Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2021, Vol. 20 Issue (1): 260-273    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63283-X
Special Issue: 农业生态环境-灌溉合辑Agro-ecosystem & Environment—Irrigation
Agro-ecosystem & Environment Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Optimization of water and nitrogen management for surge-root irrigated apple trees in the Loess Plateau of China
DAI Zhi-guang1, 2, FEI Liang-jun1, ZENG Jian1, HUANG De-liang1, LIU Teng1 
1 Institute of Water Resources Research, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, P.R.China
2 School of Hydraulic and Ecological Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang 330099, P.R.China
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  

黄土高原是中国苹果树种植的主要区域,长期以来,缺水和肥料利用效率低下严重制约着当地苹果产业的发展。采用田间试验的方法,于2017和2018年苹果树物候期内,设置3个土壤含水率梯度:90–75%θf(θf为田间持水量)、75–60%θf和60–45%θf;5个施氮水平:0.7、0.6、0.5、0.4和0.3 kg/株,共15个处理。结果表明:在2017和2018年,苹果树叶面积指数(LAI)、产量、水分利用效率(WUE)以及氮肥偏生产力(NPFP)的水氮耦合效应明显,灌水量和施氮量对苹果树LAI、产量、WUE以及NPFP的影响均达到显著水平(P<0.05),而水氮交互作用的影响在2018年达到了显著水平(P<0.05),而在2017年影响不显著。土壤含水率相同时,随着施氮量的增加,WUE先增加后降低,NPFP逐渐下降,而施氮量对苹果树LAI的影响与土壤含水率梯度密切相关。施氮量相同时,随着灌水量的增加,苹果树LAI逐渐增加,WUE和NPFP先增加后减小,而施氮量对苹果树产量的影响与土壤含水率梯度密切相关。通过苹果树水氮效应的二次回归分析表明,苹果树产量,WUE以及NPFP并不能同时达到最大。综合考虑水氮耦合效应对苹果树产量,WUE以及NPFP影响,土壤含水率梯度为75–60%θf和施氮量为0.45 kg/株的组合可作为黄土高原地区苹果树产量、WUE和NPFP综合效益最大化的水氮管理策略。




Abstract  
The Loess Plateau is one of the main regions for growing apple trees in China, but a shortage of water resources and low utilization of nitrogen have restricted its agricultural development.  A 2-year field experiment was conducted which included three levels of soil water content (SWC), 90–75%, 75–60%, and 60–45% of field capacity, and five levels of nitrogen application (Napp), 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4 and 0.3 kg/plant.  The treatments were arranged in a strip-plot design with complete randomized blocks with three replications.  For both years, the water and Napp had significant (P<0.05) effects on leaf area index (LAI), yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP) while the interaction effect of water and Napp on yield, WUE and NPFP was significant (P<0.05) in 2018, and not in 2017.  For the same SWC level, WUE first increased, then decreased as Napp increased, while NPFP tended to decrease, but the trend of LAI with different Napp was closely related to SWC.  At the same Napp, the LAI increased as SWC increased, while the WUE and NPFP first increased, then decreased, but the yield showed different trends as the SWC increased.  The dualistic and quadric regression equations of water and Napp indicate that the yield, WUE and NPFP cannot reach the maximum at the same time.  Considering the coupling effects of water and Napp on yield, WUE and NPFP in 2017 and 2018, the SWC level shall be controlled in 75–60% of field capacity and the Napp is 0.45 kg/plant, which can be as the suitable strategy of water and Napp management for the maximum comprehensive benefits of yield, WUE and NPFP for apple trees in the Loess Plateau and other regions with similar environments. 
 
Keywords:  surge-root irrigation        yield        water use efficiency        nitrogen partial factor productivity  
Received: 14 January 2020   Accepted:
Fund: This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0400204), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51479161 and 51279157) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province of China (20192BAB216037).
Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence FEI Liang-jun, Mobile: +86-13186181693, E-mail: 77494350@qq.com   
About author:  DAI Zhi-guang, Mobile: +86-18146706336, E-mail: daizhiguang100@163.com;

Cite this article: 

DAI Zhi-guang, FEI Liang-jun, ZENG Jian, HUANG De-liang, LIU Teng. 2021. Optimization of water and nitrogen management for surge-root irrigated apple trees in the Loess Plateau of China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 20(1): 260-273.

