Trickle irrigation systems affect spatial distribution of roots of banana crop

Edvaldo B Santana Junior,Diego M De Mello,Bruno L Da S Pereira,Eugênio F Coelho,Jailson L Cruz,João B R Da S Reis

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v24n5p325-331

Abstract

ABSTRACT Trickle irrigation has been largely used for banana in Brazil, mainly due to the increase in water and fertilizer use efficiency. These irrigation systems have different options concerning number, type and flow rate of emitters as well as for hydraulics, number and location of lateral lines. The small area of soil wetted by these systems limits root spatial distribution of crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different trickle irrigation systems on the root spatial growth and root spatial distribution of banana cv. Prata Gorutuba. Root length density and root length were evaluated in soil profiles of three micro-sprinkler systems, with emitter flow rates of 35, 53 and 70 L h-1 and of two drip irrigation systems, with one and two lateral lines per crop row. Trickle irrigation systems influence root spatial distribution, favoring a greater or smaller distribution of roots at different depth and distance from the plant according to micro-sprinkler flow rate and to the number of lateral lines per crop row. The effect on root spatial distribution is more accentuated for micro-sprinkler systems than for drip systems. The majority of the total root length (80%) was observed in the soil profiles from 0.33 to 0.57 m depth and at distances from the plants of 0.75 to 0.83 m.

Highlights

The cultivation of irrigated banana commonly uses trickle irrigation combined with fertigation, since these practices enhance the efficiency of application of water and fertilizers, because trickle irrigation methods apply water close to the root system (Pramanik et al, 2016; Pawar et al, 2017)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different trickle irrigation systems on the root spatial growth and root spatial distribution of banana cv
Root length density and root length were evaluated in soil profiles of three micro-sprinkler systems, with emitter flow rates of 35, 53 and 70 L h-1 and of two drip irrigation systems, with one and two lateral lines per crop row

Summary

Introduction

The cultivation of irrigated banana commonly uses trickle irrigation combined with fertigation, since these practices enhance the efficiency of application of water and fertilizers, because trickle irrigation methods apply water close to the root system (Pramanik et al, 2016; Pawar et al, 2017). In the field, may have a different number of lateral lines per plant row, number of emitters per plant, and distribution of emitters around plants. These variables are responsible for water distribution in the soil, which can impact the crop depending on the adopted configuration, since different configurations of drip irrigation systems will influence the root systems of plants. The different variables of the root system, such as total length, diameter, effective depth and distance of roots have been evaluated in bananas and plantains (Sant'Ana et al, 2012). The different variables of the root system, such as total length, diameter, effective depth and distance of roots have been evaluated in bananas and plantains (Sant'Ana et al, 2012). Borges et al (2008), who evaluated the distribution of ‘Prata Anã’ banana roots under two fertigation frequencies, found that the greatest concentration of roots occurred in the surface layers (≤0.30 m) and between the plant and the micro-sprinkler

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Conclusion