The Effects of Irrigation and Fertilization Management on Cropping Systems

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2024) | Viewed by 10070

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

[*] Background & history of this topic: Irrigation and fertilizer application are two important factors affecting the yield and utilization efficiency of water and fertilizers in different cropping systems. However, the interaction effects of different irrigation schedules and combined management of fertilizer application on the performance of cropping systems remain elusive.

[*] Aim and scope of the special issue: Recent progress has revealed the regulation of irrigation and fertilization on crop growth and development, yield and its composition, and have developed models for simulating crop response to irrigation scheduling at different growing stages. Meanwhile, the mechanism and simulation of crop response to different irrigation and fertilization applications challenge our current understanding. This Special Issue aims to shed light on the complexity of irrigation and fertilization management on crop phenotype, physiological and biochemical processes, yield performance, and quality formation in different scenarios.

[*] Cutting-edge research: The research includes characterizing and quantifying responses of crop physiology and biochemistry to different irrigation regimes and fertilizer applications; the priming of irrigation and fertilization on crop physiology and yield; the regulation of phytohormones on crop growth and yield formation in different scenarios of irrigation and fertilization: from the plant to the system; water and nutrients transport from root to shoot under different regimes of irrigation and fertilization; and the performance of crop systems under different irrigation regimes and fertilizer applications.

[*] What kind of papers we are soliciting: Research articles, review articles, and short communications are invited.

Prof. Dr. Aiwang Duan
Prof. Dr. Yang Gao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • irrigation management
  • fertilization
  • cropping system
  • yield and quality
  • water productivity
  • nitrogen use efficiency
  • crop model

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2838 KiB  
Article
Effects of Fertilization Practices on the Metabolic Functions of Soil Microbial Communities under Subsurface Irrigation with Stalk Composite Pipe
by Feng Wu, Xin Li, Xuemei Liu, Songmei Zai, Linbao Liu, Danting Liu, Huanyu Wei, Jing Huang and Xingjie Gao
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030529 - 04 Mar 2024
Viewed by 506
Abstract
To investigate the effect of nitrogen application and soil microbial activity on the decomposition process of stalk material in stalk composite pipes (SCPs) under subsurface irrigation with stalk composite pipes (SSI), in this study, a field experiment was conducted with two fertilization strategies—banding [...] Read more.
To investigate the effect of nitrogen application and soil microbial activity on the decomposition process of stalk material in stalk composite pipes (SCPs) under subsurface irrigation with stalk composite pipes (SSI), in this study, a field experiment was conducted with two fertilization strategies—banding fertilization and SCP fertigation—at three nitrogen doses (126, 168, and 210 kg/ha), and the Biolog Ecoplate™ was employed to determine soil microbial activity. The results showed that under banding fertilization, the soil microbial activity at 20 cm subsoil and at the SCP wall increased with the increase in nitrogen dosage, ranging from 37.6% to 54.3% and from 21.5% to 23.7%, respectively. Under SCP fertigation, the soil microbial activity at 20 cm subsoil first showed a 58% surge, followed by a 3.9% decrease, with no significant variation in soil microbial activity at the SCP wall. Forty-five days later, the crude fiber content in the SCP wall under SCP fertigation was 17.6–26.3% lower than that under banding fertilization. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the soil microbial activity, SCP fertigation combined with high nitrogen application can accelerate the decay rate of straw in SCPs. This research can provide a reference for formulating irrigation and fertilization regimes for SSI. Full article
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19 pages, 3982 KiB  
Article
Effect of Subsurface Drainage in Regulating Water on Desalinization and Microbial Communities in Salinized Irrigation Soils
by Jiapeng Zhang, Sha Zhao, Qingfeng Miao, Liang Feng, Zhaonan Chi, Zhen Li and Weiping Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020282 - 27 Jan 2024
Viewed by 708
Abstract
In order to achieve water conservation and salt control in saline irrigation areas and improve the soil ecological environment of farmland in irrigation areas, this study carried out a field trial in 2020–2021 on edible sunflowers planted in saline subsurface farmland in the [...] Read more.
