• Authors:
    • Ball, A.
    • Pretty, J.
  • Year: 2001
  • Authors:
    • Sojka, R. E.
    • Bjorneberg, D. L.
    • Aase, J. K.
  • Source: Transactions of the ASAE
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2001
  • Summary: Zone subsoiling on irrigated land has been successfully used to improve potato ( Solanum tuberosum) yield and quality. Zone subsoiling under furrow irrigation may disrupt water flow and influence infiltration and soil erosion. We hypothesized that zone subsoiling, done appropriately, will maintain integrity of irrigation furrows, improve small grain (barley) and dry bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) growth and yield, and not adversely affect water flow, infiltration, or erosion on furrow-irrigated soils. The experiment, which started in 1995, was conducted at the USDA-ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory in Kimberly, Idaho, USA. The soil is a Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Durinodic Xeric Haplocalcids). Tillage treatments were disc, disc+paratill, paratill, and no-till. There were no differences in water infiltration, runoff, or soil erosion among treatments. Bulk density differences among treatments were largest at the 0.15 to 0.20-m depth, and bulk density was ~16 to 18% greater on disc and no-till treatments than on paratill treatments. The highest frequency of low cone index (CI) values belonged to paratill treatments (65 to 80% frequency of CI values less than 2 MPa); the lowest frequency of low CI values belonged to no-till treatment (20% frequency less than 2 MPa). Cone index versus bulk density relationships depended on soil water content with a slope of 5.81 (r 2=0.70) in the wetter year of 1997, and 2.90 in the drier year of 1995 (r 2=0.60). Subsoiling can be accomplished on furrow-irrigated lands with no adverse effects on runoff, infiltration, and erosion, but under our conditions did not improve crop growth and yield.
  • Authors:
    • Beznosikov, V. A.
  • Source: Agrokhimiya
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2001
  • Summary: Studies have been made since 1985 on ways of improving the effectiveness of N fertilizers on non-gleyed and weakly gleyed podzolic soils, either undrained or with tile drains, in the Komi Republic (NE part of the Russian continental plateau). On this basis recommendations are made on land improvement by drainage, and on the optimum doses, application times and ways of covering the N fertilizers. These measures will improve crop productivity for annual ryegrass, potatoes, and mixtures (peas/oats, ryegrass/peas, ryegrass/barley, ryegrass/rape).
  • Authors:
    • Camp, C. R.
  • Source: Transactions of the ASAE
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 1998
  • Summary: A comprehensive review of published information on subsurface drip irrigation was performed to determine the state of the art on the subject. Subsurface drip irrigation has been a part of drip irrigation development in the USA since its beginning about 1960, but interest has escalated since the early 1980s. Yield response for over 30 crops indicated that crop yield for subsurface drip was greater than or equal to that for other irrigation methods, including surface drip, and required less water in most cases. Lateral depths ranged from 0.02 to 0.70 m and lateral spacings ranged from 0.25 to 5.0 m. Several irrigation scheduling techniques, management strategies, crop water requirements, and water use efficiencies were discussed. Injection of nutrients, pesticides, and other chemicals to modify water and soil conditions is an important component of subsurface drip irrigation. Some mathematical models that simulate water movement in subsurface drip systems were included Uniformity measurements and methods, a limited assessment of root intrusion into emitters, and estimates of overall system longevity were also discussed. Sufficient information exists to provide general guidance with regard to design, installation, and management of subsurface drip irrigation systems. A significant body of information is available to assist in determining relative advantages and disadvantages of this technology in comparison with other irrigation types. Subsurface drip provides a more efficient delivery system if water and nutrient applications are managed properly. Waste water application, especially for turf and landscape plants, offers great potential Profitability and economic aspects have not been determined conclusively and will depend greatly on local conditions and constraints, especially availability and cost of water.