Poljoprivreda (Dec 2008)
SOIL MOISTURE REGIME ON LUVISOL IN THE EAST CROATIA
Abstract
The aim of the research was to determine water deficit in the soil (to 60 cm depth) on the basis of field measurements as well as calculation of soil water balance during the vegetation season of maize and winter wheat. In the first year of research (2003) water deficit was emphasized during the whole vegetation season of maize (Zelčin 336 mm; Donji Miholjac 326 mm); but the most marked water shortage was evident in the July and August; having negative effect on maize grain yield (5.52 t ha-1). The second year of research (2004) was more favourable; and water deficit which on the both sites occurred only in the May (Zelčin 40;5 mm; Donji Miholjac 32;6 mm); did not affect wheat grain yield (5.07 t ha-1). Particularly low values of available water content (AWC) were observed during the summer of 2003; and the lowest values (8% for Zelčin; and 7% for Donji Miholjac) were recorded in the third decade of September. In the 2004 much higher values of AWC were achieved (40.5% for Zelčin; and 32.6% for Donji Miholjac). In the deeper soil layers significantly higher (P<1%) values of soil moisture were determined. The correlations between measured and calculated values of AWC were also very significant on both sites (r =0.93**; r =0.91**).
