Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

ABSTRACT: Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.

Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m−1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha−1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha−1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers’ profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.

Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m−1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha−1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha−1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.(AU)

Physiological responses of watercress to brackish waters and different nutrient solution circulation times / Respostas fisiológicas de agrião com águas salobras e diferentes tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva

Water scarcity and the use of brackish water are the main challenges for agricultural development. In view of this, the present study proposes to examine physiological responses of the broadleaf-cress crop in an NFT hydroponics system according to the use of brackish water and nutrient solution circulation times. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design with five water salinity levels (ECw: 0.6, 1.6, 2.6, 3.6 and 4.6 dS m-1) and two nutrient solution circulation times (T1 = 10 min and T2 = 15 min), totaling 10 treatments with four replicates, which resulted in 40 experimental plots. The following variables were analyzed: net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration, leaf proline content, shoot moisture content, stem diameter and root length. The maximum observed photosynthetic rates were 20.9 mmol m-2 s-1 (T1) and 20.0 mmol m-2 s-1 (T2). Maximum stomatal conductance was 0.44 mol m-2 s-1, which decreased by 63.4% at the highest salinity level. The increasing ECw levels in both growing cycles evaluated reduced gas exchanges, stem diameter and root length. The nutrient solution circulation time of 15 min provided the most satisfactory results for the analyzed variables.

A escassez hídrica e o uso de água salobras são os principais desafios para o desenvolvimento agrícola. Diante disto o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar respostas fisiológicas da cultura do agrião d’ água de folhas larga em sistema hidropônico NFT em função do uso de águas salobras e tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco níveis de salinidade da água (CEa: 0,6; 1,6; 2,6; 3,6 e 4,6 dS m-1) e dois tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva, (T1 =10 e T2=15 min), totalizando 10 tratamentos com 4 repetições, resultando em 40 parcelas experimentais. As variáveis analisadas foram: taxa de fotossíntese líquida, condutância estomática, transpiração, teor foliar de prolina, teor de umidade da parte aérea das plantas, diâmetro doc aule e comprimento das raízes. A máxima fotossíntese observada foi de 20,9 mmol m-2 s-1 (T1) e 20,0mmol m-2 s-1 (T2), para a condutância estomática foi 0,44 mol m-2s-1 provocando decréscimo 63,4%. O aumento dos níveis de CEa, em ambos os ciclos de cultivo avaliados, reduziram os valores de trocas gasosas, diâmetro do caule e comprimento da raiz. O tempo de 15 min promoveu os resultados mais satisfatórios para as variáveis analisadas.

Physiological responses of watercress to brackish waters and different nutrient solution circulation times / Respostas fisiológicas de agrião com águas salobras e diferentes tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva

Water scarcity and the use of brackish water are the main challenges for agricultural development. In view of this, the present study proposes to examine physiological responses of the broadleaf-cress crop in an NFT hydroponics system according to the use of brackish water and nutrient solution circulation times. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design with five water salinity levels (ECw: 0.6, 1.6, 2.6, 3.6 and 4.6 dS m-1) and two nutrient solution circulation times (T1 = 10 min and T2 = 15 min), totaling 10 treatments with four replicates, which resulted in 40 experimental plots. The following variables were analyzed: net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration, leaf proline content, shoot moisture content, stem diameter and root length. The maximum observed photosynthetic rates were 20.9 mmol m-2 s-1 (T1) and 20.0 mmol m-2 s-1 (T2). Maximum stomatal conductance was 0.44 mol m-2 s-1, which decreased by 63.4% at the highest salinity level. The increasing ECw levels in both growing cycles evaluated reduced gas exchanges, stem diameter and root length. The nutrient solution circulation time of 15 min provided the most satisfactory results for the analyzed variables.(AU)

A escassez hídrica e o uso de água salobras são os principais desafios para o desenvolvimento agrícola. Diante disto o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar respostas fisiológicas da cultura do agrião d água de folhas larga em sistema hidropônico NFT em função do uso de águas salobras e tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco níveis de salinidade da água (CEa: 0,6; 1,6; 2,6; 3,6 e 4,6 dS m-1) e dois tempos de circulação da solução nutritiva, (T1 =10 e T2=15 min), totalizando 10 tratamentos com 4 repetições, resultando em 40 parcelas experimentais. As variáveis analisadas foram: taxa de fotossíntese líquida, condutância estomática, transpiração, teor foliar de prolina, teor de umidade da parte aérea das plantas, diâmetro doc aule e comprimento das raízes. A máxima fotossíntese observada foi de 20,9 mmol m-2 s-1 (T1) e 20,0mmol m-2 s-1 (T2), para a condutância estomática foi 0,44 mol m-2s-1 provocando decréscimo 63,4%. O aumento dos níveis de CEa, em ambos os ciclos de cultivo avaliados, reduziram os valores de trocas gasosas, diâmetro do caule e comprimento da raiz. O tempo de 15 min promoveu os resultados mais satisfatórios para as variáveis analisadas.(AU)

