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Patiern of Upward Soil Water Flux to Meet Evaporative Demand of Maize in Deep Water Table

A. A. Hassan
Agricultural Engineering Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, P.O.Box 4, Mymensingh 2200, Bangladesh

A. A. Sarkar
Agricultural Engineering Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, P.O.Box 4, Mymensingh 2200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Field experiments were conducted in 1991-92 and 1992-93 at the Experimental Farm of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) , Mymensingh to evaluate the pattern and rate of upward soil water flux towards evaporative demand (E_t) by growing maize (Zea maize L.) in bottomed and bottomless drums sunk in a maize field. Maize was irrigated in drums and field at 60 percent depletion of available water in both the years. The depth of water table observed varied from 5.61 to 10.62 meter in both the years. Irrigation, rainfall and stored soil moisture were the only sources to fulfill E_t in bottomed drum whereas in bottomless drums and field upward soil water flux was the additional sources along with the above mentioned three sources. The differences in E_t , measured between the two drums were the upward soil water flux from below the root zone. Upward soil water flux contributed about 40 percent and 66 percent of the total E_t amounting to 317.3 and 627.35 mm in 1991-92 and 1992-93, respectively.

Keywords: Zea mays, Agronomic characters, Groundwater, Bangladesh.

Location: The experimental farm, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Myrnensingh

Start Date: 00-12-1992

End Date: 00-05-1993

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Groundwater

Objectives:

1. To evaluate the amount and rate of upward soil water flux that could meet up evaporative demand of maize. The mechanism of exploiting stored saturated soil water in deeper layer will also assist in planning schedule of irrigation to avoid water loss through deep percolation.

Methodology:

A drum culture experiment was conducted for two years during the dry seasons (December-May) of 1991-92 and 1992-93 at the experimental farm of the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Myrnensingh, Bangladesh, to quantify the amount of water contributed by the upward soil water flux to meet the evapotranspiration need of maize. The experimental soil belonged to the Old Brahrnrnaputra flood plain and texturally the soil was sandy loam to loam, having about 39.65 to 79.34 percent silt and 12.06 to 22.06 percent clay. Maize was grown in drums (50 cm height and 25 cm dia ) with and without bottoms replicated thrice in a completely randomized design in a 20 x 10 meter maize field. The drums were sunk in field soil in two rows at 150 cm distance and at 100 cm distance from drum to drum. The soil profile in the drum was maintained similarly as in the field. Maize seeds were sown in drums and fields in the middle of February and December in 1991-92 and 1992-93, respectively. After germination, a single but best plant was kept for the experiment. Soil moisture was monitored in each case at sowing, before and after irrigation and at harvest by a neutron moisture meter 3300 series. depth moisture gauge. Water table depths were measured by water level recorder from an observation well installed at the periphery of the experimental field. Irrigation water was applied at 60 percent depletion of available water upto field capacity for both types of treatments. Water applied artificially in the bottomed drum was the only water source for the plants; as the upward movement of water from below the root zone was restricted by the bottom of the drum. But in bottomless drum there was no barrier for upward water movement from the lower layer. Hence, there the plants extracted the required moisture from lower layer through capillary upward flux. The differences in evapotranspiration (E_t) under these two types of drum represent the amount of water contributed through upward flux in the bottomless drums. E_t, was measured by the water balance equation.

Source of Information: J. Agric. Res. (Pakistan), 1997, 35(1-2)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The mechanism by which crop can exploit stored soil water reserve from deeper layers depends on the hydraulic gradient (tension between maximum root activity and below root zone) and soil water content.

Knowledge Management: Journal