Developing a physiological-based, on-demand irrigation system for container production

Amy F. Fulcher; Jack W. Buxton; Robert L. Geneve

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030

Developing a physiological-based, on-demand irrigation system for container production

Amy F. Fulcher, Jack W. Buxton, Robert L. Geneve

Horticulture

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

A demand-based irrigation system was developed for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cashmere Wind' based on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture level (moisture response curve). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the premise that biomass would decrease only when substrate moisture levels caused a significant reduction in photosynthetic rate. Irrigation set points were based on the moisture response curve and corresponded to 49, 41, 30, and 22m ³m ^-3 volumetric water content (89-61% container capacity). Gas exchange and leaf water potential were greater for plants in the three wettest irrigation treatments. Plants under these treatments used 1.4, 1.2, and 1.05 times more water during the experiment than plants in the driest treatment. Biomass metrics were generally unaffected by treatments or were greater for one or both intermediate treatments. This research demonstrates that a demand-based irrigation system with a physiological basis (predicated on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture potential) could be an effective biorational approach for scheduling irrigation and reducing water consumption in container-grown nursery crops.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	221-226
Number of pages	6
Journal	Scientia Horticulturae
Volume	138
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030
State	Published - May 1 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Richard S. Gates, Joey Norikane, Doug Archbold, Dewayne Ingram, Sharon Kester, Amy Poston, Leah Dougherty, and Chlodys Johnstone and financial support from the University of Kentucky New Crop Opportunities Center and the University of Kentucky Nursery Landscape mini-grant.

Keywords

Evapotranspiration
Hibiscus
Nursery crop
Woody plant

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Horticulture

Access to Document

10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030

Cite this

@article{b9fd894c5cf343dc887999670d3d443f,

title = "Developing a physiological-based, on-demand irrigation system for container production",

abstract = "A demand-based irrigation system was developed for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cashmere Wind' based on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture level (moisture response curve). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the premise that biomass would decrease only when substrate moisture levels caused a significant reduction in photosynthetic rate. Irrigation set points were based on the moisture response curve and corresponded to 49, 41, 30, and 22m 3m -3 volumetric water content (89-61% container capacity). Gas exchange and leaf water potential were greater for plants in the three wettest irrigation treatments. Plants under these treatments used 1.4, 1.2, and 1.05 times more water during the experiment than plants in the driest treatment. Biomass metrics were generally unaffected by treatments or were greater for one or both intermediate treatments. This research demonstrates that a demand-based irrigation system with a physiological basis (predicated on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture potential) could be an effective biorational approach for scheduling irrigation and reducing water consumption in container-grown nursery crops.",

keywords = "Evapotranspiration, Hibiscus, Nursery crop, Woody plant",

author = "Fulcher, {Amy F.} and Buxton, {Jack W.} and Geneve, {Robert L.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Richard S. Gates, Joey Norikane, Doug Archbold, Dewayne Ingram, Sharon Kester, Amy Poston, Leah Dougherty, and Chlodys Johnstone and financial support from the University of Kentucky New Crop Opportunities Center and the University of Kentucky Nursery Landscape mini-grant.",

year = "2012",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030",

language = "English",

volume = "138",

pages = "221--226",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing a physiological-based, on-demand irrigation system for container production

AU - Fulcher, Amy F.

AU - Buxton, Jack W.

AU - Geneve, Robert L.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Richard S. Gates, Joey Norikane, Doug Archbold, Dewayne Ingram, Sharon Kester, Amy Poston, Leah Dougherty, and Chlodys Johnstone and financial support from the University of Kentucky New Crop Opportunities Center and the University of Kentucky Nursery Landscape mini-grant.

PY - 2012/5/1

Y1 - 2012/5/1

N2 - A demand-based irrigation system was developed for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cashmere Wind' based on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture level (moisture response curve). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the premise that biomass would decrease only when substrate moisture levels caused a significant reduction in photosynthetic rate. Irrigation set points were based on the moisture response curve and corresponded to 49, 41, 30, and 22m 3m -3 volumetric water content (89-61% container capacity). Gas exchange and leaf water potential were greater for plants in the three wettest irrigation treatments. Plants under these treatments used 1.4, 1.2, and 1.05 times more water during the experiment than plants in the driest treatment. Biomass metrics were generally unaffected by treatments or were greater for one or both intermediate treatments. This research demonstrates that a demand-based irrigation system with a physiological basis (predicated on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture potential) could be an effective biorational approach for scheduling irrigation and reducing water consumption in container-grown nursery crops.

AB - A demand-based irrigation system was developed for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cashmere Wind' based on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture level (moisture response curve). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the premise that biomass would decrease only when substrate moisture levels caused a significant reduction in photosynthetic rate. Irrigation set points were based on the moisture response curve and corresponded to 49, 41, 30, and 22m 3m -3 volumetric water content (89-61% container capacity). Gas exchange and leaf water potential were greater for plants in the three wettest irrigation treatments. Plants under these treatments used 1.4, 1.2, and 1.05 times more water during the experiment than plants in the driest treatment. Biomass metrics were generally unaffected by treatments or were greater for one or both intermediate treatments. This research demonstrates that a demand-based irrigation system with a physiological basis (predicated on the relationship between photosynthesis and substrate moisture potential) could be an effective biorational approach for scheduling irrigation and reducing water consumption in container-grown nursery crops.

KW - Evapotranspiration

KW - Hibiscus

KW - Nursery crop

KW - Woody plant

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858720432&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84858720432&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030

DO - 10.1016/j.scienta.2012.02.030

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84858720432

SN - 0304-4238

VL - 138

SP - 221

EP - 226

JO - Scientia Horticulturae

JF - Scientia Horticulturae

ER -

Developing a physiological-based, on-demand irrigation system for container production

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this