This study evaluated the effects of fertigation, banana biomass as a soil covering under drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation system on the root growth and distribution and their relations with chemical soil attributes, soil water availability, and productivity. This work was conducted in a field with banana 2.5 × 2.0 m spacing and irrigated every two days using a drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation system during the first crop cycle. The experiment followed a random block design with six treatments, two irrigation systems, two fertilization methods of fertigation and side-dressing, as well as two cultivation types with and without soil covering. Roots were collected from each plot using soil monoliths and digitalization allowed the determination of root length density, and diameter at several distances from the plant and at different soil depths. Total root length, density, and distribution by diameter were evaluated based on the treatment interactions with respect to the distance from the plant and the soil depth. Our results showed that the combination of the irrigation system, fertilizer application and soil covering influenced root growth and distribution. In addition, we found that the better soil conditions for root growth were in drip or micro-sprinkler systems with fertigation and cultivated biomass covering.
The adequate fertigation use bases on the application of nutrients by water according to crop needs throughout its cycle. The evaluation of nutrients in the soil solution may be faster if based upon soil electric conductivity and moisture by using parametric models. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of two parametric models for estimating nitrate and potassium concentration in the soil solution under changes of ion concentration during a crop cycle. One model was that from Vogeler et al. (1996) in which ion concentration is a function of soil moisture and electrical conductivity; the other was the potential in which the concentration is a function of the electrical conductivity of the soil solution. The potential model presented a better performance compared to that of adapted from Vogeler, as for estimation of ion concentrations as for the sensitivity of this model to changes in concentration of this ion in the soil solution. The models showed greater sensitivity when fitted to data corresponding to all possible occurrences in the soil during the crop cycle. The model should consider a range of concentrations with the possible values of the soil solution along crop cycle.
DMulching contributes to the maintenance of soil moisture at reasonable levels for crop growth. It influences the crop water demand and irrigation time. The aim of this study was to estimate evapotranspiration and root water uptake by the ‘BRS Princesa’ banana cultivar through a simple approach using some components of soil water balance within the root zone in bare and mulched soil irrigated by drip and micro sprinkler systems. The experimental design was completely randomized in split plots with six replicates. The plots consisted of two irrigation systems (drip and micro sprinkler), the subplots consisted of two soil surface conditions: with and without mulch. The alternative approach for soil water percolation in the soil water balance allowed obtaining ETc under field condition with reasonable accuracy. ETc estimated from the root zone water balance is lower than ETc from FAO Penman-Monteith equation. Root water extraction in the mulched soil under drip irrigation is higher than that under micro sprinkler irrigation.
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