Isolated and combined effects of soil salinity and waterlogging in seedlings of 'Green Dwarf' coconut / Efeitos isolados e combinados da salinidade do solo e encharcamento em mudas de coqueiro 'Anão Verde'

Soil salinization is a problem commonly found in semi-arid regions. In addition, the problem of salinity is aggravated in clayey soils when accompanied by cycles of waterlogging in the rainy season or when excess irrigation is applied. In this work we evaluated the isolated and combined effects of soil salinity and waterlogging on the responses of young plants of ‘Green Dwarf coconut. The experiment was conducted under controlled environment in a complete randomized block design, arranged in split plots with five replications. The plots comprised five waterlogging cycles (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4), each with a duration of four days, and applied at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days into the experimental period, with the sub-plots consisting of five levels of soil salinity (1.70, 11.07, 16.44, 22.14 and 25.20 dS m-1). Response of coconut seedlings to waterlogging was dependent on the level of soil salinity, with waterlogging significantly impairing biomass accumulation and leaf expansion at low soil salinity levels, but causing no additional harm at elevated salinity. Leaf gas exchange was reduced mainly due to soil salinity, and this response was related to stomatal and non-stomatal effects. Seedlings of ‘Green Dwarf coconut used in this study were classified as moderately-tolerant to salinity when grown in soils with an electrical conductivity up to 11.07 dS m-1, having the potential to be used in revegetation programs of salt-affected areas, provided that these areas are not exposed to frequent waterlogging cycles.(AU)

A salinização dos solos é um problema comumente encontrado em regiões semiáridas. Além disso, nos solos mais argilosos, o problema da salinidade vem acompanhado de ciclos de encharcamento do solo, no período de chuvas ou no caso de irrigação excessiva. Neste trabalho, avaliamos os efeitos da salinidade do solo e do encharcamento, de maneira isolada e combinada, nas respostas adaptativas de plantas jovens de coqueiro-anão-verde. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido, sob delineamento estatístico de blocos casualizados, arranjados em parcelas subdivididas com cinco repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por cinco ciclos de encharcamento (0, 1, 2, 3 e 4), com duração de quatro dias cada, aos 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias do período experimental e as subparcelas foram constituídas por cinco níveis de salinidade do solo (1,70; 11,07; 16,44; 22,14 e 25,20 dS m-1). As respostas das mudas de coqueiro ao encharcamento dependeram do nível de salinidade do solo, os quais reduziram significativamente o acúmulo de biomassa e a expansão foliar em baixos níveis de salinidade do solo. Contudo, os níveis de encharcamento não causaram danos adicionais sob elevados níveis de salinidade. As trocas gasosas foliares foram reduzidas principalmente devido à salinidade do solo, e esta resposta pode estar relacionada aos efeitos estomáticos e não estomáticos. As mudas de coqueiro ‘Anão Verde utilizadas neste experiment foram classificadas como moderadamente tolerantes à salinidade, quando cultivadas em solos com condutividade elétrica de até 11,07 dS m-1, podendo ser utilizadas em programas de revegetação de áreas salinizadas, desde que essas áreas não estejam expostas a frequentes ciclos de encharcamento.(AU)

Growth and yield of cowpea/sunflower crop rotation under different irrigation management strategies with saline water / Crescimento e produtividade da rotação feijão-de-corda/girassol sob diferentes estratégias de manejo de irrigação com água salina

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of management strategies of irrigation with saline water on growth and yield of cowpea and sunflower in a crop rotation. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks with thirteen treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of: T1 (control), T2, T3 and T4 using water of 0.5 (A1), 2.2 (A2), 3.6 (A3) and 5.0 (A4) dS m-1, respectively, during the entire crop cycle; T5, T6 and T7, use of A2, A3 and A4 water, respectively, only in the flowering and fructification stage of the crop cycle; using different water in a cyclic way, six irrigations with A1 followed by six irrigations with A2 (T8), A3 (T9) and A4, (T10), respectively; T11, T12 and T13, using water A2, A3 and A4, respectively, starting at 11 days after planting (DAP) and continuing until the end of the crop cycle. These treatments were employed in the first crop (cowpea), during the dry season, and the same plots were used for the cultivation of sunflower as succeeding crop during rainy season. The strategies of use of saline water in the salt tolerant growth stage (treatments T5, T6 and T7) or cyclically (treatments T8, T9 and T10) reduced the amount of good quality water used in the production of cowpea by 34 and 47%, respectively, without negative impacts on crop yield, and did not show the residual effects of salinity on sunflower as a succeeding crop. Thus, these strategies appear promising to be employed in areas with water salinity problems in the semiarid region of Brazil.(AU)

