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Alfalfa forage production under solid-set sprinkler irrigation in a semiarid climate

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  • Cavero, Jose
  • Faci, Jose M.
  • Medina, Eva T.
  • Martínez-Cob, Antonio

Abstract

Under sprinkler irrigation, local environmental conditions have an important influence on irrigation water losses, plant physiological changes and uniformity of irrigation, leading to different crop water production functions. We studied during three years the effect of irrigation depth on the plant growth, forage yield and N content, evapotranspiration and water use efficiency of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crop irrigated with a commercial solid-set sprinkler system in a semiarid Mediterranean climate. Six irrigation treatments were tested: 55%, 75%, 85%, 100%, 115% and 130% of the theoretical crop irrigation requirement (CIRt), calculated without considering water losses or non-uniformity. The seasonal irrigation amount applied at the 100% of CIRt ranged from 598 to 786mm. The intercepted photosynthetically active radiation increased as the irrigation applied increased until the 115% of CIRt. Plant height at harvest linearly increased as the irrigation applied increased until the 130% of CIRt in two years. The maximum alfalfa forage yield was lower the first year (17Mgha−1) than in the two following years (20–22Mgha−1). The alfalfa forage yield increased linearly as the irrigation applied increased the first year of the experiment, but in the following two years this increase occurred until the irrigation applied was 115% of CIRt. The N content of alfalfa linearly decreased as the irrigation applied increased. The relationship between alfalfa forage yield and evapotranspiration was linear until the 115% of CIRt all years. The WUE of alfalfa was lower the first year of the experiment and was not affected by the irrigation applied in the rainiest year, but linearly increased as the irrigation applied increased up to 115% of CIRt in the other two years. Considering yield and quality (N content) of alfalfa forage and WUE, sprinkler irrigation with a solid-set system must be increased by 15% over the CIRt to optimize alfalfa forage production under the climatic conditions of the Ebro valley.

Suggested Citation

  • Cavero, Jose & Faci, Jose M. & Medina, Eva T. & Martínez-Cob, Antonio, 2017. "Alfalfa forage production under solid-set sprinkler irrigation in a semiarid climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 184-192.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:191:y:2017:i:c:p:184-192
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.06.018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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).
    2. Yan Li & Derong Su, 2017. "Alfalfa Water Use and Yield under Different Sprinkler Irrigation Regimes in North Arid Regions of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, 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. 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).
    5. Hu, Yanzhe & Kang, Shaozhong & Ding, Risheng & Zhao, Qing, 2021. "A crude protein and fiber model of alfalfa incorporating growth age under water and salt stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).

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