Abstract
The intensive and inappropriate use of water, fertilizers and phytosanitary products is sources of water and soil pollution. It is thus necessary to improve the management of irrigation water in order to optimize its use and productivity, especially in regions where water resources are becoming increasingly scarce. The water flow and non-reactive solutes’ transport simulation under drip irrigation were carried out in a 3-layered soil profile distributed from top to bottom i.e., sandy, sandy-silty, silty-sandy-clay. The aim of this study was thus, to provide a good practice of water management associated with solutes’ application, in order to retain as much solute as possible in the root zone, which will increase the residence time of the solutes. Three treatments of water flux corresponding to 100% ETc, 75% ETc, 50% ETc, combined with 100 mmol /L/ m2 of NPK and 246 mmol/L/m2 of urea applicable in two doses, were carried out over a period of 110 days corresponding to the duration of the cropping cycle for the intermediate variety of maize. The 100% ETc and 75% ETc treatments cause more loss of water and solutes, because of the sandy texture of the soil. However, a 50% ETc water flux would reduce more water loss through drainage, and solutes’ loss due to leaching beyond the root zone, which would increase the residence time of solutes in the soil profile. Application tests of the NPK solute on different days before the 15th day after sowing were also carried out according to the technical itinerary for maize production in Burkina Faso, in order to find a favorable day for application of the solute. For the different dates of solute’s application, there was more loss of the solute as we approach the 15th day after sowing. To limit this loss and increase the residence time of the NPK solute, one could apply the solute without first supplying water, the day before and the day after the date of solute’ injection. Or, one could amend the soil with organic matter to improve its retention capacity of water, and the solutes’ residence time in the soil.
Highlights
The search for a continuous increase in agricultural productivity, the standardization of technology, and the intensification of the production led in the 1980s to negative environmental impacts on agro-ecosystems, such as erosion, reduction of biodiversity, water and soil pollution
The water flow and non-reactive solutes’ transport simulation under drip irrigation were carried out in a 3-layered soil profile distributed from top to bottom i.e., sandy, sandy-silty, silty-sandy-clay
A potential problem associated with drip irrigation is the deep percolation and leaching of nutrients beyond the root zone [7] [8] [9] [10] [11], which could be a source of soil and groundwater pollution
Summary
The search for a continuous increase in agricultural productivity, the standardization of technology, and the intensification of the production led in the 1980s to negative environmental impacts on agro-ecosystems, such as erosion, reduction of biodiversity, water and soil pollution. They significantly reduce evaporation, apply water and fertilizers directly to the root zone and greatly reduce loss Due to these advantages, drip irrigation has become the most accepted method of irrigation/fertigation in order to improve the efficient use of water and nitrogen, as well as minimize nitrate leaching [6]. Simulation models have been valuable research tools for studies taking into account the interactive and complex processes of water flow and solutes’ transport in the soil, and the effects of management practices on yields as well as the environment [16] [17] These simulations can be used to assess the efficiency of irrigation systems over several seasons, and advise producers if this requires improvement in several aspects of the functioning of the irrigation systems [18]. We used Hydrus 1D to simulate water flow and non-reactive solutes’ transport in one dimension (vertical axis), in a 3-layer soil, and we did not take into account water and solutes’ root uptake
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