In order to achieve water conservation and salt control in saline irrigation areas and improve the soil ecological environment of farmland in irrigation areas, this study carried out a field trial in 2020–2021 on edible sunflowers planted in saline subsurface farmland in the Hetao Irrigation District. Three irrigation level treatments and a control setup under subsurface drainage were compared. The control was with no drainage and local conventional irrigation levels (the spring irrigation amount is 240 mm and the bud stage irrigation amount is 90 mm, CK); and the three irrigation levels were conventional irrigation (the spring irrigation amount is 240 mm and the bud stage irrigation amount is 90 mm, W1), medium water (the spring irrigation amount is 120 mm and the bud stage irrigation amount is 90 mm, W2), and low water (the spring irrigation amount is 120 mm and there is no irrigation in the bud stage, W3). The results showed that soil desalinization was best in the conventional irrigation (W1) treatment and lowest in the low-water treatment (W3) under subsurface drainage. The desalinization rate was 13.54% higher in the subsurface drainage than in the undrained treatment with the same amount of irrigation water. Under subsurface drainage, the medium-water treatment (W2) increased the diversity of soil microorganisms and the relative abundance of dominant phyla such as Ascomycetes, Chlorobacterium, Acidobacterium, and Ascomycetes among soil bacteria and Ascomycetes and Tephritobacterium amongst fungi. The average sunflower yield in the treatments under subsurface drainage increased by 32.37% compared with the undrained treatment, and the medium-water treatment (W2) was the most favorable for protein and essential amino acid synthesis. Structural equation modeling indicated that desalinization rate, irrigation water utilization efficiency, bacterial Chao1 abundance and Shannon diversity, and fungal Chao1 abundance and Shannon diversity were the major influences on sunflower yield. Based on the entropy weight method TOPSIS model, 15 indicators such as soil desalinization rate, soil microbial diversity, water and nitrogen utilization rate, and sunflower yield and quality were evaluated comprehensively for each water treatment of subsurface drainage farmland. It was found that the irrigation volume under tile drainage of 210 mm (W2) had the highest comprehensive score, which could improve the soil microenvironment of the farmland while realizing water conservation and salt control in salty farmland, increase the production of high-quality crops, and be conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture; it was the optimal irrigation treatment for the comprehensive effect. The results of this study are of great significance for the realization of efficient water conservation and salt control and the protection of food security and ecological safety in the Hetao Irrigation District. Full article
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19 pages, 1979 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Blue Water Migration and Efficiency in Water-Saving Irrigation Paddy Rice Fields Using the Water Flow Tracking Method
by Mengyang Wu, Simeng Cui, Liting Qiu, Pingping Zhang and Xinchun Cao
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010166 - 11 Jan 2024
Viewed by 838
Abstract
Although irrigation systems largely sustain global agricultural production, their efficiency is often alarmingly low. While irrigation water (blue water) is critical for the water-saving irrigation of rice with a high water demand, the process and efficiency of irrigation water utilization need clarification. In [...] Read more.
Although irrigation systems largely sustain global agricultural production, their efficiency is often alarmingly low. While irrigation water (blue water) is critical for the water-saving irrigation of rice with a high water demand, the process and efficiency of irrigation water utilization need clarification. In this study, we examined the three commonly used irrigation and drainage patterns (frequent shallow irrigation (FSI), wet and shallow irrigation (WSI), and rain-catching and controlled irrigation (RCI)) in rice fields. We developed a tracking method for irrigation water flow decomposition, which includes irrigation water evapotranspiration (IET), irrigation water drainage (IDR), irrigation water leakage (IPC), and irrigation water field residual (IRE). Using this method, we established an irrigation water efficiency evaluation index system and a comprehensive evaluation method. Our tracking method is relevant to describing the irrigation water performance under varying irrigation and drainage patterns. The results revealed that the average irrigation water input for the three irrigation and drainage patterns between 2015 and 2018 was roughly 312.5 mm, wherein IET accounted for 148 mm. However, more than 50% of the irrigation water outflow, comprising IDR, IPC, and IRE, exceeded the total amount of irrigation water input. The mean values of the gross irrigation efficiency (GIE), net irrigation efficiency (NIE), and effective consumption ratio (ECR) for all treatments in the three-year period were 0.63, 0.47, and 0.75, respectively. Additionally, the irrigation water use efficiency was significantly higher in dry years compared to wet years. The fuzzy composite rating values of the three irrigation and drainage models from 2015 to 2018 were RCI, WSI, and FSI, in descending order, under varying precipitation conditions. The RCI patterns maintained a high composite rating value (greater than 3.0) under different precipitation conditions. Previous efficiency calculations disregarded the blue–green water migration process and did not differentiate the blue–green water flow direction in agricultural fields, creating significant biases in the outcomes. This study’s method offers a new approach to evaluate the use of blue water resources in farmland. Full article
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16 pages, 4810 KiB  
Article
Simulating Water and Salt Migration through Soils with a Clay Layer and Subsurface Pipe Drainage System at Different Depths Using the DRAINMOD-S Model
by Feng Tian, Qingfeng Miao, Haibin Shi, Ruiping Li, Xu Dou, Jie Duan and Weiying Feng
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010017 - 20 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 531
Abstract
Soil salinization affects more than 25% of land globally. Subsurface pipe drainage is known for its effectiveness in improving saline–alkali land. The red clay layer (RCL) hinders soil improvement in the Hetao Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia, China. The soil water and salt [...] Read more.