Alghory A, Yazar A. 2019. Evaluation of crop water stress index and leaf water potential for deficit irrigation management of sprinkler-irrigated wheat. Irrigation Science, 37, 61–77.
Askary M, Behdani M A, Parsa S, Mahmoodi S, Jamialahmadi M. 2018. Water stress and manure application affect the quantity and quality of essential oil of Thymus daenensis and Thymus vulgaris. Industrial Crops and Products, 111, 336–344.
Aujla M S, Thind H S, Buttar G S. 2005. Cotton yield and water use efficiency at various levels of water and N through drip irrigation under two methods of planting. Agricultural Water Management, 71, 167–179.
Aujla M S, Thind H S, Buttar G S. 2007. Fruit yield and water use efficiency of eggplant (Solanum melongema L.) as influenced by different quantities of nitrogen and water applied through drip and furrow irrigation. Scientia Horticulturae, 112, 142–148.
Chenafi A, Monney P, Arrigoni E, Boudoukha A, Carlen C. 2016. Influence of irrigation strategies on productivity, fruit quality and soil-plant water status of subsurface drip-irrigated apple trees. Fruits, 71, 69–78.
Dadrasan M, Chaichi M R, Pourbabaee A A, Yazdani D, Keshavarz-Afshar R. 2015. Deficit irrigation and biological fertilizer influence on yield and trigonelline production of fenugreek. Industrial Crops and Products, 77, 156–162.
Dai Z G, Fei L J, Huang D L, Zeng J, Chen L, Cai Y H. 2019a. Coupling effects of irrigation and nitrogen levels on yield, water and nitrogen use efficiency of surge-root irrigated jujube in a semiarid region. Agricultural Water Management, 213, 146–154.
Dai Z G, Fei L J, Li P, Chen L, Zhong Y. 2018. Suitable strategy of water-nitrogen management for surge-root irrigation of jujube in China. Agronomy Journal, 110, 1390–1401.
Dai Z G, Fei L J, Zhong Y, Huang D L. 2019b. Water and nitrogen input optimization for jujube trees under surge root irrigation based on weighted grey correlation model. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 12, 45–51.
Ding J J, Fang F L, Lin W, Qiang X J, Xu C Y, Mao L L, Li Q Z, Zhang X M, Li Y Z. 2019. N2O emissions and source partitioning using stable isotopes under furrow and drip irrigation in vegetable field of North China. Science of the Total Environment, 665, 709–717.
Du Y D, Cao, H X, Liu S Q, Gu X B, Cao Y X. 2017. Response of yield, quality, water and nitrogen use efficiency of tomato to different levels of water and nitrogen under drip irrigation in northwestern China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16, 1153–1161.
Farneselli M, Tosti G, Onofri A, Benincasa P, Guiducci M, Pannacci E, Tei F. 2018. Effects of N sources and management strategies on crop growth, yield and potential N leaching in processing tomato. European Journal of Agronomy, 98, 46–54.
Feng H D, Li B Z, Zhang L S, Jin H C, Li H B, Han M Y. 2008. Influences of different rates of nitrogen on fruit quality, photosynthesis and element contents in leaves of red Fuji apples. Acta Agriculturae Boreali-occidentalis Sinica, 17, 229–232. (in Chinese)
Gheysari M, Mirlatifi S M, Bannayan M, Homaee M, Hoogenboom G. 2009. Interaction of water and nitrogen on maize grown for silage. Agricultural Water Management, 96, 809–821.
Giarettaa A G, Schulzb M, Silveiraa T T, Oliveirac M V, Patríciod M J, Gonzagab L V, Fettb R, Silva E L, Wazlawik E. 2019. Apple intake improves antioxidant parameters in hemodialysis patients without affecting serum potassium levels. Nutrition Research, 64, 56–63.
Gu X B, Li Y N, Du Y D. 2017. Optimized nitrogen fertilizer application improves yield, water and nitrogen use efficiencies of winter rapeseed cultivated under continuous ridges with film mulching. Industrial Crops and Products, 109, 233–240.