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de estratégias de manejo de irrigação com água salina no crescimento e produção de feijão-caupi e do girassol em um sistema de rotação de culturas. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso com treze tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de: T1 (controle), T2, T3 e T4, utilizando água de 0,5 (A1), 2,2 (A2), 3,6 (A3) e 5,0 (A4) dS m-1, respectivamente, ao longo de todo o ciclo da cultura; T5, T6 e T7, utilizando águas salinas A2, A3 e A4, respectivamente, apenas na fase de floração e frutificação; uso de diferentes fontes de água de forma cíclica, com seis irrigações com A1 seguido por seis irrigações com A2 (T8), A3 (T9) e A4 (T10), respectivamente; T11, T12 e T13, usando água A2, A3 e A4, respectivamente, a partir de 11 dias após o plantio (DAP) e continuando até ao final do ciclo da cultura. Estes tratamentos foram empregados na primeira safra com o feijão-caupi, durante a estação seca. As mesmas parcelas foram utilizados para o cultivo de girassol como cultura de sucessão durante a estação chuvosa. O uso de água salina no estádio de maior tolerância à salinidade (tratamentos T5, T6 e T7) ou ciclicamente (tratamentos T8, T9 e T10) reduziu a quantidade de água de boa qualidade usada na produção de feijão-caupi em 34 e 47%, respectivamente, sem impactos negativos na produtividade da cultura, e eliminou os efeitos residuais da salinidade no girassol como uma cultura de sucessão. Assim, essas estratégias parecem promissoras para serem empregadas em áreas com problemas de água salinas na região semiárida do Brasil.(AU)

Isolated and combined effects of soil salinity and waterlogging in seedlings of 'Green Dwarf' coconut / Efeitos isolados e combinados da salinidade do solo e encharcamento em mudas de coqueiro 'Anão Verde'

Soil salinization is a problem commonly found in semi-arid regions. In addition, the problem of salinity is aggravated in clayey soils when accompanied by cycles of waterlogging in the rainy season or when excess irrigation is applied. In this work we evaluated the isolated and combined effects of soil salinity and waterlogging on the responses of young plants of ‘Green Dwarf’ coconut. The experiment was conducted under controlled environment in a complete randomized block design, arranged in split plots with five replications. The plots comprised five waterlogging cycles (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4), each with a duration of four days, and applied at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days into the experimental period, with the sub-plots consisting of five levels of soil salinity (1.70, 11.07, 16.44, 22.14 and 25.20 dS m-1). Response of coconut seedlings to waterlogging was dependent on the level of soil salinity, with waterlogging significantly impairing biomass accumulation and leaf expansion at low soil salinity levels, but causing no additional harm at elevated salinity. Leaf gas exchange was reduced mainly due to soil salinity, and this response was related to stomatal and non-stomatal effects. Seedlings of ‘Green Dwarf’ coconut used in this study were classified as moderately-tolerant to salinity when grown in soils with an electrical conductivity up to 11.07 dS m-1, having the potential to be used in revegetation programs of salt-affected areas, provided that these areas are not exposed to frequent waterlogging cycles.

A salinização dos solos é um problema comumente encontrado em regiões semiáridas. Além disso, nos solos mais argilosos, o problema da salinidade vem acompanhado de ciclos de encharcamento do solo, no período de chuvas ou no caso de irrigação excessiva. Neste trabalho, avaliamos os efeitos da salinidade do solo e do encharcamento, de maneira isolada e combinada, nas respostas adaptativas de plantas jovens de coqueiro-anão-verde. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido, sob delineamento estatístico de blocos casualizados, arranjados em parcelas subdivididas com cinco repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas por cinco ciclos de encharcamento (0, 1, 2, 3 e 4), com duração de quatro dias cada, aos 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias do período experimental e as subparcelas foram constituídas por cinco níveis de salinidade do solo (1,70; 11,07; 16,44; 22,14 e 25,20 dS m-1). As respostas das mudas de coqueiro ao encharcamento dependeram do nível de salinidade do solo, os quais reduziram significativamente o acúmulo de biomassa e a expansão foliar em baixos níveis de salinidade do solo. Contudo, os níveis de encharcamento não causaram danos adicionais sob elevados níveis de salinidade. As trocas gasosas foliares foram reduzidas principalmente devido à salinidade do solo, e esta resposta pode estar relacionada aos efeitos estomáticos e não estomáticos. As mudas de coqueiro ‘Anão Verde’ utilizadas neste experiment foram classificadas como moderadamente tolerantes à salinidade, quando cultivadas em solos com condutividade elétrica de até 11,07 dS m-1, podendo ser utilizadas em programas de revegetação de áreas salinizadas, desde que essas áreas não estejam expostas a frequentes ciclos de encharcamento.