Abstract
The effect of deficit irrigation on water productivity in the water supply and utilization chain has been computed, employing a systematic and quantitative approach. By applying such an investigation, weaknesses and strengths of deficit irrigation strategies could be revealed, and actions and measures could be implemented to improve water productivity as much as possible. The peppermint plants were subjected to regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD). Peppermint was cultivated under full irrigation (FI, control) and RDI treatments including RDI85, RDI70, RDI55, and RDI40, receiving 85, 70, 55, and 40% of FI treatment, respectively; PRD techniques including PRD70, PRD55, and PRD40, receiving 70, 55, and 40% of FI treatment in one side of the root-zone at each irrigation event, respectively during two cutting seasons. There was no significant improvement in leaves weight and dried yield step by applying deficit irrigation treatments. Leaves and aerial parts from the whole plant and dried yield as the main source of essential oil had the weakest function, which should be optimized to adjust and gain more efficiency. In the essential oil yield step, as a final procedure, the highest improvements were observed in PRD55 treatment with 90% improvement in efficiency compared to control treatment. According to the results and calculating water productivity, PRD55 treatment improved water productivity by 179% compared to the control treatment. Two-way ANOVA analysis, between deficit volume and the deficit applying method, showed that total water productivity was affected (increased) significantly by the deficit applying method. This implies the contribution of the PRD technique to enhance more signals than RDI-based signals, which resulted in more improvements in secondary metabolism production in peppermint.
Highlights
Sustainable agriculture involves setting up an equivalency between ingredients and resources, which are used in crop production systems in a way that, besides reasonable yield, provide sustainable production
There was no significant difference between full irrigation (FI) and RDI85 and PRD70
There was no significant difference between FI, partial root-zone drying (PRD), and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments except RDI40 in biological yield
Summary
Sustainable agriculture involves setting up an equivalency between ingredients and resources, which are used in crop production systems in a way that, besides reasonable yield, provide sustainable production. To inspect where the inefficiency lies, to evaluate the potential improvements, and most importantly of all, to discover how to allocate available resources to maximize the enhancement in water productivity, a systematic and quantitative approach is needed (Hsiao et al, 2007). Water stress affects plant growth and productivity in many ways. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD) are strategies of reducing irrigation rates and managing how and where to irrigate during a specific period of growth and development, to conserve water and managing plant growth while maintaining yield and quality. By alternately wetting and drying part of the root-zone, PRD may allow the induction of abscisic acid (ABA)-based rootto-shoot chemical signaling to regulate growth and water use (Wang et al, 2012). PRD has shown a potential in saving water and increasing WUE (Iqbal et al, 2020)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
