Application of drip irrigation and EC measurements for precision farming in vegetable farms – primary result

Rok, strany: 2018, 157 - 161

Water and nitrogen are considered as the main limiting factors for growing vegetables in Bulgaria. Appropriate drip irrigation and fertigation are effective methods for enhancing water and nutrient use efficiency in vegetable farming that can reduce the risk of nutrient leaching. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) is acknowledged as an easily measured but reliable indicator for nutrient distribution in soil that influences crop productivity. The aim of presented study was to examine the applicability of EC measurement as a rapid indicator for optimization of fertigation parameters and crop positioning to the irrigation line. The investigations were conducted on alluvial sandy to loamy soils having coarse texture, low humus content and slightly acidic pH. One-year experiment with zucchini using drip irrigation and tree fertilizer treatments was carried out. Soil samples were taken to assess spatial distributions of EC the down profile. In addition, soil water content, salt content and EC were monitored using ProCheck Decagon devices. The results showed that the soluble salts (nitrate) distributions in the soil were readily evaluated by the EC measurements. During fertigation, dissolved salts moved laterally and vertically. Accordingly, the EC measurements also differed apparently up to 40 cm from irrigation line. As a result, the conducted experiments allowed corrections of the applied irrigation and the fertilizer rates, and the location of irrigation lines to the vegetable plants. Finally, the application modern measuring techniques in the field was essential to advance the irrigated vegetable farming.

ISO 690:

Koutev, V., Himmelbauer, M., Venelinov, M., Jekova, Y. 2018. Application of drip irrigation and EC measurements for precision farming in vegetable farms – primary result. In Acta Hydrologica Slovaca, vol. 19, no.1, pp. 157-161. 2644-4690.

APA:

Koutev, V., Himmelbauer, M., Venelinov, M., Jekova, Y. (2018). Application of drip irrigation and EC measurements for precision farming in vegetable farms – primary result. Acta Hydrologica Slovaca, 19(1), 157-161. 2644-4690.