Nitrogen use and crop type affect the water use of annual crops in south-eastern Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Norton ◽  
N. G. Wachsmann
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Evaporation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Applied Nitrogen

The effect of management and crop selection on water use and profile drying was investigated using 2 series of experiments conducted in the Victorian Wimmera. The effect of applied nitrogen on growth and water use of canola was assessed from 3 field experiments on a Vertosol soil. Across these sites, 140 kg N/ha increased crop water use by a mean of 30 mm, and the biological response averaged 3.68 t/ha of shoot dry matter and seed yield increased by 73% from 1.46 to 2.52 t/ha. The additional nitrogen enabled roots to go deeper into the soil and also to extract water to higher tensions, but the increases in water use were far less than the growth and yield responses. Estimated average soil evaporation was 120 mm across these experiments, but ranged from 26 to 57% of total water use. It was concluded that increased crop vigour in response to applied nitrogen does increase total water use, but the main way that water-use efficiency increases is through reduced soil evaporation. In a second series of experiments, the growth, yield, and water use of wheat, canola, linseed, mustard, and safflower were compared across 4 sites with differing soil moisture contents. Wheat was the highest yielding crop at all sites. Mustard and canola produced similar amounts of biomass and seed yields, whereas linseed produced seed yields that were generally less than the brassica oilseeds. Safflower grew well and produced large amounts of biomass at all sites, but this increased growth did not necessarily translate into increased seed yields. Safflower yielded less seed than all other crops at the 2 dry sites, but yields were similar to canola at the wetter sites. On 2 drier sites, soil water extraction occurred to approximately 1 m for all crops, and all available water was used within that zone by all crops. Where the soil was wet beyond 1 m, safflower was able to extract water from deeper in the profile than the other crops and generated a soil water deficit of about 100 mm more than the other crops at maturity. This deficit persisted into the subsequent autumn–winter period. The potential of using safflower as a management option to extract water from deep in the profile, and so create a soil buffer, is discussed.

scholarly journals Intensified Interspecific Competition for Water after Afforestation with Robinia pseudoacacia into a Native Shrubland in the Taihang Mountains, Northern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
Wanrui Zhu ◽  
Wenhua Li ◽  
Peili Shi ◽  
Jiansheng Cao ◽  
Ning Zong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Robinia Pseudoacacia ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Water Competition ◽  
Seasonal Water Use

Understanding how soil water source is used spatiotemporally by tree species and if native species can successfully coexist with introduced species is crucial for selecting species for afforestation. In the rocky mountainous areas of the Taihang Mountains, alien Robinia pseudoacacia L. has been widely afforested into the native shrublands dominated by Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa and Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla to improve forest coverage and soil nutrients. However, little is known about the water relation among species, especially seasonal water use sources in different microsites. We selected the soil and plant xylem samples of two opposite microtopographic sites (ridge and valley) monthly in the growth season to analyze isotope composition. The proportions of water sources were quantified by the MixSIAR model and compared pairwise between species, microsites and seasons. We found that deep subsoil water at a depth of 40–50 cm contributed up to 50% of the total water uptake for R. pseudoacacia and Z. jujuba in the growing season, indicating that they stably used deeper soil water and had intense water competition. However, V. negundo had a more flexible water use strategy, which derived more than 50% of the total water uptake from the soil layer of 0–10 cm in the rainy season, but majorly captured soil water at a depth of 30–50 cm in the dry season. Therefore, high niche overlaps were shown in V. negundo with the other two species in the dry season, but niche segregation was seen in the rainy season. The microtopographic sites did not shift the seasonal dynamic of the water source use patterns of the three studied species, but the water use niche overlap was higher in the valley than in the ridge. Taken together, the introduced species R. pseudoacacia intensified water competition with the native semi-arbor species Z. jujuba, but it could commonly coexist with the native shrub species V. negundo. Therefore, our study on seasonal water use sources in different microsites provides insight into species interaction and site selection for R. pseudoacacia afforestation in the native shrub community in rocky mountainous areas. It is better to plant R. pseudoacacia in the shrubland in the valley so as to avoid intense water competition and control soil erosion.

