Development in Aerated Subsurface Drip Irrigation: A Review

Abstract

Aerated subsurface drip irrigation is a new technology developed over the past decades to improve aeration in the root zone by mixing irrigation water with air bubbles to ameliorate the adverse effect of hypoxic on crops and boost crop yield and quality. The key to disseminate aerated subsurface drip irrigation is to understand its efficacy under different soil and cropping conditions to determine the rational aeration rate and the associated equipment. Based on the development in both research and application of subsurface drip irrigation and the associated aeration technologies, we systematically review the suitable aeration levels for improving oxygen in the root zone of crops to improve their growth. In particular, we focus on the development in technologies for mixing the irrigation water with gas bubbles and their application, the existing problems in aerated subsurface drip irrigation, and the potential applications of these technologies. This review aims to help those who are interested in aerated irrigation to understand the present state and research progress in aerated subsurface drip irrigation. Available results indicated that aerated subsurface drip irrigation indeed improves crop yield and quality considerably, but we also highlight the areas which need further research, including when the root zones need aeration, air - irrigation water - soil interaction, as well as how to improve efficiency of irrigated water and oxygen.

Keywords

• subsurface drip irrigation
• oxygation
• soil oxygen threshold
• aerated mode
• aerated equipment