Abstract
Abstract Gravel mulching is an ancient mulching system with a history of more than 300 years in China. To explore the changes of soil-water content (SWC) and heat transport in watermelon gravel-mulched fields under drip irrigation, we simulated three irrigation quotas (W1, 180 m3/hm2; W2, 270 m3/hm2; and W3, 360 m3/hm2) and three irrigation frequencies (F1, three times; F2, six times; and F3, nine times) based on HYDRUS-2D. The results indicated that peak SWC increased with irrigation quota. The range of fluctuation of SWC decreased as irrigation frequency increased. The temperature of the 0–40 cm soil layer varied with air temperature, but the range of fluctuation decreased with depth. Irrigation affected the distribution of soil water, increased soil heat capacity, and reduced the impact of air temperature on soil temperature, thus delaying the impact of air temperature on soil temperature. High-frequency drip irrigation could therefore effectively improve SWC, reduce water stress during the period of watermelon growth, and effectively delay the effect of air temperature on soil temperature, providing a theoretical basis for developing reasonable irrigation strategies and regulating soil water and heat in gravel-mulched fields.
Highlights
The conditions of soil water and heat are important ecological environmental factors that affect the growth and development of crops and are directly associated with farming methods
Wang et al (2008) found that the average soil-water content (SWC) with high-frequency drip irrigation fluctuated within a relatively stable small range and that drip irrigation could substantially delay the impact of air temperature on ground temperature
Irrigation quotas and frequency strongly affected the distribution of soil water
Summary
The conditions of soil water and heat are important ecological environmental factors that affect the growth and development of crops and are directly associated with farming methods. Irrigation affects the distribution of soil moisture and the change of soil temperature. Under the same irrigation quota, a high-frequency irrigation system is beneficial for increasing the water content of the soil.
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