Water use, competition, and crop production in low rainfall, alley farming systems of south-eastern Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray Unkovich ◽  
Kerrin Blott ◽  
Alex Knight ◽  
Ivan Mock ◽  
Abdur Rab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Alley Farming ◽  
Annual Crop ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Perennial Shrubs

Annual crops were grown in alleys between belts of perennial shrubs or trees over 3–4 years at 3 sites across low rainfall (<450 mm) south-eastern Australia. At the two lower rainfall sites (Pallamana and Walpeup), crop grain yields within 2–5 m of shrub belts declined significantly with time, with a reduction equivalent to 45% over 9 m in the final year of cropping. At the third, wetter site (Bridgewater), the reduction in crop grain yields adjacent to tree belts was not significant until the final year of the study (12% over 11 m) when the tree growth rates had increased. The reductions in crop yield were associated with increased competition for water between the shrub or tree belts and the crops once the soil profile immediately below the perennials had dried. At all 3 sites during the establishment year, estimates of water use under the woody perennials were less than under annual crops, but after this, trends in estimates of water use of alley farming systems varied between sites. At Pallamana the perennial shrubs used a large amount of stored soil water in the second summer after establishment, and subsequently were predominantly dependent on rainfall plus what they could scavenge from beneath the adjacent crop. After the establishment year at the Walpeup site, water use under the perennial shrubs was initially 67 mm greater than under the annual crop, declining to be only 24 mm greater in the final year. Under the trees at Bridgewater, water use consistently increased to be 243 mm greater than under the adjacent annual crop by the final year. Although the shrub belts used more water than adjacent crop systems at Walpeup and Pallamana, this was mostly due to the use of stored soil water, and since the belts occupied only 7–18% of the land area, increases in total water use of these alley farming systems compared with conventional crop monocultures were quite small, and in terms of the extent of recharge control this was less than the area of crop yield loss. At the wetter, Bridgewater site, alley farming appeared to be using an increasing amount of water compared with conventional annual cropping systems. Overall, the data support previous work that indicates that in lower rainfall environments (<350 mm), alley farming is likely to be dogged by competition for water between crops and perennials.

Environmental response of spring wheat in the south-western Australian cereal belt

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
KG Rickert ◽  
RH Sedgley ◽  
WR Stern
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Environmental Response ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Dry Conditions

The performance of the spring wheat cultivar Gamenya, the leading cultivar in Western Australia since 1968, was studied to identify key aspects of its response to the environment under typically dry conditions on two contrasting soil types: a heavy clay loam and a light loamy sand overlying clay in the Merredin region.In the rain-fed treatments the total water use was similar on both soils and was of the order of 240 mm. On the heavy-textured soil at high nitrogen, the foliage canopy developed more rapidly than on the light soil, resulting in earlier soil water depletion and haying off. Water use efficiencies of about 10 kg grain ha-1 per mm of water were similar to those reported for winter rainfall areas in south-eastern Australia. This suggests a greater degree of buffering against spring drought than is indicated by the high ratio of pre-anthesis to post-anthesis water use (3-4.7:l) relative to values of 2-2.7:l in other parts of the Australian wheatbelt. Data on the partitioning of dry matter indicated that this buffering of the harsh spring conditions at Merredin may be due to a greater contribution of assimilates from pre-anthesis storage, to grain filling. In dry environments, further critical evaluation is needed of the role of stored assimilates in grain formation.Faster canopy closure on the heavy soil resulted from a higher density of shoots and possibly larger leaves. This led to the suggestion that on heavier, more fertile soils, an ideotype with restricted tillering, may be higher yielding. By the end of the season ear bearing shoot densities and total water use were the same on both soil types, thus masking earlier important differences.

