Simulating Tree Root Water Uptake in the Frame of Sustainable Agriculture for Extreme Hyper-Arid Environments Using Modeling and Geophysical Techniques

Arya Pradipta (), Nektarios N. Kourgialas (), Yassir Mubarak Hussein Mustafa, Panagiotis Kirmizakis and Pantelis Soupios
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Arya Pradipta: Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Nektarios N. Kourgialas: Water Resources, Irrigation and Environmental Geoinformatics Laboratory, Institute for Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Directorate General of Agricultural Research, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, 73100 Chania, Greece
Yassir Mubarak Hussein Mustafa: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction and Building Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Panagiotis Kirmizakis: Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Pantelis Soupios: Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: In order to ensure sustainability in the agricultural sector and to meet global food needs, a particularly important challenge for our time is to investigate the possibility of increasing agricultural production in areas with extreme hyper-arid environments. Warming air temperatures and sandy soils significantly influence tree root water uptake (RWU) dynamics, making accurate estimation of RWU depth distribution and magnitude crucial for effective resource management, particularly in the context of precision irrigation within agroecosystems. This study employed two non-invasive techniques, namely HYDRUS 1D and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), to simulate RWU under controlled experimental conditions and under an extreme hyper-arid environment. The results revealed that the highest RWU rates occurred during the morning (08:00–11:00). RWU activity predominantly concentrated in the upper soil profile (0–30 cm), and the soil water content in this area was notably lower compared to the deeper soil layers. With increasing temperature, there was a tendency for the RWU zone to shift to lower depths within the soil profile. The findings of this study could have important implications for farmers, providing valuable insights to implement irrigation water management strategies.

Keywords: root water uptake; climate change; agricultural geophysics; modeling; HYDRUS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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