Estimation of Soil Critical Moisture and Allowable Depletion Coefficient at Three Dominant Soil Textures under wheat cultivation in Khuzestan Province

Abstract

One of the most common approaches for farm irrigation management is using soil readily available water and allowable depletion coefficient. The objective of this study was to determine wheat crop response coefficients, critical moisture content, and soil allowable depletion coefficient using a physically based method in three dominant soils under wheat cultivation in Khuzestan province. Treatments included full irrigation and water stress at three levels low, moderate, and high. The highest and lowest values of wheat crop response coefficient were related to silty clay loam (Ky=1.26) and clay loam (Ky=0.96), respectively. Critical soil moisture content was observed in loam soil (0.25 cm3cm-3)> silty clay loam (0.23 cm3cm-3)> clay loam (0.22 cm3cm-3), respectively. Despite the higher critical moisture content in loam, the most soil allowable depletion coefficient was also calculated in loam (0.54). Soil allowable depletion coefficient in silty clay loam and clay loam were 0.44 and 0.42, respectively. The results confirmed the simultaneous effects of soil and plant properties on the availability of soil water for the plants.

Keywords

• water stress
• soil readily available water
• crop response coefficient