Root distribution, soil water depletion, and water productivity of sweet corn under deficit irrigation and biochar application

Manpreet Singh, Sukhbir Singh, Sanjit Deb and Glen Ritchie

Agricultural Water Management, 2023, vol. 279, issue C

Abstract: Root modifications can play a vital role in crop adjustments to soil water deficit. It is important to understand root growth and soil water depletion patterns to develop effective cropping systems, especially in semi-arid regions like Texas High Plains (THP). This study evaluated root growth, soil water depletion, and water productivity (WP) of sweet corn under three deficit irrigation treatments [100 %, 70 % and 40 % crop evapotranspiration (ETc)] and biochar application (hardwood and softwood). The experimental units were replicated 4 times in a split-plot design. The results revealed no interaction between irrigation and biochar treatments for almost all measured parameters. The 70 % ETc treatment increased the root length density (RLD) over 100 % ETc during 2019, while no differences were observed among irrigation treatments in 2020. Both deficit irrigations (70 % and 40 % ETc) increased soil water depletion compared to 100 % ETc, the highest being in 40 % ETc. The 70 % ETc maintained a similar yield and increased WP by 21 % compared to 100 % ETc across two years. However, 40 % ETc resulted in significant decline in yield and WP in 2020. The hardwood biochar increased RLD over no biochar treatment without affecting the soil water status and WP. Long-term studies are needed to investigate biochar effects beyond two years of application. In case of limited water availability, 70 % ETc can be recommended as an alternative to 100 % ETc in the THP of the US.

Keywords: Soil water content; Drought stress; Semi-arid; Evapotranspiration; Root length density (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:279:y:2023:i:c:s0378377423000574

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108192

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