Increasing Vegetable Production on Transformed Sand to Retain Twice the Soil Water Holding Capacity in Plant Root Zone

Abstract

A new soil water retaining technology, designed to increase vegetable production and improve water use efficiency (WUE), was field tested on sand soil. Green bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were planted on previously installed U-shaped troughs of impermeable membranes designed to double soil water content in plant root zones. These soil water retention technology (SWRT) membranes significantly increased volumetric water content (VWC) in plant root zones promoting both crop production and improved water use efficiency (WUE). Greater vegetable production was attained when SWRT membranes significantly increased the low 9% to 10% water holding capacity by control sands. Membrane improved VWC to 15% and 18% increased yields of green bell pepper by 20% and cucumber by 24%. These newly optimized root zone water contents also increased WUE 19% and 41% for cucumber and bell pepper crops grown on SWRT transformed sands. SWRT membrane installations also provide an early return on investment (ROI) for the sand soils that auto control optimal soil water contents in plant root zones. This new technology offers new opportunities for establishing greater profits for the long-term vegetable production on sand soils. Anticipated positive impacts by SWRT on natural resource management and crop production offers new opportunities for enhanced profitability while protecting the environment in rural America. These SWRT improvements for vegetable production including greater yields, higher WUE, and very brief ROI should encourage adoption of this technology across irrigated vegetable production located on highly permeable sand and loamy sand soils.

Reducing Climate Risks by Improving Food Production and Value Chains: A Case of Sandy Soils in Semi-arid Kenya

“…In the present case, with manual installation of SWRT, the estimated labor demand was even higher (>1,000 h per hectare), but could be reduced if smallholder farmers had access to tractor-mounted membrane installers. A return on initial investment costs within a short period (2-3 years) could be achieved if e.g., high-value crops such as vegetables were grown (Smucker et al, 2018) and if smallholder farmers were directly connected to a market. It is important to note that, to improve efficient use of investment funding, additional extension services might be required to guide smallholder farmers in adoption of appropriate management practices and technologies (Makate et al, 2019).…”

The Potential Benefits and Trade-Offs of Using Sub-surface Water Retention Technology on Coarse-Textured Soils: Impacts of Water and Nutrient Saving on Maize Production and Soil Carbon Sequestration

“…Using an increase of the area with SWRT, the production levels of maize grain were calculated through a linear function based on each respective country's coarse-textured areas and percentage increases of maize grain and biomass production obtained in other previous studies. Specifically, we used mean yield increases in grain and biomass from a 5-year crop rotation of maize-soybean/potato/vegetable, which were correspondingly 67% and 91% with and without irrigation compared to a control without SWRT (Unpublished data, Smucker et al, 2018). As we could not get maize yields under coarse-textured soils for the respective countries, we used figures of national grain yields per country by averaging the yields obtained in 2012, 2013, and 2014 in the respective countries 1 Yield levels of each country are in Table S1.…”

Novel root zone soil water retention improves production with half the water in arid sands

“…Annually improved corn production by mechanically installed SWRT membranes, reported by Kavdir et al (2014) was transported to Texas, where Van Pelt and Zobeck (2015) reported mechanically installed SWRT membranes provided drought mitigation, increasing Texas dryland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibers 504%. Smucker et al (2018). Reported membrane-transformed field sands doubled soil water contents of irrigated vegetable root zones, increasing crop production that enabled total payment of membrane installation costs within 2-3 yr.…”

“…Smucker et al. (2018). Reported membrane‐transformed field sands doubled soil water contents of irrigated vegetable root zones, increasing crop production that enabled total payment of membrane installation costs within 2–3 yr.…”