scholarly journals Nitrogen Balance of Effluent Irrigated Silage Cropping Systems in Southern Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Chris J. Smith ◽  
Val O. Snow ◽  
Ray Leuning ◽  
David Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Irrigation Season ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
High Recovery ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Effluent Reuse ◽  
Spray Irrigation ◽  
N Loading

The nitrogen (N) balance in a double-cropped, effluent spray irrigation system was examined for several years in southern Australia. The amounts of N added by irrigation, removed in the crop, and lost by ammonia (NH3) volatilisation, denitrification, and leaching were measured. Results from the project provide pig producers with the knowledge necessary to evaluate the efficiency of such systems for managing N, and enable sustainable effluent reuse practices to be developed. Oats were grown through the winter (May to November) without irrigation, and irrigated maize was grown during the summer/autumn (December to April). Approximately 18 mm of effluent was applied every 3 days. The effluent was alkaline (pH 8.3) and the average ammoniacal-N (NH4++ NH3) concentration was 430 mg N/l (range: 320 to 679 mg N/l). Mineral N in the 0- to 1.7-m layer tended to increase during the irrigation season and decrease during the winter/spring. About 2000 kg N/ha was found in the profile to a depth of 2 m in October 2000. N removed in the aboveground biomass (oats + maize) was 590 and 570 kg N/ha/year, equivalent to ≈25% of the applied N. Average NH3volatilisation during the daytime (6:00 to 19:00) was 2.74 kg N/ha, while volatilisation at night (19:00 to 6:00) was 0.4 kg N/ha, giving a total of 3.1 kg N/ha/day. This represents ≈12% of the N loading, assuming that these rates apply throughout the season. The balance of the N accumulated in the soil profile during the irrigation season, as 15N-labelled N studies confirmed. The high recovery of the15N-labelled N, and the comparable distribution of 15N and Br in the soil profile, implied that there was little loss of N by denitrification, even though the soil was wet enough for leaching of both tracers.

Spray irrigation on dairy pastures - efficient or not?

2006 ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
S.M. Thomas ◽  
D. Bloomer ◽  
R.J. Martin ◽  
A. Horrocks
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation System ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Irrigation Application ◽  
Irrigation Uniformity ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Spray Irrigation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Distribution Uniformity

Applying water efficiently is increasingly important for dairy farmers and other users of surface and groundwater resources to maintain sustainable production. However, irrigation is rarely monitored. We used a questionnaire survey and measurements of five spray irrigation systems working in normal farm conditions to make observations on how efficiently irrigation is being managed. Survey results from 93 dairy farmers showed that, although the farmers believe they know how much water is being applied during irrigation, only 60% make measurements, and about 18% measure irrigation uniformity. Catch-can measurement of irrigation application depth for the different spray systems indicated large variability in application depths during irrigation, and field distribution uniformity ranged greatly between the different systems, decreasing in the order of centre pivots >travelling irrigators> K-line. Changes in irrigation system settings were sometimes made without considering application depths or uniformity. If our five case studies are typical, they may explain the large range of seasonal irrigation amounts recorded in the survey. We recommend that farmers monitor irrigation application depths and uniformity to help manage irrigation water efficiently and to help them estimate the value of irrigation to their enterprise. Keywords: distribution uniformity, water use efficiency, catch cans

Nitrate Leaching to a Shallow Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer as Influenced by Conventional No-Till and Low-Input Sustainable Grain Production Systems

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 691-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Craig ◽  
R. R. Weil
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Atlantic Coastal Plain ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Low Input ◽  
No Till

In December, 1987, the states in the Chesapeake Bay region, along with the federal government, signed an agreement which called for a 40% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the Bay by the year 2000. To accomplish this goal, major reductions in nutrient loadings associated with agricultural management practices were deemed necessary. The objective of this study was to determine if reducing fertilizer inputs to the NT system would result in a reduction in nitrogen contamination of groundwater. In this study, groundwater, soil, and percolate samples were collected from two cropping systems. The first system was a conventional no-till (NT) grain production system with a two-year rotation of corn/winter wheat/double crop soybean. The second system, denoted low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA), produced the same crops using a winter legume and relay-cropped soybeans into standing wheat to reduce nitrogen and herbicide inputs. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater were significantly lower under the LISA system. Over 80% of the NT groundwater samples had NO3-N concentrations greater than 10 mgl-1, compared to only 4% for the LISA cropping system. Significantly lower soil mineral N to a depth of 180 cm was also observed. The NT soil had nearly twice as much mineral N present in the 90-180 cm portion than the LISA cropping system.

