Simulation of palm oil root water uptake by using 2D numerical soil-water flow model.

Lisma Safitri,Andiko Putro Suryotomo,Satyanto Krido Saptomo

doi:10.19028/jtep.09.1.31-40

Abstract

The lack of water resource in these past decades encourages the implementation of the precision agriculture system towards the sustainability in palm oil plantation. Therefore, it requires a specific information about the palm oil performance regarding the water balance system that affect the water consumption through the plant root water uptake. However, the prediction of root water uptake distribution is still a challenge. Another method to investigate the soil water dynamics under the plant root system is through the numerical simulations that are widely use to assess the soil water flow of the plant. In alignment with the idea of promoting the sustainable palm oil plantation, the investigation of root water uptake and water content under oil palm tree is highly demanding. As an introduction, through this study, it is find of interest to simulate the root water uptake and water content pattern of oil palm tree using the 2D simulation soil-water flow. The study was performed by applying the 2D simulation soil-water flow model to 17th year old oil palm tree located in Siak, Riau with the loam soil type. The climate data was used as primary data to predict the rate of evapotranspiration. The soil properties and root dimension and distribution of oil palm was taken by the literature study. The simulation over 30 days illustrated the root water uptake distribution, water content change, pressure head and flow velocity. The most intensive root water uptake occurred in the upper root zone of oil palm tree as an impact of the higher root density. The significant root water uptake in the upper root zone lead to the decreasing of water content and increasing of pressure head in the soil. Consequently, there was a change of water flow direction from the wet area in the downward and sideward do dry root zone as the water supply to the oil palm tree.

Highlights

The lack of water resource in these past decades encourages the implementation of the precision agriculture system towards the sustainability in oil palm plantation (Wijayanti et al, 2018, Santos 2019)
The prediction of root ZDWHU XSWDNH GLVWULEXWLRQ LV VWLOO D FKDOOHQJH 6D¿WUL HW DO E 6D¿WUL HW DO F 7KH G\QDPLFV process that occurs underneath the soil requires QHHG D FRPSOH[ DSSURDFK WKDW SUREDEO\ GLI¿FXOW WR be visualised by the experimental study
Numerical simulations DUH RQH RI DQ HI¿FLHQW PHWKRG WR SUHGLFW WKH ZDWHU ÀX[ XQGHU WKH VRLO IRU RSWLPDO LUULJDWLRQ PDQDJHPHQW practices (Meshkat et al, 1999, Bufon et al, 2012 ). It is proven based on many studies that the numerically simulated data agree with observed data such as root water uptake evaluation under different irrigation schemes (De Silva et al, 2008; 6D¿WUL HW DO E 6D¿WUL HW DO E WKH spatio-temporal compensated and uncompensated root water uptake (RWU) patterns evaluation of mature pecan trees in a silty clay loam (Deb et al, 2013), the prediction of water content using numerical model (Hydrus 2D/3D) to investigate and design drip irrigation management practices (Bufon et al, 2012), and the latest for modelling soil water balance and root water uptake in cotton grown under different soil conservation practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (Aggarwal et al, 2017)

Summary

Introduction

The lack of water resource in these past decades encourages the implementation of the precision agriculture system towards the sustainability in oil palm plantation (Wijayanti et al, 2018, Santos 2019). The prediction of root ZDWHU XSWDNH GLVWULEXWLRQ LV VWLOO D FKDOOHQJH 6D¿WUL HW DO E 6D¿WUL HW DO F 7KH G\QDPLFV process that occurs underneath the soil requires QHHG D FRPSOH[ DSSURDFK WKDW SUREDEO\ GLI¿FXOW WR be visualised by the experimental study. Another method to investigate the soil water dynamics under the plant root system is through the numerical simulations. It is proven based on many studies that the numerically simulated data agree with observed data such as root water uptake evaluation under different irrigation schemes (De Silva et al, 2008; 6D¿WUL HW DO E 6D¿WUL HW DO E WKH spatio-temporal compensated and uncompensated root water uptake (RWU) patterns evaluation of mature pecan trees in a silty clay loam (Deb et al, 2013), the prediction of water content using numerical model (Hydrus 2D/3D) to investigate and design drip irrigation management practices (Bufon et al, 2012), and the latest for modelling soil water balance and root water uptake in cotton grown under different soil conservation practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (Aggarwal et al, 2017)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion