Guan'gai paishui xuebao (Jul 2024)

The effect of subsurface membrane-irrigation on soil moisture and growth of winter wheat

  • TAO Zhi,
  • WU Xianbing,
  • CHENG Wuqun,
  • WEI Liang,
  • JIA Zhijun,
  • GU Zhongfang,
  • GAO Xin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2023465
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 7
pp. 48 – 56

Abstract

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【Objective】 Surface membrane irrigation is a new irrigation technique developed over the past decades to reduce water leaching and improve water retention in the root zone. This paper investigates the effect of different subsurface-membrane irrigation amounts on soil moisture and winter wheat growth. 【Method】 The field experiment compared three irrigation amounts: 300 m3/hm2 (W1), 450 m3/hm2 (W2) and 600 m3/hm2 (W3), each irrigation treatment having two irrigation schedules: continuous irrigation (S1), and intermittent irrigation (S2). Traditional border irrigation was taken as the control (CK). During the experiment, we measured water distribution in the soil, as well as growth, water consumption, yield composition and water use efficiency of the wheat. 【Result】 ① Compared to CK, the W3+S1 and W3+S2 improved soil water in the root zone and reduced deep water infiltration, therefore increasing plant height, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE). ② With the increase in irrigation amount, water content in the 20-60 cm soil layer increased. Compared with S1, S2 reduced the infiltration of irrigation water into the 80-100 cm soil layer. ③ Plant height, leaf area index (LAI) and water consumption of the wheat were positively correlated with irrigation amount, regardless of its growing stages. Irrigation scheduling did not have a significant effect on plant height and LAI, but significantly affected total water consumption of the wheat. ④ With the increase in irrigation amount, S2 increased grain yield by 3.46% to 13.11%, compared with S1, with the increase depending on irrigation amount. With the increase in irrigation amount, the grain yield and WUE increased first and then decreased. 【Conclusion】 Compared with CK, subsurface membrane irrigation saved water and increased grain yield. Considering soil water distribution, crop growth, water consumption, grain yield and WUE, W2+S2 was optimal for wheat production in the studied region.

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