Drip Irrigation Tape Research Articles

Squash Bug and Striped Cucumber Beetle Control with Insecticides Allowed for Organic Production, 2014

This trial was conducted to evaluate insecticides allowed for use in organic production. The trial was conducted on a field at Cornell’s New York State Experiment Station in Geneva, NY managed using practices allowed for organic production since 2008. Zucchini “Tigress” was seeded in the greenhouse 29 May and transplanted on 16 Jun into raised beds with 1.25 mil black polyethylene and drip irrigation tape. A solution of 0.5 oz/gal Fertrell fish oil emulsion was applied to all plants at transplanting. Annual ryegrass was seeded between the rows for weed control and mowed periodically as needed. Six treatments and an untreated check were arranged in a RCB design with four replications. Each plot consisted of six plants spaced 18 inch …

Evaluation of Yield and Yield Characteristics of Two Potato Varieties Under Sprinkler and Trickle Irrigation Systems

Because of limiting water resources and increasing demand for food, it is necessary to investigate the effect of irrigation systems on water productivity. This research was conducted to evaluate yield and yield characteristics of two potato varieties under sprinkler and trickle irrigation systems. The treatments were two irrigation systems (sprinkler and trickle irrigation) and two potato varieties (Burren and Satina) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Full irrigation was done based on moisture depletion from depth of root development in both irrigation methods.. Potato yield and water productivity (WP) in drip and sprinkler irrigation systems showed significant differences (P<0.01). The highest potato yield (24.08 ton ha) and water productivity (3.83 kg m) were obtained in drip-tape irrigation and Satina potato variety treatment. Also, the lowest potato yield (12.97 ton ha) and water productivity (1.73 kg m) were obtained in sprinkler irrigation systems and Burren potato variety. The potato yield in sprinkler irrigation system was obtained 42 percent lower than trickle irrigation system. In sprinkle system, dried top weight and height of stem were respectively higher and lower than those in trickle (Tape) irrigation system for both potato varieties. Overall, trickle irrigation is suggested for cool and dry climate to increase potato yield and water productivity.

Dynamic changes in bubble profile due to surfactant and tape orientation of emitters in drip tape during aerated water irrigation

Use of aerated water for drip irrigation using a pressure differential Venturi has been reported to produce positive response on crop yield and water use efficiency. We present two options for increasing the distance from the source of irrigation an air/water mixed phase travels. We discuss observed results for a row length of 500m of drip tape.The first option relates to the orientation of drip tape emitters to the ground plane. In the up orientation the emitters are on the top of the drip tape and in the down position the emitters are along the bottom of the drip tape. We found higher air void fraction with the emitters down, compared to the standard placement with the emitters up. We also discuss observations of field trials for this treatment.The second option explored two concentrations (2ppm and 4ppm) of BS1000™ surfactant in irrigation water in the drip tape. Bubble size decreased, whereas air void fraction increased along the length of drip tape, with increased concentration of surfactant, in both up and down emitter positions in the drip irrigation tape. The best result was using non-ionic surfactant at 4ppm with the emitter facing down where the bubble distribution and the availability of micro-bubbles over the 500m irrigation was greatest. This knowledge will be of benefit in drip and sub-surface drip irrigated agriculture.

INSECTICIDAL CONTROL OF FALL ARMYWORM ON SWEET CORN, 2013

FAW is the key pest of sweet corn in southern Florida, with larvae feeding successively in whorls, tassels, silks, and ears. Selective chemistries are being sought to provide better and more sustainable FAW control. The trial was conducted at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee, FL, on two sets of three raised beds 32 inches wide and 420 ft long on 6-ft centers on 17 Aug. Fertilizer (10-2-10) was incorporated at 100 lbs N, and beds were fumigated with MBC 50/50, provided with two drip tape irrigation lines with 8-inch emitter spacing, and covered with white-faced polyethylene mulch. Corn was direct seeded on 6 Sep at …