Water use and water use efficiency of old and modern wheat cultivars in a Mediterranean-type environment

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
KHM Siddique ◽  
D Tennant ◽  
MW Perry ◽  
RK Belford
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Harvest Index ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soil Evaporation ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Modern Cultivar ◽  
Modern Wheat ◽  
Use Efficiency

Water use and water use efficiency of old and modern wheat cultivars and one barley cultivar were measured in a Mediterranean environment at Merredin, W.A. Water use efficiency for grain increased substantially from old to modern cultivars, with little difference among modern cultivars. Water use efficiency for dry matter was similar between cultivars. Barley had the highest water use efficiency of both grain and dry matter. Improved water use efficiency for grain in modern cultivars was associated with faster development, earlier flowering, improved canopy structure and higher harvest index. Modern cultivars used slightly less water than old cultivars. The pattern of water use was also different, with late-maturing old cultivars using more water in the pre- than the post-anthesis period. The ratio of pre- to post-anthesis water use was highest with the late-maturing, old cultivar Purple Straw (5.2:1) and lowest with early-maturing, modern cultivar Gutha (3.0:1). Soil evaporation estimates showed that modern cultivars had lower rates of soil evaporation in the early part of the growing season. This was associated with their faster leaf area development and improved light interception. About 40% of the total water use was lost by soil evaporation with very little difference between wheat cultivars. Barley had 15% less soil evaporation than wheat. Water use efficiency for grain based on transpiration (transpiration efficiency) for the four modern cultivars was 15.8 kg ha-1 mm-1, similar to other studies in comparable environments. Some further improvement in water use efficiency appears possible through improvement in crop biomass and harvest index. However, given the frequent and severe limitations of total water supply at low rainfall sites such as Merredin, there appears to be more scope for improvement in yield and water use efficiency in the medium and high rainfall areas of the wheatbelt.

High crop productivity with high water use in winter and summer on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Young ◽  
P.-J. Derham ◽  
F. X. Dunin ◽  
A. L. Bernardi ◽  
S. Harden
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
High Water ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Transpiration Efficiency ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Outflow ◽  
Almost All

We report exceptional productivity and associated water-use efficiency across seasons for commercial crops of rainfed spring wheat and grain sorghum growing on stored soil water in Vertosols on the Liverpool Plains, central-eastern Australia. Agreement between the independently measured terms of evapotranspiration (ET) and the soil water balance (in-crop rainfall + δsoil water) was achieved within acceptable uncertainty across almost all measurement intervals, to provide a reliable dataset for the analysis of growth and water-use relationships without the confounding influence of water outflow either overland or within the soil. Post-anthesis intrinsic transpiration efficiency (kc ) values of 4.7 and 7.2 Pa for wheat and sorghum, respectively, and grain yields of 8 and 7 t/ha from ET of 450 and 442 mm (1.8 and 1.6 g/m2.mm), clearly demonstrate the levels of productivity and water-use efficiency possible for well-managed crops within an intensive and productive response cropping sequence. The Vertosols in which the crops were grown enabled rapid and apparently unconstrained delivery of significant quantities of subsoil water (34% and 51% of total available) after anthesis, which enabled a doubling of pre-anthesis standing biomass and harvest indices of almost 50%. Durum wheat planted into only 0.30 m of moist soil and enduring lower than average seasonal rainfall, yielded less biomass and grain (2.3 t/ha) with lower water-use efficiency (0.95 g/m2.mm) but larger transpiration efficiency, probably due to reduced stomatal conductance. We argue that crop planting in response to stored soil water and management for high water-use efficiency to achieve high levels of average productivity of crop sequences over time can have a significant effect on both increased productivity and enhanced hydrological stability across alluvial landscapes.

Advances in precision agriculture in south-eastern Australia. III. Interactions between soil properties and water use help explain spatial variability of crop production in the Victorian Mallee

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 870 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Armstrong ◽  
J. Fitzpatrick ◽  
M. A. Rab ◽  
M. Abuzar ◽  
P. D. Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Management Zones ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Supplementary Irrigation

