Abstract
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the United States. Results from previous studies have shown that it is possible to substantially reduce irrigation amounts and maintain corn yield. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two irrigation scheduling methods for corn production in Alabama. Two irrigation scheduling methods evaluated were: a) Checkbook, which is one of the conventional methods used by farmers that is based on the soil water balance estimated using water lost by evapotranspiration and its replacement through rainfall or irrigation, and b) Sensor-based, which was based on soil matric potential values recorded by soil moisture tension sensors installed in the field. The experimental field was divided into two irrigation management zones (zone A and zone B) based on soil properties of each field. During the 2014 season in zone A, significant grain yield differences were observed between the two irrigation methods. The Checkbook plots exhibited greater yield than Sensor-based plots: 10181 kg ha-1 and 9696 kg ha-1, respectively. The greater yield on the Checkbook plots could be associated with higher irrigation rate applied, 148 mm more, compared with the Sensor-based plots. In zone B, there were no significant yield differences between both irrigation methods; however, Sensor-based plots out yielded Checkbook plots, with 9673 kg ha-1 and 9584 kg ha-1, respectively. Even though the irrigation amount applied in Checkbook located in zone B was higher, 102 mm more, there were no significant yield differences. Therefore, it suggests that the Sensor-based method was promissory irrigation scheduling strategy under the conditions of zone B. In 2015, there were no significant grain yield differences between zone A and zone B when the data from the Checkbook plots were analyzed. However, the Sensor-based treatment produced a statistically significant difference of grain yield of 13597 kg ha-1 in zone A and 11659 kg ha-1 in zone B, also both zones received the same amount of irrigation. Overall results of both growing seasons indicated that the use of the Sensor-based irrigation scheduling treatment resulted in similar values of total profit per hectare when compared to Checkbook method. The Sensor-based method seems a promising strategy that could result in water and financial savings, but more research is required.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
In 2014 zone A, Checkbook grain yield exceeded Sensor-based yield significantly.
- Taxon
- Corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Treatment
- Checkbooke0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- 10181 kg ha-1e0
- Qualifier
- 9696 kg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- Sensor-basede0
- Setting
- zone Ae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“During the 2014 season in zone A, significant grain yield differences were observed between the two irrigation methods. The Checkbook plots exhibited greater yield than Sensor-based plots: 10181 kg ha-1 and 9696 kg ha-1, respectively”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Checkbook irrigation in zone A applied 148 mm more than Sensor-based irrigation.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Checkbooke1
- Outcome
- irrigation ratee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 148 mme0
- Comparator
- Sensor-basede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher irrigation rate applied, 148 mm more, compared with the Sensor-based plots”
e1“The Checkbook plots exhibited greater yield”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2014 zone B, Sensor-based yield exceeded Checkbook yield without a significant difference.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Sensor-basede0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- out yieldede0
- Value
- 9673 kg ha-1e0
- Qualifier
- 9584 kg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- Checkbooke0
- Setting
- zone Be0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In zone B, there were no significant yield differences between both irrigation methods; however, Sensor-based plots out yielded Checkbook plots, with 9673 kg ha-1 and 9584 kg ha-1, respectively”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Checkbook irrigation in zone B applied 102 mm more irrigation.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Checkbooke0
- Outcome
- irrigation amounte0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 102 mme0
- Comparator
- Sensor-basede1
- Setting
- zone Be0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“irrigation amount applied in Checkbook located in zone B was higher, 102 mm more”
e1“Sensor-based plots out yielded Checkbook plots”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2015, Checkbook grain yield did not differ significantly between zones A and B.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Checkbooke0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- no significante0
- Comparator
- zone Be0
- Setting
- zone Ae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In 2015, there were no significant grain yield differences between zone A and zone B when the data from the Checkbook plots were analyzed”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2015, Sensor-based yield in zone A significantly exceeded zone B.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Value
- 13597 kg ha-1e0
- Qualifier
- 11659 kg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- zone Be0
- Setting
- zone Ae0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sensor-based treatment produced a statistically significant difference of grain yield of 13597 kg ha-1 in zone A and 11659 kg ha-1 in zone B”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Sensor-based and Checkbook irrigation produced similar total profit per hectare across seasons.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Sensor-based irrigation scheduling treatmente0
- Outcome
- total profit per hectaree0
- Direction
- similare0
- Comparator
- Checkbook methode0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“use of the Sensor-based irrigation scheduling treatment resulted in similar values of total profit per hectare when compared to Checkbook method”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors consider Sensor-based scheduling promising for water and financial savings, pending further research.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- Sensor-based methode0
- Outcome
- water and financial savingse0
- Qualifier
- more research is requirede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Sensor-based method seems a promising strategy that could result in water and financial savings, but more research is required”
t0“Corn”