Guo F. 2013. Research on root water uptake depth and water movement characteristics of apple trees under water storage pit irrigation. Ph D thesis, Taiyuan University of Technology, China. (in Chinese)
Huang P, Zhang J B, Zhu A N, Li X P, Ma D H, Xin X L, Zhang C Z, Wu S J, Garland G, Pereira E I P. 2018. Nitrate accumulation and leaching potential reduced coupled water and nitrogen management in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Science of the Total Environment, 610, 1020–1028.
Jia B, Qian J, Ma F Y. 2015. Simulating effects of nitrogen on leaf area index of cotton under mulched drip irrigation. Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery, 46, 80–87. (in Chinese)
Jia Q M, Sun L F, Wang J J, Li J, Ali S, Liu T N, Zhang P, Lian Y H, Din R X, Ren X L, Jia Z K. 2018. Limited irrigation and planting densities for enhanced water productivity and economic returns under the ridge-furrow system in semiarid regions of China. Field Crops Research, 221, 207–218.
Kiani M, Gheysari M, Mostafazadeh-Fard B, Majidi M M, Karchani K, Hoogenboom G. 2016. Effect of the interaction of water and nitrogen on sunflower under drip irrigation in an arid region. Agricultural Water Management, 171, 162–172.
Ku?çu H, Turhan A, Özmen N, Ayd?nol P, Demir A O. 2016. Response of red pepper to deficit irrigation and nitrogen fertigation. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 62, 1396–1410.
Li P Y, He S, Yang N N, Xiang G. 2018. Groundwater quality assessment for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City, Northwest China: implications to sustainable groundwater quality management on the Loess Plateau. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77, 775.
Li T, Zhang J F. 2017. Effect of pit irrigation on soil water content, vigor, and water use efficiency within vineyards in extremely arid regions. Scientia Horticulturae, 218, 30–37.
Liu C W, Kang S Z, Li F S, Li S E, Du T S. 2013. Canopy leaf area index for apple tree using hemispherical photography in arid region. Scientia Horticulturae, 164, 610–615.
Liu H, Duan A W, Li F S, Sun J S, Wang Y C, Sun C T. 2013. Drip irrigation scheduling for tomato grown in solar greenhouse based on pan evaporation in North China Plain. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12, 520–531.
Liu Y, Yang H S, Li J S, Li Y F, Yan H J. 2018. Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17, 677–692.
Lopez G, Boini A, Manfrini L, Torres-Ruiz J M, Pierpaoli E, Zibordi M, Losciale P, Morandi B, Corelli-Grappadelli L. 2018. Effect of shading and water stress on light interception, physiology and yield of apple trees. Agricultural Water Management, 210, 140–148.
Massignam A M, Chapman S C, Hammer G L, Fukai S. 2009. Physiological determinants of maize and sunflower grain yield as affected by nitrogen supply. Field Crops Research, 113, 256–267.
Massoudifar O, Kodjouri F D, Mohammadi G N, Mirhadi M J. 2014. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer levels and irrigation on quality characteristics in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 60, 925–934.
Meszaros M, Belikova H, Conka P, Namestek J. 2019. Effect of hail nets and fertilization management on the nutritional status, growth and production of apple trees. Scientia Horticulturae, 225, 134–144.
Nasseri A. 2018. Energy use and economic analysis for wheat production by conservation tillage along with sprinkler irrigation. Science of the Total Environment, 648, 450–459.
Ookawa T, Naruoka Y, Sayama A, Hirasawa T. 2004. Cytokinin effects ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and nitrogen partitioning in rice during ripening. Crop Science, 44, 2107–2115.
Panigrahi P, Srivastava A K. 2017. Water and nutrient management effects on water use and yield of drip irrigated citrus in vertisol under a sub-humid region. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16, 1184–1194.
Rahimi A, Sayadi F, Dashti H, Tajabadi P A. 2013. Effects of water and nitrogen supply on growth, water-use efficiency and mucilage yield of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk). Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 13, 341–354.
SPBS (Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Statistics). 2016. Shaanxi Statistical Yearbook. China Statistics Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)
Song X L, Wu P T, Zhao X N, Gao X D. 2016. Distribution characteristic of soil moisture and roots in rain-fed old apple orchards with water-fertilizer pit on the Loess Plateau. Transaction of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 34, 121–128. (in Chinese)
Soto F, Gallardo M, Thompson R B, Pena-Fleitas M T, Padilla F M. 2015. Consideration of total available N supply reduces N fertilizer requirement and potential for nitrate leaching loss in tomato production. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 200, 62–70.
