IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v161y2015icp147-154.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of alternate furrow irrigation on the biomass and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao, Yu
  • Zhang, Jing
  • Jia, Ting Ting
  • Pang, Xiao Pan
  • Guo, Zheng Gang

Abstract

Alternate furrow irrigation is considered a water-saving technique to improve water use efficiency without considerable yield reduction in horticultural crops and field crops. We investigated the effects of alternate furrow irrigation on the biomass and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in this study. A field experiment was designed with two irrigation modes (alternate furrow irrigation-AFI and conventional irrigation-CI) and four irrigation volumes (70%-I1, 85%-I2, 100%-I3 and 115%-I4 of alfalfa water requirement (ET)). Alternate furrow irrigation increased the water use efficiency based on the total biomass and aboveground biomass of alfalfa by 40–46% and 36–42%, respectively. This approach maintained comparable aboveground biomass at the first and the second harvest times but significantly decreased the aboveground biomass at the third harvest time, which contributed to the seasonal drop in aboveground biomass compared to conventional irrigation. Alternate furrow irrigation increased the number of branches per plant, but decreased the leaf numbers per plant at the first harvest time and the plant height at the second harvest time. This trade-off was comparable to the aboveground biomass at the first and the second harvest times compared to conventional irrigation. Meanwhile, the reduction in plant height and leaf numbers per plant caused by alternate furrow irrigation at the third harvest time contributed to the aboveground drop in biomass. The results also demonstrated that alternate furrow irrigation increased the root biomass and root volume, which reduced the ratio of aboveground biomass to root biomass and decreased the stem-to-leaf ratio compared to conventional irrigation. Our findings indicate that alternate furrow irrigation not only increases the water use efficiency of alfalfa without trading off aboveground biomass before the second harvest time but also improves the forage quality of alfalfa in the study region.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao, Yu & Zhang, Jing & Jia, Ting Ting & Pang, Xiao Pan & Guo, Zheng Gang, 2015. "Effects of alternate furrow irrigation on the biomass and quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 147-154.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:161:y:2015:i:c:p:147-154
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.07.018
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377415300640
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2015.07.018?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kang, Shaozhong & Liang, Zongsuo & Pan, Yinhua & Shi, Peize & Zhang, Jianhua, 2000. "Alternate furrow irrigation for maize production in an arid area," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 267-274, August.
    2. Kang, Shaozhong & Liang, Zongsuo & Hu, Wei & Zhang, Jianhua, 1998. "Water use efficiency of controlled alternate irrigation on root-divided maize plants," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 69-76, October.
    3. Montazar, A. & Sadeghi, M., 2008. "Effects of applied water and sprinkler irrigation uniformity on alfalfa growth and hay yield," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(11), pages 1279-1287, November.
    4. Hanson, Blaine & Putnam, Dan & Snyder, Richard, 2007. "Deficit irrigation of alfalfa as a strategy for providing water for water-short areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 93(1-2), pages 73-80, October.
    5. Liang, Hailing & Li, Fusheng & Nong, Mengling, 2013. "Effects of alternate partial root-zone irrigation on yield and water use of sticky maize with fertigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 242-247.
    6. Bai, Wen-Ming & Li, Ling-Hao, 2003. "Effect of irrigation methods and quota on root water uptake and biomass of alfalfa in the Wulanbuhe sandy region of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 139-148, September.
    7. Graterol, Yvan E. & Eisenhauer, Dean E. & Elmore, Roger W., 1993. "Alternate-furrow irrigation for soybean production," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 133-145, October.
    8. Onder, Sermet & Caliskan, Mehmet Emin & Onder, Derya & Caliskan, Sevgi, 2005. "Different irrigation methods and water stress effects on potato yield and yield components," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 73-86, April.
    9. Kirda, C. & Cetin, M. & Dasgan, Y. & Topcu, S. & Kaman, H. & Ekici, B. & Derici, M. R. & Ozguven, A. I., 2004. "Yield response of greenhouse grown tomato to partial root drying and conventional deficit irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 191-201, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Minguo & Wu, Xiaojuan & Yang, Huimin, 2022. "Evapotranspiration characteristics and soil water balance of alfalfa grasslands under regulated deficit irrigation in the inland arid area of Midwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Liu, Minguo & Wang, Zikui & Mu, Le & Xu, Rui & Yang, Huimin, 2021. "Effect of regulated deficit irrigation on alfalfa performance under two irrigation systems in the inland arid area of midwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    3. Zhang, Jing & Chen, Ying Ying & Liu, Wen Hui & Guo, Zheng Gang, 2021. "Effect of alternate partial root-zone drying (PRD) on soil nitrogen availability to alfalfa," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    4. Wang, Yadong & Liu, Chun & Cui, Pengfei & Su, Derong, 2021. "Effects of partial root-zone drying on alfalfa growth, yield and quality under subsurface drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    5. Zhang, Jing & Wang, Qian & Pang, Xiao Pan & Xu, Hai Peng & Wang, Juan & Zhang, Wen Na & Guo, Zheng Gang, 2021. "Effect of partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRDI) on the biomass, water productivity and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus allocations in different organs of alfalfa," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    6. Li, Jianshe & Gao, Yanming & Zhang, Xueyan & Tian, Ping & Li, Juan & Tian, Yongqiang, 2019. "Comprehensive comparison of different saline water irrigation strategies for tomato production: Soil properties, plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 521-533.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jia, Dianyong & Dai, Xinglong & Xie, Yuli & He, Mingrong, 2021. "Alternate furrow irrigation improves grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    2. Li, Fusheng & Wei, Caihui & Zhang, Fucang & Zhang, Jianhua & Nong, Mengling & Kang, Shaozhong, 2010. "Water-use efficiency and physiological responses of maize under partial root-zone irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(8), pages 1156-1164, August.
