Session 17. Microirrigation in Vegetable Crop Systems
Improving Vegetable Production Using Microirrigation in the Virgin Islands
Manuel C. Palada, Stafford M. A. Crossman and Charles D. Collingwood
In the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), where evpotranspiration exceeds precipitation ten months each year, water is a scarce resource and is the most limiting factor in crop production. Water conservation in agriculture and its efficient use, are essential in producing high value crops, such as vegetables, herbs, and spices. The use of microirrigation technology for vegetable crop production is a viable approach to soil, water, and nutrient conservation in the USVI. The University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Experiment Station initiated a microirrigation research project in the early 1980s with the objective of increasing vegetable production while conserving water resources. Since then, various field experiments have been conducted on drip irrigation and other associated improved cultural practices for cucumber, pepper, sweet corn and tomato production. These experiments indicated, that with limited water supplies, the use of drip irrigation is the most efficient and economical method of irrigating high value crops.
The application of drip irrigation increased tomato yield by 24%. Tomato responded to irrigation rates, but not to emitter placement. An irrigation rate of 60% pan evaporation (PE) was optimum for tomato production. Combining plastic mulch with drip irrigation increased cucumber yield by 23% compared to no mulch. With drip irrigation, sweet corn yield was 26% higher than sprinkler irrigation. Overall, these experiments have shown that drip irrigation improved water use efficiency, increased yield and economic returns for vegetable crops.
Keywords: Cucumber, drip irrigation, pepper, sweet corn, tomato, water use efficiency
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 502 to 509 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Microirrigation of Melons Under Plastic Mulch in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Guy Fipps and Enrique Perez
The microirrigation system used for vegetable production in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is described. Components of this system include inexpensive drip strip-tubing (commonly referred to as "tape"), plastic mulch, layflat tubing, and portable pumping and filtration trailers. Typically, the drip tape and plastic mulch are used for only one growing season. For melon production, this system has several benefits over conventional furrow irrigation. These include higher production with reduced amounts of water and fertilizer, and earlier melon maturation. Techniques and types of devices for scheduling irrigation are also discussed, and comparative data is presented.
Keywords: Microirrigation, plastic mulch, irrigation scheduling, melons
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 510 to 515 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Microirrigation Design Consideration for Sandy Soil Vegetable Production Systems
G. A. Clark, C. D. Stanley, A. G. Smajstrla, and F. S. Zazueta
Sandy soil vegetable production systems are sensitive with respect to water and crop nutrient inputs. Because excess or deficient levels of water or nutrients can result in yield reductions, proper design and management of microirrigation systems is essential for successful production. Systems must integrate soil hydraulic properties, crop root distribution characteristics, water requirements related to crop growth stage and environmental demand, and irrigation delivery system hydraulic characteristics. This paper discusses considerations for the design and management relationships associated with soil, plant, water, and drip emitter characteristics for sandy soil vegetable production systems.
Keywords: Drip irrigation, Irrigation scheduling
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 516 to 521 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Irrigation Efficiency on Muskmelon with Drip Tape and Plastic Mulch
G. Briones S., J. A. Arellano S., L. E. Ramirez R., J. P. Munguia L.
A field trial was conducted in 1992 at Coahuila southwest to evaluate water use efficiency, yield and quality for muskmelon plants with drip tape and soil mulching on a fine texture soil. The following treatments were tested: for main plots A1). drip tape irrigation, A2). furrow irrigation; and for subplots, B1). black plastic mulch 37.5 µm-thickness, B2). black plastic mulch 22 µm-thickness, or B3). Control bare soil without mulch; which were factorially combined to have six interactions.
When the crop developed on bare soil irrigated by furrow (interaction A2B3) its water consumption was higher than that for plants with drip tape under plastic mulch (interactions A1B1 or A1B2). The combination A1B1 increased the muskmelon average yield up to 49.6 t/ha while surface irrigation without mulching (A2B3) averaged about 33.5 t/ha. The interaction A1B1 was as effective as A1B2 since a significant agronomic difference was not found between thicknesses.
The marketable muskmelon yields sized were bettered as much as a 54 and 31 percent for both exportation sales and national market respectively; and also the highest water use efficiency was gotten with drip tape irrigation and plastic mulch averaging 9.10 Kg-fruit per cubic meter of water used, and the lowest water use efficiency was found for the control treatment which gave 3.6 kg/m3 of water used.
Keywords: Plastic mulch, irrigation methods, water use efficiency, quality and muskmelon production
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 522 to 525 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Comparative Suitability of Drip Irrigation Over Furrow Irrigation
B. A. Chandio, S. M. Yaseen, M. I. Rao
This research study assesses water saving, yield of vegetables, and secondary soil salinity development under drip and furrow irrigation methods. It was carried out at the research farm of Drainage and Reclamation Institute of Pakistan (DRIP) at Tandojam. Five summer and eight winter vegetables crops were grown for four successive years on a non saline, non sodic and well drained silt loam soil. High water use efficiency was achieved in drip irrigation with an average water saving over furrow irrigation of 51% and 43% respectively for summer and winter croppings. The yields of vegetables were always higher in drip irrigated crops with an average increase of 30% in winter as well as in summer. The salinity build up along the wetted periphery of drippers was pronounced, however, the pH of the soil remained unaltered; the problem of secondary salinity was totally nonexistent in the furrow irrigated fields. Due to high capital cost, drip irrigation systems cannot be adopted by farmers in Pakistan unless capital cost is brought down by manufacturing the high quality component parts in the country and the system is installed for high income crops in water scarcity areas.
Keywords: Drip/Trickle irrigation, Furrow irrigation, Pakistan, Salinity, Vegetables, pH,EC
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 526 to 531 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
