Application of a Conceptual Model to Irrigation Water Requirement and Salt Tolerance of Crops

Abstract

AbstractA theoretical model describing crop yield response to water quantity and quality under irrigation conditions is generalized to obtain soil‐water‐salt regimes, water requirement, and salt tolerance curves. Theoretical results show that under continuous irrigation conditions steady water and salt regimes may be achieved only when application water quantities exceed seasonal class A pan evaporation (E0) by >50%. The effects of water quantity and soil salinity on crop yield and the shape of the response curves to electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts are similar for measured data and simulated results. In both, salt tolerance curves of wet irrigation regimes (irrigation quantity >E0) have maximum relative yield (YR) of one, while for dry irrigation regimes (irrigation quantity <0.8. E0), YR <1.0. Explanation of salt tolerance curves is attempted.