Applying plant-based irrigation scheduling to assess water use efficiency of cotton following a high-biomass rye cover crop

Journal of Cotton Research

article

MEEKS, Calvin D.¹  SNIDER, John L.²  CULPEPPER, Stanley²  HAWKINS, Gary² 

[1] Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri;Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia

关键词: Cotton;    Irrigation management;    Water use efficiency;    Cover crops;    Cotton sustainability;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42397-020-00057-1

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

This study addressed the potential of combining a high biomass rye winter cover crop with predawn leaf water potential (ΨPD) irrigation thresholds to increase agricultural water use efficiency (WUE) in cotton. To this end, a study was conducted near Tifton, Georgia under a manually-controlled, variable-rate lateral irrigation system using a Scholander pressure chamber approach to measure leaf water potential and impose varying irrigation scheduling treatments during the growing season. ΨPD thresholds were − 0.4 MPa (T1), − 0.5 MPa (T2), and − 0.7 MPa (T3). A winter rye cover crop or conventional tillage were utilized for T1-T3 as well. Reductions in irrigation of up to 10% were noted in this study for the driest threshold (− 0.7 MPa) with no reduction in lint yield relative to the − 0.4 MPa and − 0.5 MPa thresholds. Drier conditions during flowering (2014) limited plant growth and node production, hastened cutout, and decreased yield and WUE relative to 2015. We conclude that ΨPD irrigation thresholds between − 0.5 MPa and − 0.7 MPa appear to be viable for use in a ΨPD scheduling system with adequate yield and WUE for cotton production in the southeastern U.S. Rye cover positively impacted water potential at certain points throughout the growing season but not yield or WUE indicating the potential for rye cover crops to improve water use efficiency should be tested under longer-term production scenarios.

【 授权许可】

CC BY