IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v275y2023ics0378377422005674.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of variable rate irrigation management in forage crops: Saving water and increasing water productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Maona
  • Wang, Yunling
  • Guo, Hui
  • Ding, Feng
  • Yan, Haijun

Abstract

Variable rate irrigation (VRI) technology matching appropriate irrigation applications to specific areas could contribute to water savings compared to uniform rate irrigation (URI) within at the field scale. A three-year field study (2019–2021) was carried out at an experimental station of China Agricultural University in Zhuozhou, Hebei Province, China, to compare VRI with URI in sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The field was divided into three management zones (MZs) in accordance with the soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). and each MZ was further subdivided into two subzones to apply VRI and URI. The feasibility of considering the ECa as an MZ delineation approach was supported by the fact that significant differences in yields existed among MZs in each cutting and annual of sudangrass. Sudangrass obtained higher coefficients of variation (CVs) than alfalfa in terms of the yields, crop water use (ETa), water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), with values ranging from 7.64% to 21.25% and from 1.13% to 7.63% for sudangrass and alfalfa, respectively. No significant differences existed between the VRI and URI with regards to the yield, WUE or IWUE in the three years of study. Compared to URI, VRI had a better water-conservation performance, especially in the rainy season, with average reductions of 22.2% and 12.6% (only in 2020) for sudangrass and alfalfa, respectively. These findings demonstrated VRI’s advantage in saving water and increasing water productivity in two forages and that VRI could be applied in regions with limited water supplies such as the North China Plain.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Maona & Wang, Yunling & Guo, Hui & Ding, Feng & Yan, Haijun, 2023. "Evaluation of variable rate irrigation management in forage crops: Saving water and increasing water productivity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:275:y:2023:i:c:s0378377422005674
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108020
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377422005674
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108020?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. O’Shaughnessy, Susan A. & Evett, Steven R. & Colaizzi, Paul D., 2015. "Dynamic prescription maps for site-specific variable rate irrigation of cotton," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 123-138.
    2. Bhatti, Sandeep & Heeren, Derek M. & Barker, J. Burdette & Neale, Christopher M.U. & Woldt, Wayne E. & Maguire, Mitchell S. & Rudnick, Daran R., 2020. "Site-specific irrigation management in a sub-humid climate using a spatial evapotranspiration model with satellite and airborne imagery," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    3. Daccache, A. & Knox, J.W. & Weatherhead, E.K. & Daneshkhah, A. & Hess, T.M., 2015. "Implementing precision irrigation in a humid climate – Recent experiences and on-going challenges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 135-143.
    4. Hui, Xin & Lin, Xueji & Zhao, Yue & Xue, Mengyun & Zhuo, Yue & Guo, Hui & Xu, Yuncheng & Yan, Haijun, 2022. "Assessing water distribution characteristics of a variable-rate irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    5. Li, Xiumei & Zhao, Weixia & Li, Jiusheng & Li, Yanfeng, 2019. "Maximizing water productivity of winter wheat by managing zones of variable rate irrigation at different deficit levels," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 153-163.
    6. Fouli, Y. & Duiker, S.W. & Fritton, D.D. & Hall, M.H. & Watson, J.E. & Johnson, D.H., 2012. "Double cropping effects on forage yield and the field water balance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 104-117.
    7. Vories, Earl & Stevens, William (Gene) & Rhine, Matthew & Straatmann, Zachary, 2017. "Investigating irrigation scheduling for rice using variable rate irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 314-323.
