MSI99P0330 | |
Hodnett, M. G. Bell, J. P. Ah Koon, P. D. Batchelor, C. H. | |
Observations on the wetted zone beneath drip irrigated sugar cane in Mauritius | |
Rydsewski, J. R.; Ward, C. F. (eds), Irrigation theory and practice | |
Book chapter | |
1989 | |
p.630-640 | |
London, Pentech Press | |
En | |
En | |
The distribution of soil moisture potential around emitters spaced at 0.75 m along driplines buried beneath a crop of sugar cane was monitored throughout the growing season using arrays of mercury manometer tensiometers. The amount of irrigation to apply was determined using estimates of potential evaporation, an effective rainfall model, and crop factors. The potential measurements showed that a wet zone, bounded laterally by steep potential gradients, persisted below the emitter throughout the 5-month period studied. The size and form of this wet zone or 'wetted volume' varied diurnally and through the study period as a result of the sensitive dynamic equilibrium between irrigation, abstraction and drainage. The long term variations in size occurred when irrigation inputs did not exactly match the abstraction by the crop. The results indicate that abstraction by the crop must be taken into account in the formulation and testing of methods used in drip irrigation system design to determine the emitter discharge and spacing required to wet a pre-determined proportion of the soil profile. | |
TRICKLE IRRIGATION SUGARCANE IRRIGATION IRRIGATION SYSTEMS MSIRI COLLABORATORS | |
MAURITIUS | |
Sugarcane: Water use and management | |
Irrigation: Trickle irrigation | |
1992-02-20 | |
En | |
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute | |
BOT |