Effects of Irrigation Techniques on Yield, Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Greenhouse Grown Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Abstract

Background: Traditional irrigation methods in protected vegetable production such as furrow irrigation result in low water use efficiency. New techniques, such as drip irrigation, micro-sprinkling irrigation have been developed for improving water use efficiency. However, these techniques have not been tested in greenhouse celery production. In this study, three different irrigation techniques micro-sprinkler irrigation (MS), furrow irrigation under plastic film mulching (PF) and micro-sprinkler irrigation under the plastic film mulching (MSP) were investigated whether the three techniques can improve the yield, quality and water use efficiency of greenhouse-grown celery, compared to furrow irrigation (FI). Results: The individual plant weight of celery was higher under MS, PF and MSP than under FI in both autumn season crop (AC) and spring season crop (SC), compared to FI. In AC and SC, the economic yield of celery increases under MSP by 54.18% and 49.55%, the economic yield of celery increases under PF by 30.37% and 34.10%. The irrigation amount of MSP was 151.69 and 179.91 m3 667 m-2 in AC and SC, which was 23.13% and 27.27% lower than that of FI. The irrigation amount of PF was 151.69 and 196.78 m3 667 m-2 in AC and SC, which was 23.13% and 20.45% lower than that of FI. PF and MSP reduced the irrigation amount of celery cultivation in greenhouse, and soil evaporation content. Conclusions: In short, MSP and PF promoted the growth and yield of celery in greenhouse with improved quality and water use efficiency.