Abstract
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the United States. Results from previous studies have shown that it is possible to substantially reduce irrigation amounts and maintain corn yield. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two irrigation scheduling methods for corn production in Alabama. Two irrigation scheduling methods evaluated were: a) Checkbook, which is one of the conventional methods used by farmers that is based on the soil water balance estimated using water lost by evapotranspiration and its replacement through rainfall or irrigation, and b) Sensor-based, which was based on soil matric potential values recorded by soil moisture tension sensors installed in the field. The experimental field was divided into two irrigation management zones (zone A and zone B) based on soil properties of each field. During the 2014 season in zone A, significant grain yield differences were observed between the two irrigation methods. The Checkbook plots exhibited greater yield than Sensor-based plots: 10181 kg ha-1 and 9696 kg ha-1, respectively. The greater yield on the Checkbook plots could be associated with higher irrigation rate applied, 148 mm more, compared with the Sensor-based plots. In zone B, there were no significant yield differences between both irrigation methods; however, Sensor-based plots out yielded Checkbook plots, with 9673 kg ha-1 and 9584 kg ha-1, respectively. Even though the irrigation amount applied in Checkbook located in zone B was higher, 102 mm more, there were no significant yield differences. Therefore, it suggests that the Sensor-based method was promissory irrigation scheduling strategy under the conditions of zone B. In 2015, there were no significant grain yield differences between zone A and zone B when the data from the Checkbook plots were analyzed. However, the Sensor-based treatment produced a statistically significant difference of grain yield of 13597 kg ha-1 in zone A and 11659 kg ha-1 in zone B, also both zones received the same amount of irrigation. Overall results of both growing seasons indicated that the use of the Sensor-based irrigation scheduling treatment resulted in similar values of total profit per hectare when compared to Checkbook method. The Sensor-based method seems a promising strategy that could result in water and financial savings, but more research is required.
Highlights
Increases in water demand to support population and economic growth, environmental flows, and the energy-sector have resulted in water shortages for many regions of the world
Variable rate irrigation is recommended to apply the appropriate amount of water in the right time considering field-level spatiotemporal heterogeneity (Duncan, 2012)
Since this study was conducted on commercial-scale fields, the microclimate, soil water balance, and management components differed substantially from small-plot studies
Summary
Increases in water demand to support population and economic growth, environmental flows, and the energy-sector have resulted in water shortages for many regions of the world. The lack of appropriate water management practices and integrated water use policies will increase water-related problems in terms of population demand and environmental impacts. Production of agricultural crops could be severely impacted by current and future water shortages. In this scenario, the agricultural sector plays a critical role in terms of water jas.ccsenet.org. An estimated 20 percent of the world’s cultivated land is irrigated, accounting for 40 percent of total agricultural production (Rosegrant, Ringler, & Zhu, 2009). The agricultural productivity concern is because the yields increment may not be rising in the same proportion to meet world demands (Ray, Mueller, West, & Foley, 2013)
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