Articles
Optimizing drip irrigation strategy in leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)
Article number
1398_25
Pages
185 – 192
Language
English
Abstract
In Belgium the summers from 2018 to 2020 were dry.
Due to climate change, an increase in dry and warm summers is expected.
Hence, irrigation becomes a necessity to maintain the production and quality of leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum). Since it is often a bottleneck to have sufficient water available, we looked for methods to use irrigation water more efficiently.
Drip irrigation is a promising strategy with a high water use efficiency, which can avoid significant production losses in leek.
In 20203 and 2021, a drip irrigation experiment was conducted on leek on a trial field of the Vegetable Research Centre in Kruishoutem, Belgium.
These trials included six irrigation strategies (rainfed; overhead irrigation; drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row; drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row with smaller and more frequent gifts; drip irrigation with one aboveground tape per row; drip irrigation with one aboveground tape every two rows). The results showed that the leek plants did experience drought stress in both years, with a higher evapotranspiration deficit of leek without irrigation compared to leek with drip irrigation.
Overhead irrigation resulted in a similar yield compared to drip irrigation when irrigating simultaneously, while drip irrigation with smaller and more frequent gifts resulted in a lower yield.
Analysis of yield (p<0.001) showed that drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row can be advised in dry years for leek production in water-scarce regions.
These results are in accordance with literature, where irrigation is said to have a significant effect on leaf and stem fresh weights of leek.
In these trials, data on moisture content were determined by collecting soil samples.
They gave more insight in the effect of irrigation and show the potential of drip irrigation in leek.
Due to climate change, an increase in dry and warm summers is expected.
Hence, irrigation becomes a necessity to maintain the production and quality of leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum). Since it is often a bottleneck to have sufficient water available, we looked for methods to use irrigation water more efficiently.
Drip irrigation is a promising strategy with a high water use efficiency, which can avoid significant production losses in leek.
In 20203 and 2021, a drip irrigation experiment was conducted on leek on a trial field of the Vegetable Research Centre in Kruishoutem, Belgium.
These trials included six irrigation strategies (rainfed; overhead irrigation; drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row; drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row with smaller and more frequent gifts; drip irrigation with one aboveground tape per row; drip irrigation with one aboveground tape every two rows). The results showed that the leek plants did experience drought stress in both years, with a higher evapotranspiration deficit of leek without irrigation compared to leek with drip irrigation.
Overhead irrigation resulted in a similar yield compared to drip irrigation when irrigating simultaneously, while drip irrigation with smaller and more frequent gifts resulted in a lower yield.
Analysis of yield (p<0.001) showed that drip irrigation with one subsurface tape per row can be advised in dry years for leek production in water-scarce regions.
These results are in accordance with literature, where irrigation is said to have a significant effect on leaf and stem fresh weights of leek.
In these trials, data on moisture content were determined by collecting soil samples.
They gave more insight in the effect of irrigation and show the potential of drip irrigation in leek.
Publication
Authors
A. Waverijn, E. Vandewoestijne, P. Janssens, J. Vaerten, N. Hisette, E. Matthyssen, M. Hendrickx, J. Vanderborght, J. Diels
Keywords
leek cultivation, drought stress, water efficiency, soil moisture, yield
Groups involved
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