Long-term acidification of a Brazilian Acrisol as affected by no till cropping systems and nitrogen fertiliser

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. C. B. Vieira ◽  
C. Bayer ◽  
J. Mielniczuk ◽  
J. Zanatta ◽  
C. A. Bissani
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
No Till ◽  
Leguminous Species ◽  
Exchangeable Al ◽  
C Cycle

Cropping systems and N fertilisation affect soil acidification mainly due to the removal of alkaline plant material from the field and nitrate leaching. The study evaluated the acidification of a subtropical soil under no till cropping systems with different C and N addition rates for 19 years. The contributions of leguminous and non-leguminous crops (fallow/maize, black oat/maize, black oat + vetch/maize, black oat + vetch/maize + cowpea, lablab + maize, pigeon pea + maize, and digitaria) and mineral N fertiliser (0 and 180 kg N/ha.year as urea) to total acidification were estimated. Cropping systems and N fertilisation significantly affected soil pH, which ranged from 4.3 to 5.1. The presence of leguminous species and mineral N promoted greater decreases in soil pH and net soil acidification, which resulted in increases in exchangeable Al content and Al saturation. Black oat + vetch/maize with N fertilisation promoted the highest soil net acidification rate (2.65 kmol H+/ha.year), while digitaria had the lowest (1.07 kmol H+/ha.year). Leguminous species and N fertilisation increased soil acidification through changes in the C cycle associated with the removal of alkaline plant material by grains. Leguminous-based cropping systems promoted higher maize yields than those comprising essentially gramineous species, indicating an opportunity for a reduction in N fertiliser rates. With N application, however, maize yield did not differ among cropping systems, despite differences in soil pH and exchangeable Al.

Hybrid pennisetum in a warm temperate climate: effects of plant density on summer production

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (85) ◽  
pp. 284 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Pearson ◽  
DTW Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Pennisetum Americanum ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Spray Irrigation ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Hybrid Pennisetum ◽  
Warm Temperate

Productivity of vegetatively propagated hybrid pennisetum (Pennisetum americanum x P. purpureum) was assessed throughout summer in two years at densities of 1,4 and 9 plants m-2 at two time of defoliation schedules under natural rainfall and with spray irrigation. In the establishment year the highest summer yield was 10 t ha-1 and in the second year 18 t ha-1. In both years yields did not increase above 4 plants m-2 under natural rainfall and did not differ more than 20 per cent according to the defoliation schedule or irrigation treatment. The regrowth after defoliation, perennation and attainment of higheryielding sward in the second season suggest hybrid pennisetum is more suited to certain multiple forage cropping systems than are annual tropical grasses, e.g. pearl millet, sorghum and corn.

scholarly journals Grain quality of upland rice cultivars in response to cropping systems in the Brazilian tropical savanna

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽  
Orivaldo Arf ◽  
Rogério Peres Soratto ◽  
Gustavo Pavan Mateus
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Sprinkler Irrigation ◽  
Rice Cultivars ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Rice Milling

The industrial quality of grain is an important parameter to determine the commercial value of rice and can be influenced by water availability and type of cultivar. The present study aimed to evaluate the milling yield as well as the protein and nutrient contents of polished grains originated from two upland rice cultivars grown under rainfed and sprinkler-irrigated conditions. A randomized block design was used in a split-plot arrangement with eight replicates. Plots consisted of two cropping systems (rainfed and sprinkler-irrigated) with subplots consisting of two cultivars recommended for upland ecosystems (IAC 201 and Carajás). The sprinkler irrigation system increased upland rice milling (8.0%) and head rice yield (23.7%), for years with hot and dry weather spells occurring during the reproductive and maturation stages. Under conditions of lower water availability, the Carajás cultivar showed a milled yield value 5.1% higher than that of cultivar IAC 201. Lower water availability provided increases in protein, N, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn contents but reductions in S and Cu in the polished grains. Cultivars IAC 201 and Carajás had similar nutrient contents in the polished grains.