    3. Wang, Yadong & Liu, Chun & Cui, Pengfei & Su, Derong, 2021. "Effects of partial root-zone drying on alfalfa growth, yield and quality under subsurface drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    4. Webber, H.A. & Madramootoo, C.A. & Bourgault, M. & Horst, M.G. & Stulina, G. & Smith, D.L., 2006. "Water use efficiency of common bean and green gram grown using alternate furrow and deficit irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(3), pages 259-268, December.
    5. Qi, Dongliang & Hu, Tiantian & Liu, Tingting, 2020. "Biomass accumulation and distribution, yield formation and water use efficiency responses of maize (Zea mays L.) to nitrogen supply methods under partial root-zone irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    6. Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Zhang, Jianhua & Li, Fusheng & Hu, Xiaotao, 2006. "Yield and physiological responses of cotton to partial root-zone irrigation in the oasis field of northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 84(1-2), pages 41-52, July.
    7. Du, Taisheng & Kang, Shaozhong & Sun, Jingsheng & Zhang, Xiying & Zhang, Jianhua, 2010. "An improved water use efficiency of cereals under temporal and spatial deficit irrigation in north China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 66-74, January.
    8. Kifle, Mulubrehan & Gebremicael, T.G. & Girmay, Abbadi & Gebremedihin, Teferi, 2017. "Effect of surge flow and alternate irrigation on the irrigation efficiency and water productivity of onion in the semi-arid areas of North Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 69-76.
    9. Zhou, Qingyun & Kang, Shaozhong & Li, Fusheng & Zhang, Lu, 2008. "Comparison of dynamic and static APRI-models to simulate soil water dynamics in a vineyard over the growing season under alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(7), pages 767-775, July.
    10. Li, Fusheng & Yu, Jiangmin & Nong, Mengling & Kang, Shaozhong & Zhang, Jianhua, 2010. "Partial root-zone irrigation enhanced soil enzyme activities and water use of maize under different ratios of inorganic to organic nitrogen fertilizers," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 231-239, February.
    11. Liu, Minguo & Wang, Zikui & Mu, Le & Xu, Rui & Yang, Huimin, 2021. "Effect of regulated deficit irrigation on alfalfa performance under two irrigation systems in the inland arid area of midwestern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    12. Kang, Shaozhong & Liang, Zongsuo & Pan, Yinhua & Shi, Peize & Zhang, Jianhua, 2000. "Alternate furrow irrigation for maize production in an arid area," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 267-274, August.
    13. Kaman, Harun & Kirda, Cevat & Sesveren, Sertan, 2011. "Genotypic differences of maize in grain yield response to deficit irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(5), pages 801-807, March.
    14. Hu, Tiantian & Kang, Shaozhong & Li, Fusheng & Zhang, Jianhua, 2009. "Effects of partial root-zone irrigation on the nitrogen absorption and utilization of maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 208-214, February.
    15. Gencoglan, Cafer & Altunbey, Hasibe & Gencoglan, Serpil, 2006. "Response of green bean (P. vulgaris L.) to subsurface drip irrigation and partial rootzone-drying irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 84(3), pages 274-280, August.
    16. Michał Napierała & Mariusz Sojka & Joanna Jaskuła, 2023. "Impact of Water Meadow Restoration on Forage Hay Production in Different Hydro-Meteorological Conditions: A Case Study of Racot, Central Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    17. Hu, Tiantian & Yuan, Lina & Wang, Jinfeng & Kang, Shaozhong & Li, Fusheng, 2010. "Antioxidation responses of maize roots and leaves to partial root-zone irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 164-171, December.
    18. Brinegar, Hilary R. & Ward, Frank A., 2009. "Basin impacts of irrigation water conservation policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 414-426, December.
    19. Alrajhi, Abdullah & Beecham, Simon & Hassanli, Ali, 2017. "Effects of partial root-zone drying irrigation and water quality on soil physical and chemical properties," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 117-125.
    20. Chen, Zongkui & Xia, Jun & Ma, Hui & Wang, Yuanyuan & Gao, Hongyun & Kong, Xianhui & Luo, Honghai, 2018. "Presowing fertigation effects on soil moisture absorption and consumption of cotton in arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 130-139.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:161:y:2015:i:c:p:147-154. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.