Abstract
In regions with a temperate and humid climate, deficit irrigation improves the profitability and sustainability of production systems, when properly implemented. It is necessary to generate knowledge on the response of crops to deficit irrigation. Aiming to improve the design and management of irrigation equipment used in soybean cultivation in Uruguay, an experiment was proposed where three maximum depths of irrigation replacement (3 mm, 6 mm and 9 mm day-1) and non-irrigated control were evaluated. A randomized complete block design was used, with four treatments and four replications. Drip irrigation was applied, which allowed a good adjustment of the different irrigation depths used and reduced the experimental area. Non-irrigated and 3 mm suffered water stress from V10 to grain filling, producing lower yields. The 6 mm treatment yielded the same as the 9 mm in Year 1, but lower in Year 2. This study indicates that irrigation is necessary when rainfall is less than the average for the region or its distribution is inadequate. The 9 mm treatment showed the highest water productivity (WUE: 0.86 Kg m-3) and irrigation (IWUE: 0.54 Kg m-3), with less use of rainfall, compared to 6mm.
Highlights
Climate change is modifying the rainfall distribution in some regions, with an increase in extreme events(1), being less effective in meeting the crop water demand
Drip irrigation was applied, which allowed a good adjustment of the different irrigation depths used and reduced the experimental area
This study aims to evaluate the use of different maximum daily irrigation depths on soybean production in southern Uruguay
Summary
Climate change is modifying the rainfall distribution in some regions, with an increase in extreme events(1), being less effective in meeting the crop water demand. Agriculture is highly dependent on climatic conditions, mainly on rainfall, causing great variability in the yields and producers' income. Supplemental irrigation increases and stabilizes production, mainly in years with low rainfall(2). Producers do not invest in irrigation in conditions of humid temperate climate due to production costs and fluctuating prices of soybean and other crops(3). The energetic cost to extract, distribute and apply irrigation water requires evaluating different strategies for optimization(4). According to Izquiel(5), any strategy that minimizes electricity costs will be accepted, either with tools that optimize the design of water distribution and pumping stations, or by helping the management of the irrigation system
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