Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards

The present work was carried out in northern Tunisia (36°40’ N, 10°16’ E) during a single growing season in order to examine how water is distributed within young drip-irrigated olive orchards on the basis of distance to trunk and depth. Soil water content was measured by using a time domain reflect...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: C. Masmoudi Charfi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Firenze University Press 2012-12-01
Series:Advances in Horticultural Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ahs/article/view/2985
_version_ 1818884135755710464
author C. Masmoudi Charfi
author_facet C. Masmoudi Charfi
author_sort C. Masmoudi Charfi
collection DOAJ
description The present work was carried out in northern Tunisia (36°40’ N, 10°16’ E) during a single growing season in order to examine how water is distributed within young drip-irrigated olive orchards on the basis of distance to trunk and depth. Soil water content was measured by using a time domain reflectometer (TDR) and a neutron probe calibrated by concurrently measuring soil water content gravimetrically. Measurements were made below the canopies, along the line of drippers and out of the projected canopy area, at distances of 1.4 m, 2.2 m, 2.8 m and 4.2 m from trunks (Compartments G1, G2, G3 and G4), taking into account the heterogeneous distribution of roots. Results showed significant and positive correlations between the series of data collected simultaneously with the PVC and aluminum access tubes and those collected using the different methods and apparatus, demonstrating that any device may be employed, depending only on their availability. Results showed significant changes in soil water contents and stocks according to the season, depth and distance to trunk. During the rainy period, the stocks of water increased homogeneously within all soil compartments, but varied consistently during the dry season with lower values recorded within the upper soil layers. The area situated at 4.2 m from trunks was the driest in summer but it was the wettest during the rainy period. No roots were found at this distance while maximum root densities were observed at 0.4 m from trunk within the upper layers. The lack of water recorded after June affected tree height and fruit growth rates, although irrigation application was sufficient to meet the seasonal crop water needs.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T15:44:44Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d93cfb3e7b644aa186ed3500b09e59d7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0394-6169
1592-1573
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T15:44:44Z
publishDate 2012-12-01
publisher Firenze University Press
record_format Article
series Advances in Horticultural Science
spelling doaj.art-d93cfb3e7b644aa186ed3500b09e59d72022-12-21T20:15:22ZengFirenze University PressAdvances in Horticultural Science0394-61691592-15732012-12-01263-410.13128/ahs-22668Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchardsC. Masmoudi Charfi0Olive Tree Institute, 17 Avenue Ahmed Tlili, 1004 El Menzah V, CarnoyThe present work was carried out in northern Tunisia (36°40’ N, 10°16’ E) during a single growing season in order to examine how water is distributed within young drip-irrigated olive orchards on the basis of distance to trunk and depth. Soil water content was measured by using a time domain reflectometer (TDR) and a neutron probe calibrated by concurrently measuring soil water content gravimetrically. Measurements were made below the canopies, along the line of drippers and out of the projected canopy area, at distances of 1.4 m, 2.2 m, 2.8 m and 4.2 m from trunks (Compartments G1, G2, G3 and G4), taking into account the heterogeneous distribution of roots. Results showed significant and positive correlations between the series of data collected simultaneously with the PVC and aluminum access tubes and those collected using the different methods and apparatus, demonstrating that any device may be employed, depending only on their availability. Results showed significant changes in soil water contents and stocks according to the season, depth and distance to trunk. During the rainy period, the stocks of water increased homogeneously within all soil compartments, but varied consistently during the dry season with lower values recorded within the upper soil layers. The area situated at 4.2 m from trunks was the driest in summer but it was the wettest during the rainy period. No roots were found at this distance while maximum root densities were observed at 0.4 m from trunk within the upper layers. The lack of water recorded after June affected tree height and fruit growth rates, although irrigation application was sufficient to meet the seasonal crop water needs.https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ahs/article/view/2985evapotranspirationneutron probe calibrationroot density
spellingShingle C. Masmoudi Charfi
Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
Advances in Horticultural Science
evapotranspiration
neutron probe calibration
root density
title Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
title_full Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
title_fullStr Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
title_short Quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip-irrigated olive orchards
title_sort quantitative analysis of soil water content in young drip irrigated olive orchards
topic evapotranspiration
neutron probe calibration
root density
url https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ahs/article/view/2985
work_keys_str_mv AT cmasmoudicharfi quantitativeanalysisofsoilwatercontentinyoungdripirrigatedoliveorchards