Soil salinization affects more than 25% of land globally. Subsurface pipe drainage is known for its effectiveness in improving saline–alkali land. The red clay layer (RCL) hinders soil improvement in the Hetao Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia, China. The soil water and salt migration rules at different buried depths and RCL were studied based on the field subsurface pipe drainage test and simulation using the DRAINMOD-S model (Version 6.1). The following implications can be drawn from the results: (1) Although the RCL affected the accuracy of the model, the calibrated statistical results met the application requirements, and the DRAINMOD-S model can be used to analyze subsurface pipe drainage under different distribution conditions of the RCL. (2) The RCL can reduce the drainage efficiency of the subsurface pipe, specifically when the distribution is shallow. (3) The soil desalting rate increased with an increase in the buried depth of the subsurface pipe. The desalination effect of shallow soil was better than that of deep soil. The RCL reduced the drainage and salt removal efficiency of the subsurface pipe. Burying the subsurface pipe as far above the RCL as possible should be considered. Thus, it is feasible to apply the DRAINMOD-S model to relevant studies. Full article
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24 pages, 3196 KiB  
Article
Effects of Water and Nitrogen Regulation on Cotton Growth and Hydraulic Lift under Dry Topsoil Conditions
by Zhiyu Wang, Kun Zhang, Guangcheng Shao, Jia Lu and Yang Gao
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 3022; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13123022 - 09 Dec 2023
Viewed by 766
Abstract
Dry topsoil and relatively moist subsoil can occur in specific areas and times, limiting plant growth but creating conditions for hydraulic lift (HL). There is a lack of a rational water and nitrogen (N) strategy to improve cotton growth and maintain HL. This [...] Read more.
Dry topsoil and relatively moist subsoil can occur in specific areas and times, limiting plant growth but creating conditions for hydraulic lift (HL). There is a lack of a rational water and nitrogen (N) strategy to improve cotton growth and maintain HL. This study investigated the effects of three topsoil water conditions (W0.6: 60–70%, W0.5: 50–60%, and W0.4: 40–50% of field capacity) and three N rates (N120-120, N240-240, and N360-360 kg N ha−1) plus one control treatment on cotton growth and HL under dry topsoil conditions in 2020 and 2021. The results showed that plant height and leaf area increased with increasing N rate, but the differences among topsoil water conditions were relatively small, except for leaf area in 2021. The HL water amount of all treatments increased gradually and then continued to decline during the observation period. There was a trend that the drier the topsoil or the more N applied, the greater the amount of HL water. Additionally, topsoil water conditions and N rate significantly affected the total HL water amount and root morphological characteristics (root length, surface area, and volume). Seed and lint cotton yield tended to decrease with increasing topsoil dryness at N240 or N360, except for lint yield in 2021, or with decreasing N rate, especially under W0.6. As topsoil became drier, the total evapotranspiration (ET) decreased, while with the increase in N rate, ET showed small differences. Water use efficiency increased with a higher N rate, while N partial factor productivity (PFPN) did the opposite. Furthermore, the PFPN under W0.4 was significantly lower than that under W0.6 at N240 or N120. These findings could be useful for promoting the utilization of deep water and achieving sustainable agricultural development. Full article
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19 pages, 1693 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Effects of Controlled Drainage on Nitrogen Uptake, Utilization, Leaching, and Loss in Farmland Soil
by Xu Dou, Haibin Shi, Ruiping Li, Qingfeng Miao, Jianwen Yan and Feng Tian
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2936; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122936 - 28 Nov 2023
Viewed by 694
Abstract
Controlling drainage during the growth stage is one of the means to provide suitable water and fertilizer conditions for crops, alleviate environmental pollution, and increase crop yield. Therefore, in this study, we studied three drainage treatments: free drainage (FD) and growth-stage subsurface controlled [...] Read more.