A major barrier to the adoption of precision agriculture in dryland cropping systems is our current inability to reliably predict spatial patterns of grain yield for future crops for a specific paddock. An experiment was undertaken to develop a better understanding of how edaphic and climatic factors interact to influence the spatial variation in the growth, water use, and grain yield of different crops in a single paddock so as to improve predictions of the likely spatial pattern of grain yields in future crops. Changes in a range of crop and soil properties were monitored over 3 consecutive seasons (barley in 2005 and 2007 and lentils in 2006) in the southern section of a 167-ha paddock in the Mallee region of Victoria, which had been classified into 3 different yield (low, moderate, and high) and seasonal variability (stable and variable) zones using normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and historic yield maps. The different management zones reflected marked differences in a range of soil properties including both texture in the topsoil and potential chemical-physical constraints in the subsoil (SSCs) to root growth and water use. Dry matter production, grain yield, and quality differed significantly between the yield zones but the relative difference between zones was reduced when supplementary irrigation was applied to barley in 2005, suggesting that some other factor, e.g. nitrogen (N), may have become limiting in that year. There was a strong relationship between crop growth and the use of soil water and nitrate across the management zones, with most water use by the crop occurring in the pre-anthesis/flowering period, but the nature of this relationship appeared to vary with year and/or crop type. In 2006, lentil yield was strongly related to crop establishment, which varied with soil texture and differences in plant-available water. In 2007 the presence of soil water following a good break to the season permitted root growth into the subsoil where there was evidence that SSCs may have adversely affected crop growth. Because of potential residual effects of one crop on another, e.g. through differential N supply and use, we conclude that the utility of the NDVI methodology for developing zone management maps could be improved by using historical records and data for a range of crop types rather than pooling data from a range of seasons.

scholarly journals Effect of pattern of water supply on Vicia faba L. 2. Pod retention and filling, and dry matter partitioning, production and water use.

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Grashoff
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Dry Matter Partitioning ◽  
Node Number ◽  
Seed Yields

Pod retention and pod filling of V. faba was studied under different patterns of water supply. Mild water shortage during flowering, followed by plenty of water after flowering (d-i), resulted in high seed yields at lower stem nodes (defined as the first podding node to node number 11) in cv. Alfred. The inverse treatment (i-d: plenty of water during flowering, followed by increasing water shortage after flowering), but also i-i (plenty of water during and after flowering), showed 20-60% lower seed yields at those nodes. This effect was mainly due to a lower number of pods per node. In i-i, but not in i-d, the low pod retention at lower nodes was compensated for at higher nodes (defined as from node 12 to the last podding node). These results helped to explain the mechanism of the interaction between water supply pattern and the development of reproductive sinks. The quantitative consequences of these effects on the relation between total water use and seed yield are discussed. Without taking into account different water supply patterns, a linear relation between total water use (represented by total DM production) and seed yield already explained 75-85% of the variation in seed yield. If different water supply patterns were included in the regression analysis, >90% of the variation in seed yield could be explained. The i-i patterns, compared with d-i, resulted in suboptimum DM partitioning to reproductive organs, but showed a smaller seed yield variability. This indicated that defining and maintaining the optimum level of (mild) water shortage under varying climatological conditions needed further attention. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Water use, growth, and yield of drip irrigated cassava in a humid tropical environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 10-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.O. Odubanjo ◽  
A.A. Olufayo ◽  
P.G. Oguntunde
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Agricultural Engineering ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Cropping Seasons

Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Engineering Experimental Farm of The Federal University of Technology, Akure, during 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons to investigate the response of cassava under drip irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were based on four different water regimes; with T100 receiving 100% available water (AW), T<sub>50</sub> and T<sub>25</sub> receiving 50% and 25% of AW and T<sub>0</sub> with zero irrigation (control treatment). Disease free stems of the cassava cultivar TMS 91934 were planted at a spacing of 1 m by 1 m. The results indicated that T<sub>100</sub> full treatment produced the highest average total dry matter yield of 49.12 and 37.62 t/ha in 2006/07 and 2007/08 cropping seasons, respectively. However, the average total dry matter production in T<sub>50</sub>, T<sub>25</sub>, and T<sub>0</sub> showed significant differences in their values. Low total dry matter yields of 7.12 and 5.92 t/ha, respectively, were associated with T<sub>0</sub> for the two cropping seasons. The total water use of 1491.75 and 1701.13 mm was recorded for T<sub>100</sub>, while total water use of 729.00 and 651.13 mm were obtained for T<sub>0</sub> in the two cropping seasons. The water use efficiency determined for the two cropping seasons ranged between 7.38 kg/ha and 32.93 kg/ha. The percentages of total water applied from total water use for T<sub>100</sub> were 51.11% and 61.72%, while 14.83% and 17.85% were recorded for T<sub>25 </sub>for 2006/07 and 2007/08 cropping seasons, respectively.