The total air budget in oxygenated water flowing in a drip tape irrigation pipe

In this work we concentrate on the measurement of the total air volume profile along an irrigation drip tape and the pilot testing of a visualization assembly suitable for use in the irrigation industry under field conditions. The visualization system is based on continuous image capturing and can be used to determine the number and size of bubbles, as well as estimate the void fraction percentage of air in aerated water stream.The research results produced a number of positive outcomes for continuous monitoring of bubble behaviour during irrigation. We obtained data on the air fraction in aerated water using our experimental setup for three treatments – open end drip tape, closed end drip tape and closed end drip tape with surfactant added to the air/water stream. From these data we determined the void fraction of air in the irrigation water stream along the length of drip tape, showing a decline with distance from the Mazzei Venturi model 384 air source, an effect offset to some extent by addition of 2ppm of surfactant to the irrigation water. The void fraction estimates derived from the images from the camera system are consistent with the system specifications from the Mazzei air injectors performance based on Bernoulli’s principle.

Effect of Drip-Applied Herbicides on Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) in Plasticulture

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the effect of halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron applied through drip irrigation on yellow nutsedge. In greenhouse studies, yellow nutsedge control by halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron was greater (69 to 91%) than the nontreated control (0%). Yellow nutsedge treated with halosulfuron POST had a lower photosynthetic rate (0.6 to 22.6 µmol m−2 s−1) at 4, 7, and 14 d after treatment than the nontreated control (3.3 to 26.2 µmol m−2 s−1). Yellow nutsedge treated with trifloxysulfuron had lower photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than the nontreated plants. In field studies at Clinton, NC, yellow nutsedge density increased from treatment (day 0) to 56 d after treatment in all treatments. Increase in yellow nutsedge density was 72 and 95% in drip-applied halosulfuron and imazosulfuron treatments compared with yellow nutsedge density increases of 876% for the same period in the nontreated plots. Yellow nutsedge density increased 69 and 57% at Clinton and Kinston, NC, respectively, in the drip-applied 15 g ha−1 trifloxysulfuron treatment compared with 876% in the nontreated control. In field studies at Clinton and Kinston, NC, suppression of yellow nutsedge emergence in POST and drip-applied herbicide treatments was similar. Emergence of yellow nutsedge was similar in the imazosulfuron POST and the nontreated yellow nutsedge. Based on these studies, drip-applied herbicides may be beneficial as a part of a yellow nutsedge control program, but additional measures, such as a POST herbicide, would be needed for effective control. Drip-applied herbicides may give growers an option for herbicide application after drip irrigation tape and polyethylene mulch have been installed in the current vegetable crops. This application method would also allow herbicide treatment under plastic mulch used for multicropping systems.

Evaluation and Comparison of Drip and Conventional Irrigation Methods on Sugar Beets in a Semiarid Region

A field study was conducted on sugar beet during a two-year period to investigate the effects and comparison of different irrigation methods and treatments on crop yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and pan coefficient determination in a semiarid region with limited water resources. The experiments were in complete randomized blocks design. Three replications were used with different levels of irrigation water amounts (25, 50, 75, and 100%), evapotranspiration (ET) of sugar beet seasonal water requirement with surface drip tape (SDT), and conventional furrow irrigation method (CFI), with and without soil and water monitoring, and comparison with CROPWAT modeling. The variety of sugar beet was Rasool. The highest and lowest average irrigation water use efficiencies on the basis of root yield with 16.16 and 9 kg/m3, and sugar yield with 3.82 and 1.33 kg/m3, for both experimental years was achieved under different irrigation treatments of T4 (25% ET) SDT and CFI, respectively. The results of this study showed that by using drip tape irrigation method with different treatments (100% ET), (75% ET), (50% ET), (25% ET), instead of conventional furrow irrigation method with and without soil, water, and root monitoring, (28.8, 46.6, 64.5, and 82.2%) and (38.4, 53.8, 69.2, and 84.6%) of sugar beet seasonal irrigation water requirement can be saved, respectively. The results also showed that sugar beet average annual water, requirement under conventional furrow irrigation method with soil, water, and root monitoring was almost 8.4% and 28.70% lower compared to CROPWAT modeling and conventional furrow irrigation without monitoring. Additionally, this study showed a pan coefficient (Kp) equal to 0.80 for the investigated semiarid region.

