HYDRUS-1D Simulation of Soil Water Dynamics for Sweet Corn under Tropical Rainfed Condition

Mazhar Iqbal,Aimrun Wayayok,Md Rowshon Kamal,Mohd Fazly M,Hasfalina Che Man

doi:10.3390/app10041219

Abstract

Assessment of soil water balance is essential to understand water dynamics for optimal use of water and fertilizers. The study intended to simulate soil water dynamics in sweet corn production under tropical rainfed conditions. Surface runoff, subsurface leaching, and evapotranspiration are the main components of water balance, especially in tropical environments. Therefore, intensive field experiments and HYDRUS-1D numerical modeling were applied to investigate the water balance components and analyzing water dynamics. The study was carried out in a sweet corn field for two growing seasons under the rainfed conditions at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Serdang, Malaysia. The total water inputs during the first and second seasons were 75.8 cm and 79.7 cm, respectively. Simulated results of evapotranspiration (ET) accounted for 40.7% and 33.1% of total water input during the first and second seasons. Surface runoff accounted for 41% and 28.6% in the first and second season, respectively. Water leaching accounted for 10.6%–26.8% of total water input during both seasons respectively. As rainfall fulfilled the crop water requirement throughout the growing seasons no additional irrigation was required. The overall simulation results validate the HYDRUS-1D as an effective tool to simulate soil water dynamics under rainfed conditions.

Highlights

Around 190.6 million hectares produced 1076.18 million tons of corn at the rate of 5.65 tons/ha for the year 2017–2018 worldwide [1]
The evapotranspiration (ET) of total water use was recorded as 40.7% and 33.1% for first and second season, respectively, i.e., the rainfall amount was much higher than total plant water requirements for both seasons
Simulation results of evapotranspiration (ET) for the first and second season were 40.7% and 33.1% of total water input, which shows the rainfall amount was much higher than total plant water requirements for both seasons

Summary

Introduction

Around 190.6 million hectares produced 1076.18 million tons of corn at the rate of 5.65 tons/ha for the year 2017–2018 worldwide [1]. In 2017, Malaysia consumed around 4 million tons of grain corn. Most of the grain corn consumed in Malaysia is imported, while sweet corn is grown locally [2]. About 10,477.30 ha of the cultivated area produced 72,560.52 tons of sweet corn for the year 2017 in the country [3]. In Malaysia, sweet corn grows on acidic, weathered soils with low pH and soil fertility, which results in low corn yield [5]. Imbalance in fertilizer application results in low corn production in tropical regions [6]. The change in water balance components such as evapotranspiration, runoff, soil moisture, and rainfall might affect this fertilizer imbalance

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Conclusion