Seasonal ammonia losses from spray-irrigation with secondary-treated recycled water

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 676-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Saez ◽  
Thomas C. Harmon ◽  
Sarika Doshi ◽  
Francisco Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Irrigation Season ◽  
Recycled Water ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Treated Effluent ◽  
Agricultural Site

This work examines ammonia volatilization associated with agricultural irrigation employing recycled water. Effluent from a secondary wastewater treatment plant was applied using a center pivot irrigation system on a 12 ha agricultural site in Palmdale, California. Irrigation water was captured in shallow pans and ammonia concentrations were quantified in four seasonal events. The average ammonia loss ranged from 15 to 35% (averaging 22%) over 2-h periods. Temporal mass losses were well-fit using a first-order model. The resulting rate constants correlated primarily with temperature and secondarily with wind speed. The observed application rates and timing were projected over an entire irrigation season using meteorological time series data from the site, which yielded volatilization estimates of 0.03 to 0.09 metric tons NH3-N/ha per year. These rates are consistent with average rates (0.04 to 0.08 MT NH3-N/ha per year) based on 10 to 20 mg NH3-N/L effluent concentrations and a 22% average removal. As less than 10% of the treated effluent in California is currently reused, there is potential for this source to increase, but the increase may be offset by a corresponding reduction in synthetic fertilizers usage. This point is a factor for consideration with respect to nutrient management using recycled water.

Risk of Infection Associated with a Wastewater Spray Irrigation System Used for Farming

1984 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin C. Linnemann ◽  
Randye Jaffa ◽  
Peter S. Gartside ◽  
Pasquale V. Scarpino ◽  
C Scott Clark
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation System ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Spray Irrigation

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE SELF-WATERING RAISED SOIL BED SUITABLE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE

2019 ◽  
pp. 22-29
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Palm Fruit ◽  
Vegetable Growth ◽  
Application Efficiency ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Overall Efficiency

A portable raised soil bed integrated with a self-regulated irrigation system was designed, developed and evaluated. The system is most suited to urban settings where arable soils are scarce to locate and most times too expensive to purchase. The system was evaluated with Palm fruit fibre. Palm fruit fibre filled to thickness of 0.15m when saturated was observed to release moisture throughout the entire 0.20cm thickness of the overlaying soil at an application efficiency of 65%, fibre efficiency of 18% and overall efficiency of 12%. It was established from the soil moisture data recorded at different depths in the soil profile that the system provided subsurface irrigation sufficient for vegetable growth and is also efficiently self-regulated as no case of moisture overflow or flooding at the surface of the soil profile was recorded.

scholarly journals Matric suction effect on distribution of stresses caused by vehicle wheels on a bare silty sand

2021 ◽  
Vol 337 ◽  
pp. 03004
Author(s):  
Juan Alfredo Torrico Bravo ◽  
Salvador Miranda ◽  
Wim Cornellis ◽  
Juan Carlos Rojas ◽  
Adam Bezuijen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Silty Sand ◽  
Vehicle Loading ◽  
Load Cells ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Bare Soils

-Soil compaction in cropping systems, caused by the external pressure of machinery, creates impermeable layers that restrict water and nutrient cycles reducing agricultural production. To evaluate the matric suction effects on distribution with depth of stresses in a soil, caused by the use of agricultural machinery, Jet Fill tensiometers were installed at two different depths (i.e. 0.15 m, 0.30 m) in a soil profile constituted by silty sand with gravel (SM); to register the increments on subsoil vertical stresses, two miniaturized load cells (i.e. 16. 5 mm in diameter) were installed in a horizontal position under the centre line of the vehicle wheels’ path, at approximately 0.15 m and 0.30 m depth. Care was taken to calibrate the load cells in field conditions. A vehicle was made to pass over the soil surface, at a speed less than 5 km/h; the tyre inflation pressure applied on wheel was 380 kPa. Response of load cells to vehicle loading was evaluated at different average matric suction measured on soil profile. Finally, measured stresses have been compared with values obtained by applying well-known elastic theoretical methods used to assess stresses applied by tyres on bare soils. The corresponding results show that the increment of vertical stresses decreases as matric suction increases, and a good correlation between measurements and simulations of the increment on subsoil vertical stress.

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