Ridge–furrow–ridge Rainwater Harvesting System with Mulches and Supplemental Irrigation

Abstract

<jats:p>New ridge–furrow–ridge rainwater-harvesting (RFRRH) system with mulches has been promoted in agricultural production to improve economic potential for high-value plant production. In this system, plastic mulch covers two ridges and the furrow between them, which serves as the rainwater-harvesting zone. To test this system more effectively, a field study using purple coneflower (<jats:italic>Echinacea purpurea</jats:italic> Moench) as an indicator crop was conducted to determine the effect of the RFRRH system with or without a covering of two different types of polyethylene mulches and with or without supplemental irrigation on soil water content, crop yield, and time dedicated to weed control during the growing seasons of 2007 and 2008. In the non-irrigated plots, the results showed significantly higher soil water content during dry periods at the beginning of plant growth in the mulch-covered RFRRH system in comparison with the control (uncovered ridges). In comparison with the control, the mulch-covered RFRRH system significantly increased yield and reduced time dedicated to weed control. In the event of a rainfall deficiency, the mulch-covered RFRRH system enabled simple supplemental irrigation, using an agricultural vacuum tanker, by flooding the polyethylene mulch-covered furrow with hardly any ridge erosion. However, in only 1 year did supplemental irrigation significantly increase yield.</jats:p>

Mulching as a Sustainable Water and Soil Saving Practice in Agriculture: A Review

“…It may raise the temperature around the plants at night in winter due to its higher permeability to long-wave radiation. As a result, polyethylene film mulch is recommended as a mulching material for horticultural crop cultivation [35]. Throughout the 1960s, a variety of plastic films based on various types of polymers were examined for mulching purposes.…”

Using Irrigation to Manage Weeds: A Focus on Drip Irrigation

“…A variant on the typical furrow irrigation system has been developed that combines furrow irrigation with polyethylene mulches and rainwater collection to irrigate crops, while controlling weeds. The production method, called the "ridge-furrow-ridge rainwater harvesting system," uses woven, water-permeable, polyethylene mulches that cover two ridges as well as a shallow furrow between the ridges [29,30]. The system is similar to a raised-bed plastic mulch system, with inter-row areas being left in bare soil.…”

“…However, unlike a traditional plastic mulch system, a furrow is made in the center of the raised bed to collect any rainwater that ordinarily would be lost as runoff from the bed. This system significantly reduces weed pressure in the furrow area and increases yield with the use of a polyethylene mulch, while reducing the need for supplemental irrigation by collecting rainwater [29]. Interestingly, a similar method of irrigation was employed during early experiments with plastic mulch, prior to the introduction of drip irrigation tubing.…”

Impact of ridge–furrow water harvesting system on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production under rainfed conditions in Matrouh, Egypt

“…The planting zone can be covered in order to prevent the evaporation from the soil as illustrated by Li and Gong (2002), Li et al (2013Li et al ( , 2000, Zhou et al (2009), andXiaili et al (2012) or by using supplemental irrigation (Xiao et al, 2007;Gosar and Baricevic, 2011) during different periods of plant growth; or using both practices (Wang et al, 2009(Wang et al, , 2011.…”