Articles
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) crop production using drip irrigation installed at different depths
Article number
1253_25
Pages
183 – 190
Language
English
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield, width and length of a leaf from a lettuce crop irrigated by a drip irrigation system, with irrigation tape installed superficially and at the subsurface at different depths: 10, 15 and 20 cm.
The experiment was realized in a greenhouse and the texture of the soil used for the planting was sandy clay loam, in plastic containers.
At different growth stages the soil water content, values of pH, EC and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were assessed within wetting bulb.
Sampling was done in a mesh made in a vertical soil profile perpendicular to the drip tape at the center of the container in order to assess distribution patterns.
The nutrient solution and the irrigation conditions for the four depths of irrigation drips were the same.
Plant yield was significantly higher (α=0.05) in the subsurface irrigation compared to the surface irrigation.
No differences between installation depth of the subsurface irrigation were observed.
There were no statistically significant differences between treatments in the uniformity of soil water content in the wetting bulb; differences were observed in the distribution of K, N, P, pH and EC in the later stages of the crop.
A soil water content close to the saturation in the upper layer in the superficial irrigation affected the yield of the crop.
Greater availability of P in the root zone and pH values close to the optimal may also have contributed to improving yield in subsurface irrigation.
The experiment was realized in a greenhouse and the texture of the soil used for the planting was sandy clay loam, in plastic containers.
At different growth stages the soil water content, values of pH, EC and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were assessed within wetting bulb.
Sampling was done in a mesh made in a vertical soil profile perpendicular to the drip tape at the center of the container in order to assess distribution patterns.
The nutrient solution and the irrigation conditions for the four depths of irrigation drips were the same.
Plant yield was significantly higher (α=0.05) in the subsurface irrigation compared to the surface irrigation.
No differences between installation depth of the subsurface irrigation were observed.
There were no statistically significant differences between treatments in the uniformity of soil water content in the wetting bulb; differences were observed in the distribution of K, N, P, pH and EC in the later stages of the crop.
A soil water content close to the saturation in the upper layer in the superficial irrigation affected the yield of the crop.
Greater availability of P in the root zone and pH values close to the optimal may also have contributed to improving yield in subsurface irrigation.
Authors
J.V. Prado-Hernández, J. Pineda-Pineda, A. Martínez-Ruíz, M. Carrillo-García, J.J. Aparicio-Parra
Keywords
soil moisture, fertigation, wetting patterns, subsurface irrigation, efficiency
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