Controlling drainage during the growth stage is one of the means to provide suitable water and fertilizer conditions for crops, alleviate environmental pollution, and increase crop yield. Therefore, in this study, we studied three drainage treatments: free drainage (FD) and growth-stage subsurface controlled drainage (CD) at depths of 40 cm (CWT1) and 70 cm (CWT2). We used the HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the dynamic changes of NO3-N in the 0–100 cm soil layer as well as NO3-N uptake by crops, leaching after irrigation and fertilization, and loss through subsurface pipes in 2020 (model calibration period) and 2021 (model validation period). The degree of agreement between the simulated and measured values was high, indicating a high simulation accuracy. CD increased the soil NO3-N content and crop NO3-N uptake, and decreased NO3-N leaching and loss. We observed significant differences in the soil NO3-N content after irrigation at the budding stage of oilseed sunflower between CD and FD, with the largest difference seen for the 0–40 cm soil layer. CD increased crop yield, and the average oilseed sunflower yield of the CWT1 and CWT2 treatments increased by 4.52% and 3.04% relative to the FD treatment (p < 0.05). CD also enhanced nitrogen use efficiency. In moderately salinized soil, CD at 40 cm (CWT1) reduced the nutrient difference in vertical and horizontal directions while retaining water and fertilizer. CWT1 stabilized the groundwater depth, reduced the hydraulic gradient of groundwater runoff, and decreased the drainage flow rate. The NO3-N leaching and loss dropped, which promoted crop nitrogen uptake and utilization, improved nitrogen use efficiency, reduced nitrogen loss, and had a positive effect on protecting the soil and water environment. The results demonstrate that CD is a suitable drainage method for the experimental area. Full article
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17 pages, 3243 KiB  
Article
Soil Moisture Contribution to Winter Wheat Water Consumption from Different Soil Layers under Straw Returning
by Lishu Wang, Xiaoxiang Zhou, Yumiao Cui, Ke Zhou, Changjun Zhu and Qinghua Luan
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2851; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112851 - 20 Nov 2023
Viewed by 659
Abstract
To study the contribution of moisture from different straw-treated and irrigated soil layers to the water consumption of winter wheat in dry farming, a 2-year straw treatment and regulated deficit irrigation experiment was implemented. The field experiment was carried out with 0% (S0), [...] Read more.
To study the contribution of moisture from different straw-treated and irrigated soil layers to the water consumption of winter wheat in dry farming, a 2-year straw treatment and regulated deficit irrigation experiment was implemented. The field experiment was carried out with 0% (S0), 1% (S1), and 2% (S2) straw returning amounts, and 75 mm (V3), 60 mm (V2), and 45 mm (V1) irrigation volumes. This experiment involved nine treatments, used to quantitatively analyze the ratio and variation of soil water use from different soil layers via the direct contrast method (DCM) and the multiple linear mixed model (MLMM). The results show the following: (1) The distribution of precipitation isotope compositions displayed a repeated trend of first decreasing and then increasing during the study period. Regression analysis showed that the local meteoric water line (LMWL): δD = 6.37δ18O − 3.77 (R2 = 0.832). (2) With increasing soil depth, the δ18O value decreased gradually, and the maximum δ18O value of the soil water within each growth period was distributed at 10 cm. (3) Under the same irrigation amount, δ 18O increased with increasing straw return at 0–20 cm and decreased with increasing straw return at 20–80 cm. (4) The comparison results of the DCM and MLMM were consistent. During the jointing and flowering stages, 0–30 cm soil water was the main source of water for winter wheat. The contribution of soil water below 30 cm had a decreasing trend from the jointing stage to the flowering stage. The average contribution rates of the 0–30 cm soil layer during the jointing and flowering stages were 23.07% and 23.15%, respectively. These findings have important implications for studying the soil water cycle in the context of farming. Full article
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12 pages, 2187 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Irrigation Strategy Based on Stochastic Rainfall and Evapotranspiration
by Tingyuan Long, Dongqi Wang, Xiaolei Wu, Xinhe Chen and Zhongdong Huang
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2849; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112849 - 20 Nov 2023
Viewed by 581
Abstract
The North China Plain plays a pivotal role in China’s crop production, contributing to 30% of the maize yield. Nevertheless, summer maize in this region faces challenges due to climatic constraints characterized by concurrent high temperatures and rainfall during the growing season, resulting [...] Read more.
