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Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat

Author

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  • Muhammad Umair

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Tabassum Hussain

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan)

  • Hanbing Jiang

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Ayesha Ahmad

    (International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Climate Change Research Center, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Jiawei Yao

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Yongqing Qi

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China)

  • Yucui Zhang

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China)

  • Leilei Min

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China)

  • Yanjun Shen

    (CAS Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources and Hebei Key Laboratory of Water-Saving Agriculture, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
    Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

Abstract

Groundwater plays a major role in agro-hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP). The NCP is facing a water deficit, due to a rapid decline in the water table because of the double cropping system. A two crop (maize and wheat) rotation is required to balance the food supply and demand, which leads to an imbalance between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation. Thus, there has been a decline of about 1.35 m yr −1 of groundwater (Luancheng Agroecosystem Experimental Station (LAES), NCP) during the last 10 years. Lysimeter experiments were conducted under different irrigation treatments (flood, surface drip, and subsurface drip) to account for ET in the selection of a suitable irrigation method. Subsurface drip irrigation reduced ET by 26% compared to flood irrigation, and 15% compared to surface drip irrigation, with significant grain yield and biomass formation due to decreased evaporation losses. Grain yield, yield components, and above ground biomass were similar in subsurface drip and flood irrigation. However, these biomass parameters were lower with surface drip irrigation. Furthermore, subsurface drip irrigation increased the crop water productivity (24.95%) and irrigation water productivity (19.59%) compared to flood irrigation. The subsurface irrigated plants showed an increase in net photosynthesis (~10%), higher intrinsic water use efficiency (~36%), lower transpiration rate (~22%), and saved 80 mm of water compared to flood irrigation. Our findings indicate that subsurface drip irrigation can be adopted in the NCP to increase water use efficiency, optimize grain yield, and minimize water loss in order to address scarcity.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Umair & Tabassum Hussain & Hanbing Jiang & Ayesha Ahmad & Jiawei Yao & Yongqing Qi & Yucui Zhang & Leilei Min & Yanjun Shen, 2019. "Water-Saving Potential of Subsurface Drip Irrigation For Winter Wheat," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2978-:d:234214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Zhang, Zhenyu & Li, Xiaoyu & Liu, Lijuan & Wang, Yugang & Li, Yan, 2020. "Influence of mulched drip irrigation on landscape scale evapotranspiration from farmland in an arid area," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
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    5. Anzhen Qin & Dongfeng Ning & Zhandong Liu & Sen Li & Ben Zhao & Aiwang Duan, 2022. "Impacts of Irrigation Time and Well Depths on Farmers’ Costs and Benefits in Maize Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Aydinsakir, Koksal & Buyuktas, Dursun & Dinç, Nazmi & Erdurmus, Cengiz & Bayram, Edip & Yegin, Arzu Bayir, 2021. "Yield and bioethanol productivity of sorghum under surface and subsurface drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    7. Cakmakci, Talip & Sahin, Ustun, 2021. "Improving silage maize productivity using recycled wastewater under different irrigation methods," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    8. Patra, Kiranmoy & Parihar, C.M. & Nayak, H.S. & Rana, Biswajit & Sena, D.R. & Anand, Anjali & Reddy, K. Srikanth & Chowdhury, Manojit & Pandey, Renu & Kumar, Atul & Singh, L.K. & Ghatala, M.K. & Sidhu, 2023. "Appraisal of complementarity of subsurface drip fertigation and conservation agriculture for physiological performance and water economy of maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    9. Xian Liu & Yueyue Xu, 2023. "Analysis of Dynamic Changes and Main Obstacle Factors of Grain Supply and Demand Balance in Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.

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