Principles of Managing High Frequency Irrigation

Abstract

AbstractThe consequences of increasing irrigation frequency are explored, taking into consideration the laws governing water flow in soil. As frequency increases, the waterholding capacity of the soil becomes less important because water is supplied as the plants require it. Soil water content, and therefore matric potential, are continuously high and only slightly dependent upon deep percolation rate. This makes the need for deep percolation to leach salts the only valid criterion for applying more water than the plants transpire. The need to apply extra water to those crops that require high soil water content is eliminated. Controlling the deep percolation rate rather than the soil water status requires measurements of flux rather than water potential as inputs for managing the quantity of water to be applied.