Yield and water use efficiency of corn planted in one or two rows and applying furrow or drip tape irrigation systems in Ghazvin Province, Iran

AbstractThis study investigated water use efficiency and yield in corn (SC 704) irrigated with drip (tape) and furrow irrigation systems in Ghazvin, Iran, in 2006. Four levels of irrigation including: 80, 100 and 120% of water requirement with drip irrigation (tape) and 100% water requirement with furrow irrigation as main plots and method of planting (one and two rows), as well as three levels of crop density including: 75 000, 90 000 and 105 000 (plants ha−1) as subplots were considered. The highest average grain yield was 12.9 t ha−1 while the treatment was drip irrigation at level of 120% water requirement in a two‐row planting pattern and crop density equal to 75 000 plants ha−1 (I3R2D1 treatment). The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was obtained in I3R2D1 treatment as 1.96 kg m−3, while the lowest was found in drip irrigation at a level of 80% water requirement in a two‐row planting pattern and crop density equal to 75 000 plants ha−1 (I1R2D1 treatment) as 0.82 kg m−3. Variance analysis of the grain yield data indicated that both planting pattern and interaction of planting pattern and crop density significantly affected the yields. Generally, the planting of one row resulted in significantly higher grain yields than the other planting pattern. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Yield and water use efficiency of (Nigella sativa L.) under different irrigation treatments in a semi arid region in the West.

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a medicinal plant with economic influences, especially in medicine production. The present study investigates the effects of different drip tape and furrow irrigation treatments with normal and deficit irrigations on water use efficiency, various plant parameters and oil content of N. sativa. For this purpose, an experiment with three replications was conducted on a completely randomized block designed. The irrigation treatments consist of three modes of surface drip tape (SDT) irrigation with 50, 75 and 100% evapotranspiration (Et) as well as one mode of surface furrow (SF) irrigation with 100% (Et) requirement of the plant. The highest water use efficiency (1.39 kg/ha/mm) was obtained for drip tape 50% (Et) treatment while the lowest water use efficiency (0.492 kg/ha/mm) was obtained for furrow irrigation treatment 100%(Et). The results showed that seed yield and harvest index was significantly affected by different irrigation treatments (P < 0.01). Additionally, the number of follicles per plant and total yield were also affected by different water treatments (P < 0.05). The results showed, there were no significant effects on plant height, the number of seed per follicle, 1000 seed weight, the number of plants per m2 and oil content, based on obtained results, this paper suggests that in different area with prevailing deficit water resources drip tape irrigation 50% (Et) has proven suitable to produce black cumin with high water use efficiency and significant oil content. The results showed that black cumin tolerates water deficiency. Key words: Nigella sativa, drip tape irrigation, deficit irrigation, water use efficiency.

Carbon Dioxide Enrichment May Increase Yield of Field-grown Red Raspberry under High Tunnels

The objectives of this preliminary study were to optimize a carbon dioxide (CO2) application system for field-grown raspberry (Rubus ideaus) under high tunnels and then to compare plant photosynthesis, growth, and fruit yield with and without CO2. Based on plant photosynthesis measures before CO2 application, we placed the drip irrigation tape to apply CO2 in the middle of the plant canopy at 100 cm aboveground and split daily CO2 application from 0700 to 1100 hr and 1400 to 1800 hr. In the morning hours, CO2 concentration in the tunnel was 18% higher than in the afternoon; wind speed often increased later in the day, which may have moved the CO2 even in the tunnel. We maintained an average CO2 concentration of 436 ppm for 4 months, applying about 25 tons of CO2. In tunnels enriched with CO2, yield and berry size from plots 20 ft in length increased 12% and 5%, respectively, compared with untreated tunnels. We measured no corresponding differential response in the number of 6-oz baskets harvested from the full tunnel, leaf CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance (gS), or fluorescence, raspberry cane height, pruned cane biomass, cane diameter, or carbohydrate content of the fruit after CO2 application. Documenting potential plant physiological changes should therefore be a focus of future research.

