Winter Irrigation Effects in Cotton Fields in Arid Inland Irrigated Areas in the North of the Tarim Basin, China

Abstract

Abstract:Winter irrigation is one of the water and salt management practices widely adopted in arid irrigated areas in the Tarim Basin located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. A winter irrigation study was carried out from November 2013 to March 2014 in Korla City. A cotton field was divided into 18 plots with a size of 3 mˆ3 m and five winter irrigation treatments (1200 m 3 /ha, 1800 m 3 /ha, 2400 m 3 /ha, 3000 m 3 /ha, and 3600 m 3 /ha) and one non-irrigation as a control were designed. The results showed that the higher winter irrigation volumes allowed the significant short-term difference after the irrigation in the fields with the higher soil moisture content. Therefore, the soil moisture in the next sowing season could be maintained at the level which was slightly lower than field capacity and four times that in the non-irrigation treatment. The desalination effect of winter irrigation increased with the increase of water irrigation volume, but its efficiency decreased with the increase of water irrigation volume. The desalination effect was characterized by short-term desalination, long-term salt accumulation, and the time-dependent gradually decreasing trend. During the winter irrigation period, air temperature was the most important external influencing factor of the soil temperature. During the period of the decrease in winter temperatures from December to January, soil temperature in the 5-cm depth showed no significant difference in all the treatments and the control. However, during the period of rising temperatures from January to March, soil temperature in the control increased significantly, faster than that in all treatments. Under the same irrigation volume, the temperature difference between the upper soil layer and the lower soil layer increased during the temperature drop period and decreased during the temperature rise period. In this paper, we proposed the proper winter irrigation volume of 1800-3000 m 3 /ha and suggested that the irrigation timing should be delayed to early December or performed in several stages in the fields with the drainage system. Under the current strict water management and fixed water supply quota situation, the methods are of great practical significance.

Winter Irrigation Effects on Soil Moisture, Temperature and Salinity, and on Cotton Growth in Salinized Fields in Northern Xinjiang, China

“…When the winter irrigation rate was greater than 3600 m 3 •hm −2 , the moisture content of soil layer 0-100 cm increased by more than 20% and the desalination exceeded 40%. This conclusion was consistent with the research results proposed by Zhang et al [33] that a winter irrigation rate of 3600 m 3 •hm −2 can provide a suitable water and salt environment for cotton seedling emergence in the following year, whereas Yang et al [17] proposed that the appropriate winter irrigation rate for cotton fields in southern Xinjiang should be 1800-3600 m 3 •hm −2 , and Li et al [34] indicated that the total irrigation rate should be within 3750 m 3 •hm −2 for the winter and spring irrigation in southern Xinjiang. The winter irrigation rate concluded from the present study was slightly higher than the optimal winter irrigation rate of 3000 m 3 •hm −2 for cotton fields in northern Xinjiang proposed by Chen et al [35] and Mou et al [16].…”

“…Mu et al [16] studied the effects of irrigation methods and winter irrigation rates on the soil water content, temperature, and salinity in cotton fields under drip irrigation in northern Xinjiang, and concluded that the effect on water content and salt leaching of a high rate of winter irrigation was particularly effective, with the optimum winter irrigation rate under drip irrigation mode being 3000 m 3 •hm −2 ; under these conditions, the impact of winter irrigation on soil water and salt concentration could reach a depth of 300 cm. Yang et al [17] demonstrated that, as the winter irrigation rate increased, the soil salt leaching effect was enhanced, but irrigation water-use efficiency was reduced, with the optimal winter irrigation rates on cotton fields in southern Xinjiang being 1800-3600 m 3 •hm −2 . Liu et al [18] applied winter irrigation to jujube (Ziziphus jujube) plantations in southern Xinjiang and reported that drip irrigation in winter at a rate of 3150 m 3 •hm −2 could significantly increase soil water content and salt leaching, increase the survival rate of the jujube trees the following year, and promote their growth and development.…”

Effects of winter irrigation on soil salinity and jujube growth in arid regions

“…Chen et al [12] used a revised ENVIRO-GRO model to show that flood irrigation with a large amount of water after harvest can efficiently and significantly reduce salt accumulation within the top soil profile. Similarly, Yang et al [18] reported that winter irrigation is one of the water and salt management practices widely adopted in arid irrigated areas and that the strength of the desalination effect of winter irrigation increased with increasing water irrigation volume. Zhong et al [16] recommended that winter irrigation should be carried out when the ground begins to freeze at night but thaws during the day and reported that the beneficial effects of winter irrigation arise mainly from the washing away of salts, which decreases salinity.…”

Optimal Irrigation Mode and Spatio-Temporal Variability Characteristics of Soil Moisture Content in Different Growth Stages of Winter Wheat

“…Soil moisture, especially soil water in the topsoil, is one of the controlling factors for hydrological, meteorological, and ecological processes [6]. The stability of soil moisture content, irrigation volumes, and the appropriate timing of irrigation are critical for developing effective agricultural water management practices and improving agricultural water use efficiency [7]. For winter wheat growth stages, there are different levels of sensitivity to water demands in the tillering, jointing, heading, milky dough, and harvest stages across the entire winter wheat growth season.…”