The North China Plain plays a pivotal role in China’s crop production, contributing to 30% of the maize yield. Nevertheless, summer maize in this region faces challenges due to climatic constraints characterized by concurrent high temperatures and rainfall during the growing season, resulting in a relatively high evapotranspiration rate. In this study, we explored eight soil moisture-based threshold irrigation strategies, consisting of two upper limits and four lower limits, along with a rainfed mode (E). The upper and lower irrigation limits are expressed as a percentage of the field’s water-holding capacity (sfc). For the four full irrigation modes (A1, A2, A3, A4), the lower limits were set at 0.6 sfc, 0.6 sfc, 0.5 sfc, and 0.5 sfc, respectively. The upper limits were defined at two levels: 0.8 sfc for A1 and A2 and sfc for A3 and A4. Similarly, for the four deficit irrigation modes (B1, B2, B3, B4), the lower limits were established at 0.4 sfc, 0.4 sfc, 0.3 sfc, and 0.3 sfc, respectively, with the upper limits set at two levels: 0.8 sfc for B1 and B2 and the full sfc for B3 and B4. To investigate the impact of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration on these irrigation modes under long-term fluctuations, we employed a stochastic framework that probabilistically linked rainfall events and irrigation applications. The Monte Carlo method was employed to simulate a long-term series (4000a) of rainfall parameters and evapotranspiration using 62 years of meteorological data from the Xinxiang region, situated in the southern part of the North China Plain. Results showed that the relative yield and net irrigation water requirement of summer maize decreased with decreasing irrigation lower limits. Additionally, the interannual variation of rainfall parameters and evapotranspiration during the growing season were remarkable, which led to the lowest relative yield of the rainfed mode (E) aligned with a larger interannual difference. According to the simulation results, mode A4 (irrigation lower limit equals 0.5 sfc, irrigation upper limit equals 0.8 sfc) could be adopted for adequate water resources. Conversely, mode B2 is more suitable for a lack of water resources. Full article
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14 pages, 8789 KiB  
Article
Effects of Phosphate Application Rate on Grain Yield and Nutrition Use of Summer Maize under the Coastal Saline-Alkali Land
by Changjian Ma, Huabin Yuan, Ning Shi, Zeqiang Sun, Shenglin Liu, Xuejun Wang, Bowen Li, Shuang Li and Zhaohui Liu
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2668; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112668 - 24 Oct 2023
Viewed by 946
Abstract
Saline-alkali soil is a major threat to global food security. Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is essential for crop growth and yield production. Nevertheless, the optimal phosphate fertilizer application rates for summer maize under coastal saline–alkali soil are still unclear. A field experiment with five [...] Read more.
Saline-alkali soil is a major threat to global food security. Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is essential for crop growth and yield production. Nevertheless, the optimal phosphate fertilizer application rates for summer maize under coastal saline–alkali soil are still unclear. A field experiment with five phosphate application rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha−1, referred to as T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively) was conducted during the 2018–2020 summer maize seasons study the effects of phosphate rates on the grain yield, biomass, and nitrogen (N), P and potassium (K) accumulation, and N, P, and K physiological efficiency (denoted as NPE, PPE and KPE, respectively). Results showed that P application notably improved maize grain and biomass yield, the total uptake of N, P, K, and NPE and KPE across three seasons. As the P addition increased to 135 kg ha−1, the grain yield achieved a maximum of 7168.4 kg ha−1, with an average NPE of 2.15 kg kg−1, PPE of 0.19 kg kg−1, and KPE of 1.49 kg kg−1. However, PPE continuously decreased with the input of phosphate. P application rates exceeding 135 kg ha−1 were not considered effective due to a decline in grain yield, nutrient uptake, and NPE. Furthermore, the effect of the planting season was significant on the total uptake of N and K, and the use efficiency of N, P, and K. TOPSIS revealed that a phosphate application rate of 90–135 kg ka−1 was the optimal pattern for maize production. These results may give a theoretical basis for the phosphate management of maize production in saline–alkali soil. Full article
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19 pages, 4963 KiB  
Article
Effect of Water-Fertilizer Coupling on the Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Young Apple Trees
by Hanmi Zhou, Linshuang Ma, Shuo Zhang, Long Zhao, Xiaoli Niu, Long Qin, Youzhen Xiang, Jinjin Guo and Qi Wu
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2506; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102506 - 28 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 808
Abstract
China has the largest apple-growing area and fresh fruit production in the world; however, water shortages and low fertilizer utilization rates have restricted agricultural development. It is a major challenge to obtain scientific and reasonable irrigation and fertilization systems for young apple trees [...] Read more.
