Escain Kiwonde - Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 75359, Israel; The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Food Agriculture and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100001, Israel
Beeri Kanner - Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 75359, Israel; The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Food Agriculture and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100001, Israel
The overall aim of this research was to optimize nitrogen (N) fertilization of plants under desalinated water and a wide range of chloride concentrations for high yield while minimizing downward leaching of nitrate and chloride. The response of two crops, lettuce and potato, to N concentration (CN) in the irrigating solution using desalinated and wide range of Cl concentrations (CCL) was evaluated. The yields of both crops increased with N up to optimal CN of the irrigating solution and decreased as CCL increased. Optimal CN in both crops was higher in the desalinated water than high CCL treatments. N uptake by plants increased with CN in the irrigating solution and the highest uptake was at low CCL. As expected, N fertilization suppressed Cl accumulation in plant tissues. Drainage of N and Cl increased with increase in CCL in the irrigating solution and N fertilization above optimal CN resulted in steep rise in downward N leaching. The overall conclusion is that as water quality is improved through desalination, higher N supply is required for high yields with less groundwater pollution by downward leaching of N and Cl.
Escain Kiwonde - Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 75359, Israel; The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Food Agriculture and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100001, Israel
Beeri Kanner - Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 75359, Israel; The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Food Agriculture and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100001, Israel
The overall aim of this research was to optimize nitrogen (N) fertilization of plants under desalinated water and a wide range of chloride concentrations for high yield while minimizing downward leaching of nitrate and chloride. The response of two crops, lettuce and potato, to N concentration (CN) in the irrigating solution using desalinated and wide range of Cl concentrations (CCL) was evaluated. The yields of both crops increased with N up to optimal CN of the irrigating solution and decreased as CCL increased. Optimal CN in both crops was higher in the desalinated water than high CCL treatments. N uptake by plants increased with CN in the irrigating solution and the highest uptake was at low CCL. As expected, N fertilization suppressed Cl accumulation in plant tissues. Drainage of N and Cl increased with increase in CCL in the irrigating solution and N fertilization above optimal CN resulted in steep rise in downward N leaching. The overall conclusion is that as water quality is improved through desalination, higher N supply is required for high yields with less groundwater pollution by downward leaching of N and Cl.