Whitefringed weevils Naupactus leucoloma (Boheman), (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) damage sub-surface drip irrigation tape

Holes in sub-surface drip irrigation systems under lucerne are costly to the grower in terms of repairs and yield loss and are an impediment to future investment in this technology. The activity of whitefringed weevil Naupactus leucoloma larvae in relation to sub-soil drip irrigation tape (pipe) was monitored using glass plate observation chambers. Larvae were observed attacking the irrigation tape, and the resulting damage, in the form of grooves and holes, was comparable with the damage seen on tapes collected from the field. The grooves were measured and compared with the size and shape of the mouthparts of the larvae. This work positively identifies whitefringed weevil larvae as a cause of significant damage to 0.34-mm-walled sub-soil irrigation tape in Australian lucerne crops.

AN IMPLEMENT TO INSTALL AND RETRIEVE SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION LATERALS

A surface drip irrigation tape installer/retriever was developed for small fields. One operator can install driptapes on or just beneath the soil surface to precisely irrigate crops after planting and retrieve the drip tapes after irrigationis no longer needed for the season. The implement is mounted to the tractor using a three-point hitch and performs bothfunctions of installation and retrieval of drip tapes in one unit. The retriever mainly consists of a speed reducer, a powertransmission line, a drip tape distributor, drip tape spool supporters, water extractors, tensioners, and drip tape guides. Theinstaller mainly consists of a chisel, a press wheel, a tape depth adjustment screw, a tension spring, two soil cover plates, anda tangling prevention ring holder. During the installation process, drip tapes are placed in shallow trenches cut by the 5-cmwide chisel and are covered with soil by 6.5-cm wide pneumatic wheels. The depth of drip tapes can be adjusted from 0 to5 cm beneath the soil surface. During the drip tape retrieval process, drip tapes are distributed evenly across rotating spoolswhile any water in the tapes is squeezed out. The retrieval speed is adjusted by changing the tractor PTO speed. To retrieveexcess disposable drip tapes, a special spool was developed to quickly remove the tapes from the unit. No tools are neededfor either installing or removing drip tape spools. Mathematical models were developed to calculate drip tape length,retrieving time, and spool sizes. Speeds of both retrieval and installation increased as the total number of laterals per hadecreased, or as the field length increased.

Application of Preplant Fumigants via Drip Irrigation Systems for the Management of Root Rot of Melons Caused by Monosporascus cannonballus.

Root rot and vine decline, caused by Monosporascus cannonballus, is a destructive disease of melons in the desert production regions of southern California. In 1998, we initiated studies on the use of preplant fumigation to reduce resident pathogen populations in soil. Preplant fumigation with methyl iodide injected as a hot gas at 448.4 kg/ha through drip irrigation tape in preformed, tarped beds consistently provided significant (P < 0.05) reductions in the percentage of roots infected compared with the nonfumigated controls; these reductions were equal to or better than those achieved with an equivalent rate (448.4 kg/ha) of methyl bromide. Chloropicrin applied in water at 249.0 kg/ha through buried drip irrigation tape to either tarped or nontarped beds significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the percentages of both roots infected and roots on which perithecia were produced compared with nonfumigated controls.

Effect of Drought Stress on Leaf and Whole Canopy Radiation Use Efficiency and Yield of Maize

Drought stress reduces yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and other grain crops by (i) reducing canopy absorption of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), (ii) reducing radiation use efficiency (RUE), and (iii) reducing harvest index (HI). The primary objective of this work was to quantify yield losses attributable to each of these components for maize exposed to drought stress in a 2‐yr field study. A second objective was to examine the relationship between RUE at the single leaf level (estimated using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques) and RUE at the whole crop level. Two levels of soil water deficit and a control treatment were established using drip tape irrigation, and dry matter harvests were taken at midseason and at physiological maturity. Mild and severe water stress treatments reduced final grain yield by 63 and 85%, respectively, in 2000, and by 13 and 26%, respectively, in 2001. Reduction of intercepted PAR (IPAR) was generally a very minor yield loss component. Yield losses attributable to reduced RUE and reduced HI were of similar magnitude. Weekly chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were used to estimate the average quantum efficiency of photosystem II at a photosynthetic photon flux density of 1200 μmol m−2 s−1 (ΦII1200) for each plot. Crop dry matter accumulation was not linearly related to IPAR, due to decreased RUE in the water stress treatments. However, the linear relationship was restored when daily IPAR was multiplied by the current estimate of ΦII1200, suggesting that ΦII1200 can be used as an indicator of whole‐crop RUE.

