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An artificial capillary barrier to improve root zone conditions for horticultural crops: Physical effects on water content
Year:
2011
Source of publication :
Irrigation Science
Authors :
Ben-Gal, Alon
;
.
Volume :
29
Co-Authors:
Ityel, E., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Lazarovitch, N., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Silberbush, M., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Ben-Gal, A., Department of Environmental Physics and Irrigation, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, 85280 Mobile Post Negev 2, Israel
Facilitators :
From page:
171
To page:
180
(
Total pages:
10
)
Abstract:
Capillary barriers (CBs) occur at the interface of two soil layers having distinct differences in textural and hydraulic characteristics. The objective of this study was to introduce an artificial CB, created by a layer of gravel below the root zone substrate, in order to optimize conditions for the cultivation of horticultural crops. Potential root zone formats were analyzed with and without the gravel CBs for variables including the following: depth of CB; barrier separating the root zone from the surrounding soil; and root zone soil texture. Field and simulated results revealed that artificial CBs increased root zone water content and changed water flow dynamics. Volumetric soil water content was increased by 20-70%, depending on the soil texture and depth of the barrier. Sandy soil texture and shallower placement resulted in relatively higher water content. For sandy soil without plants, a shallow (0.2 m depth) CB increased water content of the overlaying soil by 50% compared to the control. The introduction of a gravel CB below the root zone of pepper plants (Capsicum Annum L.) lead to 34% higher matric head, 50% lower diurnal fluctuations in matric head and 40% increase in pepper fruit yield. Increasing water content by way of artificial CBs appeared to improve the water use efficiency of pepper plants. Such an improvement could lead to reduced water and fertilizer application rates and subsequent reduction in contamination below the root zone. This is especially relevant for substrates of low water-holding capacity typically used in horticulture crop production. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.
Note:
Related Files :
Capsicum annuum
Crop Production
fertilizer application
horticulture
rhizosphere
sandy soils
water use efficiency
Show More
Related Content
More details
DOI :
10.1007/s00271-010-0227-3
Article number:
Affiliations:
Database:
Scopus
Publication Type:
article
;
.
Language:
English
Editors' remarks:
ID:
26552
Last updated date:
02/03/2022 17:27
Creation date:
17/04/2018 00:23
Scientific Publication
An artificial capillary barrier to improve root zone conditions for horticultural crops: Physical effects on water content
29
Ityel, E., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Lazarovitch, N., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Silberbush, M., Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Negev, Israel
Ben-Gal, A., Department of Environmental Physics and Irrigation, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, 85280 Mobile Post Negev 2, Israel
An artificial capillary barrier to improve root zone conditions for horticultural crops: Physical effects on water content
Capillary barriers (CBs) occur at the interface of two soil layers having distinct differences in textural and hydraulic characteristics. The objective of this study was to introduce an artificial CB, created by a layer of gravel below the root zone substrate, in order to optimize conditions for the cultivation of horticultural crops. Potential root zone formats were analyzed with and without the gravel CBs for variables including the following: depth of CB; barrier separating the root zone from the surrounding soil; and root zone soil texture. Field and simulated results revealed that artificial CBs increased root zone water content and changed water flow dynamics. Volumetric soil water content was increased by 20-70%, depending on the soil texture and depth of the barrier. Sandy soil texture and shallower placement resulted in relatively higher water content. For sandy soil without plants, a shallow (0.2 m depth) CB increased water content of the overlaying soil by 50% compared to the control. The introduction of a gravel CB below the root zone of pepper plants (Capsicum Annum L.) lead to 34% higher matric head, 50% lower diurnal fluctuations in matric head and 40% increase in pepper fruit yield. Increasing water content by way of artificial CBs appeared to improve the water use efficiency of pepper plants. Such an improvement could lead to reduced water and fertilizer application rates and subsequent reduction in contamination below the root zone. This is especially relevant for substrates of low water-holding capacity typically used in horticulture crop production. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.
Scientific Publication
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