Winter and Season-Only Irrigation with Late Summer Irrigation Termination Influences Alfalfa Dry Matter Yield and Applied Water Use Efficiency

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 146 - 146

Published: Jan. 10, 2025

Increasing water scarcity for agricultural irrigation demands options to maximize yield with available water. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a valuable crop in arid and semiarid regions considered major user of Consequently, an area established alfalfa was center-pivot-irrigated over two years according one four regimes, each three replicates as strip plots. These were started after the last six harvests year, seeding: winter-irrigated throughout growing season (winter full), terminated 4th harvest limited), irrigated from mid-April, when canal typically becomes available, remainder (season or typically-irrigated until limited). Annual dry matter (DMY) increased using winter compared season-only (10.34, 8.94, 8.67, 6.54 Mg ha−1 full, limited, respectively, p < 0.0001, SEM 0.45). Irrigation termination fourth no significantly reduced annual applied use efficiency (AAWUE) all other treatments (9.08, 8.59, 8.82, 7.38 kg DMY mm−1 respectively; 0.0098, = 0.38). Winter fill soil profile, followed by late summer termination, feasible increasing productivity irrigation.

Language: Английский

---

Water–Fertilizer Synergistic Effects and Resource Optimization for Alfalfa Production: A Central Composite Design and Response Surface Methodology Approach

Plants, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. 731 - 731

Published: Feb. 27, 2025

This study posits that strategically optimizing irrigation and fertilization regimes can enhance the productivity water use efficiency (WUE) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), thereby mitigating constraints imposed by soil impoverishment scarcity in forage production systems arid semi-arid regions. Conducted over two years, outdoor pot experiment investigated effects regulation during branching bud stages (each at 60–100% θ0.85, where θ0.85 = 0.85θfc) different levels nitrogen phosphorus (0–280 kg/ha each) on yield WUE. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Central Composite Design (CCD), we modeled relationships between input variables key response parameters: total yield, evapotranspiration (ET), The surface models exhibited high reliability, coefficients determination R2, adjusted predicted adequate precision exceeding 0.94, 0.90, 0.86, 13.6, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated critical growth stages, particularly stage, had most significant impact ET, while positively influenced Within appropriate range management, judicious significantly enhanced performance, although excessive inputs resulted diminishing returns. identified optimal conditions for sustainable production: stage (82.26–83.12% θ0.85) (78.11–88.47% θ0.85), along application (110.59–128.88 kg/ha) (203.86–210 kg/ha). These findings provide practical guidelines improving sustainability resource-limited environments.

Language: Английский

---

Optimizing irrigation strategies in wolfberry-alfalfa intercropping system in arid saline-alkali region: impacts on crop physiology, yield formation and quality parameters

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: May 20, 2025

Soil salinization caused by water scarcity in Northwest China severely limits agricultural sustainability. A forest-grass intercropping system combined with regulation strategies can optimize soil and resource use, reduce stress, mitigate salinization, promote sustainable eco-efficient development arid regions. In this study, based on a 3-year field experiment, four were set up [upper lower moisture controlled content as percentage of holding capacity θ f , full irrigation W0 (75%–85% ), mild deficit W1 (65%–75% moderate W2 (55%–65% severe W3 (45%–55% )], the effects crop growth, physiology, yield quality wolfberry-alfalfa analyzed. The results showed that (1) increasing would limit growth wolfberry alfalfa, alfalfa being maximal at vegetative stage-full flowering stage, plant height stem thickness both first crop. (2) With increase deficit, chlorophyll photosynthetic characteristics crops decreasing trend. Among them, daily dynamics leaf photosynthesis net rate (P n ) transpiration (T r presented single-peak curve, P T stomatal conductance (Cond) double-peak inter-cellular carbon dioxide concentration (C i them reached minimum from 12:00 to 14:00. (3) planting years, dry fruit total an trend, while all trend; higher (W0 W1) was more favorable improvement. multicriteria assessment treatment improved ensuring efficient use. This serves control model for conservation, increase, improvement saline zone similar ecological zones northwestern China.

Language: Английский

---

The Effects of an Automatic Flushing Valve on the Hydraulic Performance of a Subsurface Drip Irrigation System for Alfalfa

Agriculture, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(10), P. 1107 - 1107

Published: May 21, 2025

The automatic flushing valve (AFV) enables of drip irrigation systems, improving their anti-clogging performance. This study focuses on a subsurface system (SDI) for alfalfa, selecting T20 and T70 AFVs (with designed durations 20 70 s, respectively) installed at the end dripline buried without an AFV as control. aim this was to explore variations in hydraulic performance over two years operation impact uniformity SDI systems. results revealed that duration (FD) water volume (FQ) both fluctuated time, with average coefficient variation (CV) 13.2%. FD FQ types are affected by daily temperature (T), when T increases from 20.1 °C 25.7 °C, increased 22.6%. After 2 operation, relative flow rate (Dra) (Cu) emitters were 93.7% 96.8%. Both Dra Cu significantly influenced (p < 0.05). Compared CK T20, 6.3% 4.6%, respectively. order degree clogging different positions rear > middle front treatments, whereas T70, it rear. With installation AFV, time required reach moderate (Dra = 50~80%) extended 3~7 8~20 years, resulting 180% increase time. is recommended use alfalfa study.

Language: Английский

---