, the sheltered crop had lower 1000-grain weights (35.6 g cf. 40.1 g) and higher protein (14.3% cf. 11.5%). No significant difference between sheltered and exposed yields could be confidently detected.Plants grown under non-water limiting conditions of lysimeters produced 14% more biomass under shelter and were also likely to be more efficient (7%, P = 0.06) in their use of water to produce that biomass than wind-exposed plants. Shelter did not change the total soil water use of the lysimeter- or field-grown wheat. However, the sheltered field crop was more conservative than the exposed crop in its use of soil water up to anthesis and less conservative during grain filling. In the partial shelter regime wheat was grown in the ground and in lysimeters at distances of 3�H (i.e. 3 × windbreak height), 6 H, 12 H, 15 H, 18 H and 24 H from an artificial windbreak. Significant relationships with distance from this windbreak were only observed in total biomass, stem weight and head weight of field-grown wheat at anthesis. In summary, the sheltered wheat was more efficient in production of biomass and did conserve water early in the growing season but the conserved soil water was expended to maintain that biomass at the expense of grain size.

Yield, water use, and protein content of spring wheat grown after six years of alfalfa, crested wheatgrass, or spring wheat in semiarid southwestern Saskatchewan

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
H W Cutforth ◽  
P G Jefferson ◽  
C A Campbell ◽  
R H Ljunggren
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Use Efficiency

In the semiarid prairie of western Canada, there is renewed interest for including short durations (≤3 yr) of perennial forage in rotations with annual crops. However, there are producers who want to grow longer durations (≥4 yr) of perennial forages in rotational systems. Therefore, we assessed spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, grain protein, and water use efficiency following 6 yr of either crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), or wheat, and then 1 yr of fallow. Yield, water use, and water use efficiency were significantly lower in the first year of spring wheat production (2000) when the prior crop was crested wheatgrass or alfalfa than when it was wheat. In the second year (2001), which was a near record drought year, wheat yield and water use were significantly lower when the prior crop was alfalfa than when it was grass or wheat. From 2002 to 2005, there were no consistent differences in water use, water use efficiency, or yield of wheat due to the prior perennial crop. Wheat grain protein concentration was significantly higher following alfalfa compared with following crested wheatgrass or continuous spring wheat from 2000 to 2005. This effect was attributed to the higher N-supplying power of the soil following alfalfa. Soil water content below the rooting depth of most annual crops (≥120 cm depth) was reduced by the prior alfalfa crop, and there was no evidence from 2000 to 2005 that soil water recharge was occurring below the 150-cm depth. Key words: Semiarid prairie, alfalfa, grass, spring wheat, yield, protein, water use

scholarly journals Maximising the use of soil water by herbaceous species in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia: a review

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 677 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. K. Singh ◽  
P. R. Bird ◽  
G. R. Saul
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Deep Drainage ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Pasture Productivity

The planting of deep-rooted pasture species, herbaceous shrubs, and trees has been widely recommended to reduce deep drainage and recharge to the groundwater in the high rainfall zone (HRZ). However, in more recent years, the value of perennial pastures to reduce recharge has been questioned in areas with >600 mm annual rainfall. Currently, pastures dominated by annual species with relatively low productivity occur across much of the HRZ where deep drainage is most likely contributing to recharge. This review outlines our current understanding of water use by various herbaceous species, and indicates ways in which their water use may be increased in the HRZ of southern Australia. To reduce deep drainage in the HRZ, the soil water deficit must be increased prior to the opening autumn rains. This will allow a greater storage of water before any potential deep drainage occurs. There are two ways that this can be achieved with the use of herbaceous species. Firstly, change to or encourage species that use more water annually. Although plants with deeper root systems including lucerne have the ability to dry the soil to depth, a combination of winter- and summer-active species, rotational grazing, and pasture spelling would extend the active growing season and soil water use of annual and perennial species. A second option is to increase the productivity of the pasture, as there is a direct link between growth and water use. For example, improving pasture productivity by 50%, say from 8 to 12 t dry matter/ha, could use (transpire) approximately 160 mm more water annually by a C3 species, irrespective of evaporation from the soil surface or evaporative demand factors. This is supported by strong correlations between plant dry mass and water use among a wide range of C3 and C4 plants of diverse growth form and habitat. This relationship appears to have been overlooked in recent studies of various components of the soil water balance model, possibly due to limited and unreliable estimates of evapotranspiration (ET). An improved relationship between 'estimated' ET and measured dry matter production should improve the capability of the soil water balance model to predict deep drainage, which is primarily dependent on the ET. Ways to increase pasture productivity and soil water use include regular applications of fertiliser and lime, and better management of waterlogged and acidic soils in the HRZ. Summer-active native species may also be useful on soils where the persistence of other deep-rooted perennials is poor; however, little is known about their productivity and persistence when heavily grazed.We believe that the relationship between water use and pasture production needs to be reassessed to improve the predictability of the soil water balance approach and recommend further research in both the field and under controlled conditions to determine the potential for increased water use in the HRZ of southern Australia by combinations of plant species and greater pasture productivity.

Short Communication: Comparative soil water use by annual crops at a semiarid site in Montana

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Miller ◽  
J. A. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Annual Crops

Miller, P. R. and Holmes, J. A. 2012. Short Communication: Comparative soil water use by annual crops at a semiarid site in Montana. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 803–807. Results for soil water use in the semiarid northern Great Plains are presented in detailed tabular format for 15 crops in an ideal environment for comparative water use assessment. The effective rooting depth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varied relative to spring wheat; it was often similar and never less. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) averaged 43 mm greater soil water use below 0.9 m compared with spring wheat. Conversely, lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) averaged 27 mm and 48 mm less soil water than spring wheat to a 1.2-m soil depth, respectively. Observed differences in effective rooting depth for alternative crops carry important implications for wheat-based cropping systems.

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