Irrigation Management Scale and Water Application Method to Improve Yield and Water Productivity of Field-Grown Strawberries

Guillaume Létourneau,Jean Caron

doi:10.3390/agronomy9060286

Abstract

Improvements in water productivity are of primary importance for maintaining agricultural productivity and sustainability. Water potential-based irrigation management has proven effective for this purpose with many different crops, including strawberries. However, problems related to spatial variability of soil properties and irrigation efficiency were reported when applying this management method to strawberries in soils with rock fragments. In this study, a field-scale experiment was performed to evaluate the impacts of three irrigation management scales and a pulsed water application method on strawberry yield and water productivity. An analytical solution to Richards’ equation was also used to establish critical soil water potentials for this crop and evaluate the effects of the variability in the soil properties. Results showed that spatial variability of soil properties at the experimental site was important but not enough to influence crop response to irrigation practices. The studied properties did not present any spatial structure that could allow establishing specific management zones. A four-fold reduction in the size of the irrigation management zones had no effect on yield and increased the water applications. Pulsed application led to significant yield (22%) and water productivity (36%) increases compared with the standard water application method used by the producer at the experimental site.

Highlights

In the face of a growing world population and a decreasing availability of fresh water, it is crucial to rationalize agricultural water use [1]
(22%) and water productivity (36%) increases compared with the standard water application method used by the producer at the experimental site
Crop irrigation is estimated to account for 45% of freshwater uptake within the OECD countries, with values as high as 90% for individual countries [2]

Summary

Introduction

In the face of a growing world population and a decreasing availability of fresh water, it is crucial to rationalize agricultural water use [1]. Crop irrigation is estimated to account for 45% of freshwater uptake within the OECD countries, with values as high as 90% for individual countries [2]. Any improvement in irrigation efficiency could greatly benefit the global balance of freshwater. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) are generally considered to have high water requirements [3]. In North American commercial field productions, day-neutral strawberries are generally grown in raised beds covered with polyethylene mulch and irrigated with a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system [4]. This system has a potential water application efficiency of 85% to 90%

Objectives

Methods

Results