Field-Measured Water Uptake of Sudangrass Roots as Affected by Fertilization

Flühler, H. and Ardakani, M.S. and Szuszkiewicz , T.E. and Stolzy, L.H. (1977) Field-Measured Water Uptake of Sudangrass Roots as Affected by Fertilization. Agronomy Journal, 69 (2). pp. 269-274.

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Abstract

Cultural practices could affect the flow of water and solutes toward groundwater. In this field experiment we analyzed the effect of fertilization on water uptake of sudangrass (Sorghum vulgure sudanense, Germain's piper cultivar) and its indirect influence on deep drainage and nitrate leaching. Root water uptake was calculated as sink term in the continuity equation using successive measurements of water content and matric potential profiles in connection with field measured hydraulic conductivity functions. The experiment was conducted in three field plots on Hanford fine sandy loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, thermic, Typic, Xerorthent). Fertilization increased dry matter production and water uptake significantly and reduced deep drainage and nitrate leaching. Water uptake patterns and root length distribution was not correlated. Mainly due to fertilization with nitrate nitrogen, the evapotranspiration approximated the amount of irrigation water applied. These results indicate that optimum water and fertilizer use and minimum groundwater pollution per unit crop production are intimately linked together

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Nitrate leaching, Unsaturated conductivity, Evapotranspiration, Root water extraction
Author Affiliation:	Assistant research soil physicist, Univ. of California, Riverside and Berkeley, California
Subjects:	Animal Husbandary
Divisions:	General
Depositing User:	Ms K Syamalamba
Date Deposited:	05 Jan 2012 05:34
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2012 05:34
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj1977.0002196200690...
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2910

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