scholarly journals Water Use Effectiveness Is Enhanced Using Film Mulch Through Increasing Transpiration and Decreasing Evapotranspiration

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianxi Shen ◽  
Risheng Ding ◽  
Taisheng Du ◽  
Ling Tong ◽  
Sien Li
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Soil Evaporation ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Plastic Film ◽  
Evaporation Coefficient ◽  
Crop Models ◽  
Aquacrop Model

Water shortage is a main limitation of crop growth and yield in drought northwest China, which is an important area of seed maize growth. Plastic film mulch is widely adopted to reduce soil evaporation (E) and conserve water resources, which changes evapotranspiration (ET) and its components, E and transpiration (Tr) and crop growth. The AquaCrop model, one of widely used crop models powered by water, can well simulate crop ET components and growth. However, there are few studies that examine ET partitioning and growth with and without plastic film mulch. The calibrated AquaCrop model was used to partition ET and simulate growth of seed maize with and without plastic film mulch in a drought region of northwest China in 2014 and 2015. The AquaCrop model can well simulate canopy cover curve (CC), and the dynamic and accumulated courses of ET and ET components. Plastic film mulch could advance the growth stage of seed maize and reduce seasoned ET. The initial stage with plastic film mulch was 37–42 days, while it was 46–48 days for no-mulch. Plastic film mulch increased Tr by 14.16% and 14.48% and significantly decreased E by 57.25% and 34.28% in 2014 and 2015, respectively, resulting in the reduction of seasonal total ET. Plastic film mulch increased averaged mid-season crop coefficient for transpiration (Kc Tr) by 0.88% and decreased soil evaporation coefficient (Ke) by 62.50%. Collectively, the results suggest that, in comparison with no-mulch, plastic film mulch advanced crop growth, and decreased total ET and increased Tr related with crop production, i.e., improve water use effectiveness.

Water use strategy of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus community in a drought year on the Mongolian Plateau

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-800
Author(s):  
Ya-Juan Zhu ◽  
Guo-Jie Wang ◽  
Zhi-Ming Xin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Mongolian Plateau ◽  
Ammopiptanthus Mongolicus ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Water Use Strategy

Abstract Aims In desert ecosystems, water is a restricting factor for plant growth and vegetation dynamics. The relatively stable water source from deep soil profile or groundwater is important for plant survival during drought. Understanding water use strategy of endangered species, in desert ecosystem is essential for their conservation and restoration such as Ammopiptanthus mongolicus on the Mongolian Plateau. Methods The stable isotope method of δD and δ 18O was used to examine the main water sources of A. mongolicus and two companion shrubs, e.g. Artemisia ordosica and Artemisia xerophytica. The contribution of different water sources to each species was calculated by IsoSource model. Leaf δ 13C was used to compare long-term water use efficiency of three shrubs. Soil moisture and root distribution of three shrubs was measured to explain plant water use strategy. Important Findings The results showed that A. mongolicus relied on groundwater and 150–200 cm deep soil water, with the former contributing to almost half of its total water source. Artemisia ordosica mainly used 150–200 cm deep soil water, but also used shallow soil water within 100 cm in summer and autumn. Artemisia xerophytica mainly used 150–200 cm deep soil water and groundwater, with the latter contributing to about 30%–60% of its total water source. The three shrubs had dimorphic or deep root systems, which are in accord with their water sources. The WUE in the evergreen shrub A. mongolicus was higher than in two deciduous Artemisia shrubs, which may be an adaptive advantage in desert ecosystem. Therefore, groundwater is an important water source for the endangered shrub A. mongolicus in a drought year on Mongolian Plateau. Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and two Artemisia shrubs competed for deep soil water and groundwater.

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