Su H, Kang W D, Xu Y J, Wang J D. 2017. Evaluation of groundwater quality and health risks from contamination in the north edge of the Loess Plateau, Yulin City, Northwest China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 76, 467.
Sun Y J, Yan F J, Sun YY, Xu H, Guo X, Yang Z Y, Yin Y Z, Guo C C, Ma J. 2018. Effects of different water regimes and nitrogen application strategies on grain filling characteristics and grain yield in hybrid rice. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 64, 1152–1171.
Tang B Z, Jiao J Y, Yan F C, Li H. 2019. Variations in soil infiltration capacity after vegetation restoration in the hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 19, 1456–1466.
Tian Z W, Ge Y X, Zhu Q, Yu J H, Zhou Q, Cai J, Jiang D, Cao W X, Dai T B. 2019. Soil nitrogen balance and nitrogen utilization of winter wheat affected by straw management and nitrogen application in the Yangtze River Basin of China. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 65, 1–15.
Ul-Allah S, Iqbal M, Maqsood S, Naeem M, Ijaz M, Ishfaq W, Hussain M. 2018. Improving the performance of bread wheat genotypes by managing irrigation and nitrogen under semi-arid conditions. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 64, 1678–1689.
Vilanova C M, Coelho K P, Luz T R S A, Silveira D P B, Coutinho D F, de-Mourab E G. 2018. Effect of different water application rates and nitrogen fertilisation on growth and essential oil of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.). Industrial Crops and Products, 125, 186–197.
Xiao J, Wang L Q, Deng L, Jin Z D. 2019. Characteristics, sources, water quality and health risk assessment of trace elements in river water and well water in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 650, 2004–2012.
Yang Q L, Zhang F C, Li F S. 2011. Effect of different drip irrigation methods and fertilization on growth, physiology and water use of young apple tree. Scientia Horticulturae, 129, 119–126.
Zhang K, Yi X N, Liu Y, Wang F L. 2010. Effects of sand-covering on apple trees transpiration and fruit quality in dry land orchards of Longdong, Gansu. Journal of Applied Ecology, 21, 2755–2762.
Zhang L J, Wang Y K, Xin X G, Li H Y. 2010. Appropriate surge-root irrigation layout and irrigation norm of jujube on mountain land. Journal of Northwest A&F University, 38, 211–217. (in Chinese)
Zhang M M, Dong B D, Qiao Y Z, Shi C H, Yang H, Wang Y K, Liu M Y. 2018. Yield and water use responses of winter wheat to irrigation and nitrogen application in the North China Plain. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17, 1194–1206.
Zhang Y J, Wang S L, Wang H, Wang R, Wang X L, Li J. 2019. Crop yield and soil properties of dryland winter wheat-spring maize rotation in response to 10-year fertilization and conservation tillage practices on the Loess Plateau. Field Crops Research, 225, 170–179.
Zhong Y, Fei L J, Li Y B, Zeng J, Dai Z G. 2019. Response of fruit yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency to water deficits for apple trees under surge-root irrigation in the Loess Plateau of China. Agricultural Water Management, 222, 221–230.
Zhou B Y, Sun X F, Wang D, Ding Z S, Li C F, Ma W, Zhao M. 2019. Integrated agronomic practice increases maize grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency under various soil fertility conditions. Crop Journal, 7, 527–538.
Zotarelli L, Dukes M D, Scholberg J M, Hanselman T, Le Femminella K, Munoz-Carpena R. 2008. Nitrogen and water use efficiency of zucchini squash for a plastic mulch bed system on a sandy soil. Scientia Horticulturae, 116, 8–16.
Zotarelli L, Scholberg J M, Dukes M D, Munoz-Carpena R, Icerman J. 2009. Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling. Agricultural Water Management, 96, 23–34.
[1] TIAN Jin-yu, LI Shao-ping, CHENG Shuang, LIU Qiu-yuan, ZHOU Lei, TAO Yu, XING Zhi-peng, HU Ya-jie, GUO Bao-wei, WEI Hai-yan, ZHANG Hong-cheng. Increasing the appropriate seedling density for higher yield in dry direct-seeded rice sown by a multifunctional seeder after wheat-straw return[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(2): 400-416.
