Development and Evaluation of Soil Moisture-Based Seepage Irrigation Management for Water Use and Quality
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 5
Abstract
A study was conducted at a seepage-irrigated vegetable farm in south Florida to develop and evaluate an improved, soil moisture-based irrigation management practice that could potentially reduce irrigation water use, prevent water quality impairment, and maintain or improve crop yield. The improved practice reduced irrigation water use by 36% compared to the conventional irrigation management. Moreover, the improved practice also increased rainfall retention and decreased runoff events by lowering the water table compared to the conventional practice. Total dissolved phosphorus (P) concentrations in groundwater were higher for the improved practice compared with the conventional practice in two of the three fields where ground water quality was monitored. Higher P concentrations for the improved practice were likely due to the dilution effect. Statistically, no differences were observed in groundwater nitrogen (N) ( , , and total dissolved N) concentrations between the improved and the conventional practices. Similarly, no statistical difference was observed in crop yield between the improved and the conventional practices, although the average total yield was higher for the improved practice. The improved practice also reduced the incidence of plant disease compared to the conventional practice which resulted in crop failure in some fields. Thus, use of the improved practice reduced irrigation water use without impacting crop yield.
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Acknowledgments
The writers express their gratitude to a vegetable grower cooperator for the use of a vegetable farm used for this research and for his help, financially and physically. The writers wish to offer their sincere thanks to Mr. Eugene McAvoy, Director, Hendry County Extension, UF-IFAS for his help. Funds for this study were provided by C&B Farms, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), Southwest Florida Vegetable Research Fund.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 5 • October 2007
Pages: 435 - 443
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 15, 2005
Accepted: May 15, 2007
Published online: Oct 1, 2007
Published in print: Oct 2007
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