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Simulated soil water distribution patterns and water use of Alfalfa under different subsurface drip irrigation depths

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  • Eltarabily, Mohamed Galal
  • Mohamed, Abdelmoneim Zakaria
  • Begna, Sultan
  • Wang, Dong
  • Putnam, Daniel H.
  • Scudiero, Elia
  • Bali, Khaled M.

Abstract

Alfalfa is one of the major perennial forage crops in California, vital for the livestock industry, and provides environmental benefits to the ecosystem in the state. Information on subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) practices on alfalfa is limited particularly in areas related to drip tape spacings and installation depths and their impacts on topsoil profile wetting patterns and alfalfa productivity. The objective of this study was to compare three different depths of drip lines: 15, 30, and 45 cm on topsoil profile wetting patterns and identify the optimum depth for achieving sustainable management practices for alfalfa production under SDI. Crop water requirements were determined using Tule Technologies system. Volumetric soil water contents from twelve cuts were simulated using HYDRUS-2D. Initial volumetric soil water contents from Watermark sensors were used in the model and measured volumetric soil water distributions were used for hydraulic conductivity calibration. Simulated results showed that there was no significant difference between root water uptake (RWU) among the various drip depths. RWU was 171.6, 170.0, and 168.2 cm at drip line depths of 15, 30, and 45 cm, respectively. Applied irrigation water during the study period was 195.1 cm while rainfall was 4.1 cm. A 10% reduction in topsoil volumetric soil water content was observed for drip lines at 30 cm depth as compared with 15 cm depth, while a 20% reduction in topsoil volumetric soil water content was observed for drip lines at 45 cm depth as compared with 15 cm depth. Drip lines at 30 cm depth are likely the optimal for RWU and free drainage; however, drip lines at 45 cm depth may allow growers to provide additional irrigation events (without increasing the topsoil volumetric soil water content) closer to the harvest date, potentially resulting in higher yield and water use efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Eltarabily, Mohamed Galal & Mohamed, Abdelmoneim Zakaria & Begna, Sultan & Wang, Dong & Putnam, Daniel H. & Scudiero, Elia & Bali, Khaled M., 2024. "Simulated soil water distribution patterns and water use of Alfalfa under different subsurface drip irrigation depths," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:293:y:2024:i:c:s0378377424000283
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108693
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bali, Khaled M. & Mohamed, Abdelmoneim Zakaria & Begna, Sultan & Wang, Dong & Putnam, Daniel & Dahlke, Helen E. & Eltarabily, Mohamed Galal, 2023. "The use of HYDRUS-2D to simulate intermittent Agricultural Managed Aquifer Recharge (Ag-MAR) in Alfalfa in the San Joaquin Valley," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
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