[2] YANG Wen-jia, LI Yu-lin, LIU Wei-jian, WANG Shi-wen, YIN Li-na, DENG Xi-ping. Agronomic management practices in dryland wheat result in variations in precipitation use efficiency due to their differential impacts on the steps in the precipitation use process[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(1): 92-107.
[3] JIANG Hui, GAO Ming-wei, CHEN Ying, ZHANG Chao, WANG Jia-bao, CHAI Qi-chao, WANG Yong-cui, ZHENG Jin-xiu, WANG Xiu-li, ZHAO Jun-sheng. Effect of the L-D1 alleles on leaf morphology, canopy structure and photosynthetic productivity in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(1): 108-119.
[4] LI Teng, ZHANG Xue-peng, LIU Qing, LIU Jin, CHEN Yuan-quan, SUI Peng. Yield penalty of maize (Zea mays L.) under heat stress in different growth stages: A review[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(9): 2465-2476.
[5] TIAN Chang, SUN Ming-xue, ZHOU Xuan, LI Juan, XIE Gui-xian, YANG Xiang-dong, PENG Jian-wei. Increase in yield and nitrogen use efficiency of double rice with long-term application of controlled-release urea[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(7): 2106-2118.
[6] LI Rui, CHAI Shou-xi, CHAI Yu-wei, LI Ya-wei, CHANG Lei, CHENG Hong-bo. Straw strips mulching: A sustainable technology of saving water and improving efficiency in dryland winter wheat production[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(12): 3556-3568.
[7] XIE Jun, Blagodatskaya EVGENIA, ZHANG Yu, WAN Yu, HU Qi-juan, ZHANG Cheng-ming, WANG Jie, ZHANG Yue-qiang, SHI Xiao-jun. Substituting nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer with optimal amount of crop straw improved rice grain yield, nutrient use efficiency and soil carbon sequestration[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3345-3355.
[8] Ebrahim ROOHI, Reza MOHAMMADI, Abdoul Aziz NIANE, Javad VAFABAKHSH, Mozaffar ROUSTAEE, Mohammad Reza JALAL KAMALI, Shahriar SOHRABI, Shahriar FATEHI, Hossain TARIMORADI. Genotype×tillage interaction and the performance of winter bread wheat genotypes in temperate and cold dryland conditions[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(11): 3199-3215.
[9] LIU Xue-jing, YIN Bao-zhong, HU Zhao-hui, BAO Xiao-yuan, WANG Yan-dong, ZHEN Wen-chao. Physiological response of flag leaf and yield formation of winter wheat under different spring restrictive irrigation regimes in the Haihe Plain, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(9): 2343-2359.
[10] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, HENG Li, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua. Effects of plant density and mepiquat chloride application on cotton boll setting in wheat–cotton double cropping system[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(9): 2372-2381.
[11] LIU Zheng-chun, WANG Chao, BI Ru-tian, ZHU Hong-fen, HE Peng, JING Yao-dong, YANG Wu-de. Winter wheat yield estimation based on assimilated Sentinel-2 images with the CERES-Wheat model[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1958-1968.
[12] YAO Bo, HE Hai-bing, XU Hao-cong, ZHU Tie-zhong, LIU Tao, KE Jian, YOU Cui-cui, ZHU De-quan, WU Li-quan. Determining nitrogen status and quantifying nitrogen fertilizer requirement using a critical nitrogen dilution curve for hybrid indica rice under mechanical pot-seedling transplanting pattern[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(6): 1474-1486.
[13] ZHAI Li-chao, Lü Li-hua, DONG Zhi-qiang, ZHANG Li-hua, ZHANG Jing-ting, JIA Xiu-ling, ZHANG Zheng-bin. The water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation for winter wheat production on the North China Plain[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(6): 1687-1700.
[14] WANG Yi-bo, HUANG Rui-dong, ZHOU Yu-fei. Effects of shading stress during the reproductive stages on photosynthetic physiology and yield characteristics of peanut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.)[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(5): 1250-1265.
[15] WU Yang, BIAN Shao-feng, LIU Zhi-ming, WANG Li-chun, WANG Yong-jun, XU Wen-hua, ZHOU Yu. Drip irrigation incorporating water conservation measures: Effects on soil water–nitrogen utilization, root traits and grain production of spring maize in semi-arid areas[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(12): 3127-3142.
No Suggested Reading articles found!