Production System for Horticultural Crops Grown in the Penn State High Tunnel

At the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) High Tunnel Research and Education Facility, a system of production of high-value horticultural crops in high tunnels has been developed that uses plastic mulch and drip irrigation. The Penn State system involves small-scale, plastic-application equipment that prepares and applies plastic mulch and drip-irrigation tape to individual raised beds. It differs from the production system developed by researchers at the University of New Hampshire in which drip-irrigation tape is manually applied to the soil surface and then the entire soil surface in the high tunnel is covered with a black plastic sheet. An overview of the production system used in the Penn State high tunnels is presented in this report.

Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems for Specialty Crop Production in North Dakota

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems offer advantages over other types of irrigation systems for specialty crop production, including water savings, improved trafficability, and a drier canopy. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of SDI, placed at 1.2-m (4-ft) lateral spacing and buried at 0.28-m (11-in.) depth, in a subhumid climate with severe winters. Effects on crop yield and crop quality of tape design (from five manufacturers) and position along 152-m (500-ft) lateral runs were investigated for three consecutive years on a sandy loam soil near Oakes, N. Dakota. In 1993, marketable and total sweet corn yields averaged 13.9 and 14.9 Mg ha1 (6.20 ton ac1 and 6.65 ton ac1), respectively. In 1994, U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 2, and total yields for winter squash were 17.7, 6.8, and 31.9 Mg ha1 (7.90, 3.03, and 14.23 ton ac1), respectively. In 1995, the cabbage yield averaged 98 Mg ha1 (43.7 ton ac1). Yields were measured at three transects [approximately 17, 76, and 136 m (56 ft, 250 ft, and 446 ft) from the upstream ends of the drip laterals] to determine effects of tape design on water distribution and corresponding yield. Yields did not differ statistically between designs for any transect in any year. Measured emitter discharge rates decreased dramatically with distance downstream from the start of the tape. This was attributed to friction losses in the tape, deformation of the normally circular cross-section of the tape by winter conditions, soil compaction from tillage operations, and calcium deposits. Subsurface drip irrigation tape appears durable enough to withstand winters in the northern Great Plains for multiple-season use, provided proper installation and maintenance procedures are followed.

Effects of Solanum erianthum aqueous leaf extract on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice

In order to improve the efficiency of vegetable seedling transplantation and realize its high quality transplanting, this paper developed a multi-functional vegetable pot seedling transplanting machine. The machine was mainly composed of duckbill type planter, fertilization mechanism, power transmission system, soil covering device, watering device, film covering and pipe laying mechanism, etc. It could perform drip irrigation tape laying and film covering, transplanting, fertilizing, soil covering, watering and other working procedures at one time. In order to evaluate the work performance of the machine, field tests were conducted with 35 day-old pepper and tomato seedlings as testable subjects. The results showed that when the planting frequency were 57, 72 and 88 seedlings/min, the seedling-standing ratio decreased slightly with the increase of planting frequency, the average values were 96.4%~98.6%. The coefficient of variation of seedling spacing and the mechanical damage degree of plastic film increased with average values of 1.6%~6% and 3.8~7.9 mm/m2 respectively. The average values of the qualified rate of planting depth were 97.2%~99.0%. Seedling-standing ratio and mechanical damage degree of plastic film of diamond duckbill type planter were better than flat duckbill type planter. The test results met the requirements of mechanical industry standards. The field test results were basically consistent with the ADAMS simulation results. The structure of the transplanter was reasonable and the performance was stable. The watering device, covering device, film covering and pipe laying mechanism of the transplanter were coordinated, which could carried out the functions of each part accurately and met the agronomic requirements of vegetable seedling transplantation.