    8. Li, Xiumei & Zhao, Weixia & Li, Jiusheng & Li, Yanfeng, 2021. "Effects of irrigation strategies and soil properties on the characteristics of deep percolation and crop water requirements for a variable rate irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    9. Barker, J. Burdette & Heeren, Derek M. & Neale, Christopher M.U. & Rudnick, Daran R., 2018. "Evaluation of variable rate irrigation using a remote-sensing-based model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 63-74.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. O’Shaughnessy, Susan A. & Kim, Minyoung & Andrade, Manuel A. & Colaizzi, Paul D. & Evett, Steven R., 2020. "Site-specific irrigation of grain sorghum using plant and soil water sensing feedback - Texas High Plains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    2. Bhatti, Sandeep & Heeren, Derek M. & Evett, Steven R. & O’Shaughnessy, Susan A. & Rudnick, Daran R. & Franz, Trenton E. & Ge, Yufeng & Neale, Christopher M.U., 2022. "Crop response to thermal stress without yield loss in irrigated maize and soybean in Nebraska," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    3. Hui, Xin & Lin, Xueji & Zhao, Yue & Xue, Mengyun & Zhuo, Yue & Guo, Hui & Xu, Yuncheng & Yan, Haijun, 2022. "Assessing water distribution characteristics of a variable-rate irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Bhatti, Sandeep & Heeren, Derek M. & Barker, J. Burdette & Neale, Christopher M.U. & Woldt, Wayne E. & Maguire, Mitchell S. & Rudnick, Daran R., 2020. "Site-specific irrigation management in a sub-humid climate using a spatial evapotranspiration model with satellite and airborne imagery," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    5. Anzhen Qin & Dongfeng Ning & Zhandong Liu & Sen Li & Ben Zhao & Aiwang Duan, 2021. "Determining Threshold Values for a Crop Water Stress Index-Based Center Pivot Irrigation with Optimum Grain Yield," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Singh, Jasreman & Ge, Yufeng & Heeren, Derek M. & Walter-Shea, Elizabeth & Neale, Christopher M.U. & Irmak, Suat & Woldt, Wayne E. & Bai, Geng & Bhatti, Sandeep & Maguire, Mitchell S., 2021. "Inter-relationships between water depletion and temperature differential in row crop canopies in a sub-humid climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    7. Maguire, Mitchell S. & Neale, Christopher M.U. & Woldt, Wayne E. & Heeren, Derek M., 2022. "Managing spatial irrigation using remote-sensing-based evapotranspiration and soil water adaptive control model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    8. Souza, Silas Alves & Rodrigues, Lineu Neiva, 2022. "Increased profitability and energy savings potential with the use of precision irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    9. El-Naggar, A.G. & Hedley, C.B. & Horne, D. & Roudier, P. & Clothier, B.E., 2020. "Soil sensing technology improves application of irrigation water," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    10. Marek, Gary & Gowda, Prasanna & Marek, Thomas & Auvermann, Brent & Evett, Steven & Colaizzi, Paul & Brauer, David, 2016. "Estimating preseason irrigation losses by characterizing evaporation of effective precipitation under bare soil conditions using large weighing lysimeters," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 115-128.
    11. Martey, Edward & Etwire, Prince M. & Adombilla, Ramson & Abebrese, Samuel O., 2023. "Information constraint and farmers’ willingness to pay for an irrigation scheduling tool," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    12. Nakabuye, Hope Njuki & Rudnick, Daran & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Lo, Tsz Him & Heeren, Derek & Qiao, Xin & Franz, Trenton E. & Katimbo, Abia & Duan, Jiaming, 2022. "Real-time irrigation scheduling of maize using Degrees Above Non-Stressed (DANS) index in semi-arid environment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    13. Xue, Jingyuan & Fulton, Allan & Kisekka, Isaya, 2021. "Evaluating the role of remote sensing-based energy balance models in improving site-specific irrigation management for young walnut orchards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    14. Li, Xiumei & Zhao, Weixia & Li, Jiusheng & Li, Yanfeng, 2019. "Maximizing water productivity of winter wheat by managing zones of variable rate irrigation at different deficit levels," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 153-163.
    15. Athanasios Balafoutis & Bert Beck & Spyros Fountas & Jurgen Vangeyte & Tamme Van der Wal & Iria Soto & Manuel Gómez-Barbero & Andrew Barnes & Vera Eory, 2017. "Precision Agriculture Technologies Positively Contributing to GHG Emissions Mitigation, Farm Productivity and Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-28, July.
    16. Katimbo, Abia & Rudnick, Daran R. & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Lo, Tsz Him & Qiao, Xin & Franz, Trenton E. & Nakabuye, Hope Njuki & Duan, Jiaming, 2022. "Crop water stress index computation approaches and their sensitivity to soil water dynamics," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    17. Katimbo, Abia & Rudnick, Daran R. & Liang, Wei-zhen & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Lo, Tsz Him & Franz, Trenton E. & Ge, Yufeng & Qiao, Xin & Kabenge, Isa & Nakabuye, Hope Njuki & Duan, Jiaming, 2022. "Two source energy balance maize evapotranspiration estimates using close-canopy mobile infrared sensors and upscaling methods under variable water stress conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    18. Pankaj Dey, 2023. "On the Structure of the Intermittency of Rainfall," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(3), pages 1461-1472, February.
    19. Domínguez-Niño, Jesús María & Oliver-Manera, Jordi & Girona, Joan & Casadesús, Jaume, 2020. "Differential irrigation scheduling by an automated algorithm of water balance tuned by capacitance-type soil moisture sensors," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    20. Li, Xiumei & Zhao, Weixia & Li, Jiusheng & Li, Yanfeng, 2021. "Effects of irrigation strategies and soil properties on the characteristics of deep percolation and crop water requirements for a variable rate irrigation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:275:y:2023:i:c:s0378377422005674. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.