China has the largest apple-growing area and fresh fruit production in the world; however, water shortages and low fertilizer utilization rates have restricted agricultural development. It is a major challenge to obtain scientific and reasonable irrigation and fertilization systems for young apple trees in semi-arid regions of northern China. A 2-year field bucket experiment with four irrigation levels of W1 (75–90% Fs, where Fs is the field water holding capacity), W2 (65–80% Fs), W3 (55–70% Fs), and W4 (45–60% Fs), and three fertilizer levels of F1 (27-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), F2 (18-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O), and F3 (9-9-9 g N-P2O5-K2O) was conducted in 2019 and 2020, so as to explore the effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the growth and physiological characteristics of young apple trees. The results showed that the plant growth, leaf area, and dry matter of young apple trees at each growing period reached maximum values under F1W2, and they showed a positive linear relationship with relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), water consumption, and water use efficiency (WUE). With the growth of young apple trees, water-fertilizer coupling could significantly increase the leaf SPAD of young apple trees. Pn, Tr, and Gs reached the maximum value under F1W1, and although they decreased under F1W2, the water use efficiency increased by 2.3–25.7% and 4.0–23.8% under F1W2 compared with other treatments in two years, respectively. The water consumption of young apple trees increased with the increase of irrigation and fertilizer, and both dry matter and water productivity reached the maximum value under F1W2, which increased by 0.8%, 14.6% in 2019, and 0.6%, 11.1% in 2020 compared with F1W1, while water consumption decreased by 12.2% and 9.4% in both years. In conclusion, F1W2 treatment (soil moisture was controlled at 65–80% of field water holding capacity, and N-P2O5-K2O was controlled at 27-9-9 g) was the best coupling mode of water and fertilizer for young apple trees in semi-arid areas of northern China. Full article
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Review

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28 pages, 1899 KiB  
Review
Irrigation Water and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): A Review
by Bhimsen Shrestha, Murali Darapuneni, Blair L. Stringam, Kevin Lombard and Koffi Djaman
Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102566 - 06 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2088
Abstract
Intensive irrigation and nutrient management practices in agriculture have given rise to serious issues in aquifer water depletion and groundwater quality. This review discusses the effects of irrigation and nitrogen management practices on potato growth, yield, and quality, and their impacts on water [...] Read more.
Intensive irrigation and nutrient management practices in agriculture have given rise to serious issues in aquifer water depletion and groundwater quality. This review discusses the effects of irrigation and nitrogen management practices on potato growth, yield, and quality, and their impacts on water and nitrogen use efficiencies. This review also highlights the economics and consequences of applying deficit irrigation strategies in potato production. Many researchers have demonstrated that excessive irrigation and nitrogen application rates negatively impact potato tuber yield and quality while also increasing nitrate leaching, energy consumption, and the overall costs of production. An application of light-to-moderate deficit irrigation (10–30% of full irrigation) together with reduced nitrogen rates (60–170 kg/ha) has a great potential to improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies while obtaining optimum yield and quality in potato production, depending on the climate, variety, soil type, and water availability. There is an opportunity to reduce N application rates in potato production through deficit irrigation practices by minimizing nitrate leaching beyond the crop root zone. The best irrigation and nitrogen management techniques for potato production, as discussed in this review, include using sprinkle and drip irrigation techniques, irrigation scheduling based on local crop coefficients, soil moisture content, and crop modeling techniques, applying slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers, split nitrogen application, and applying water and nitrogenous fertilizers in accordance with crop growth stage requirements. Full article
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