Training Farm Desmons Crop Water Management Dr Ajay

8/9/2019 Training Farm Desmons Crop Water Management Dr Ajay

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AWATT Workshop on Water efficiency

and plant protection management for highvalue crop production

Dr. Ajay K JhaColorado State University

August 8-12

FAO Building, Kabul

Research and Demonstration

Appropriate TechnologyDissemination

Soil, Water Use andCrop Production

Soil, Plant and water: Agronomic Best Practices for

Sustainability of small farm production

Learning will occur by discovery and hands on

practical understanding

Emphasis on cropping systems

Natural Resources Evaluation

Soil, water, climate, and plants

Human Resources Evaluation

Labor needs and supply, knowledge and experience

Market Evaluation and Trends in other parts of the

world and neighboring countries

Demonstrations a way to promote new

technologies.

Adoption and dissemination of agronomic

practices are the hardest steps in extension work

Adoption of new management and production

practices is key in maintaining profitable farming

operations

Even if information is readily available, many

farmers may be reluctant to adopt new

methodology directly from research sources

A very large disconnect exists between thetransfer of information from researcher to

producers

How You Will Learn ?

Personal discovery and research

You need to ask a lot of questions

Group discussion

,instructors, and participants

Everyone must be involved

Presentations

All course participants will give a presentation duringthe course for their plan on demonstration andtechnology transfer.

Lesson Learned from Last

Workshop

The plans of 4 group plans are?

New 5th group

Level of understanding on irrigation methods and

Lesson Learned from Last

Workshop

water management at field level

Small farm adoption of irrigation system and

evaluation of ongoing activity

Learning, evaluation of technology, adoption at

research and on farm site and strategy for

dissemination


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How Will Work

Each group will beassigned to adapt

technology in their

IndividualGroup

demonstration

Soil and WaterResources

Soil fertility

CropManagement

Plants andplanting

BusinessManagement

Labor

dissemination strategy

to farmers field and

measure success

through the

replication of these

farms.

Water andirrigation

Crop rotations

Pestmanagement

Harvest andStorage

Marketing

Accounting

How the Group Plan will work

Group will meet every month after workshop and

work on their demonstration planConnect with AWATT Farm Manager Naqib

Re lication and sustainabilit is im ortant fordemonstration and tech transfer

The group will give a short overview of theirtechnology adoption and dissemination strategy at theend each cropping season.

On-farm demo at farmers plots of each group needs tobe connected with AWATT Badham BaghDemonstration and other regional farm

Adoption and dissemination of

technologies at Farmers plot

Owner:

Location:

Type of farm:

What crops? Irrigation

systems and methods,

plant protection

Strategy of disseminations ra egy

How to monitor and

evaluate? What

intervention required

and when?

Assignment of SpecializationsOn farm

demonstration

Soil and WaterResources

CropManagement

Plants and

BusinessManagement

Soil fertility

Water andirrigation

planting

Crop rotations

Pestmanagement

Harvest and

Storage

Labor

Marketing

Accounting

Assignment of Specialization

Group 1: vegetable

production in villages

as kitchen garden.:

Group 4: Drip

irrigation and mulch

(2009),Tomato

certified variety vs.

arwan

Group 2:

Flood/Furrow : Sweet

Corn: Darul Aman

Group 3: Winter

Wheat with flood and

furrow (2009-10-

potato): Bamian

irrigation system

(2009-2010). Qargha

Group 5: new project

decide and present.

Balkh and Nangarhar,

Kapisa and Kabul:

Tomato & other crops

Soil, Water and Nutrition


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Climate

Precipitation

Weathering, leaching

Controls biological activity

Rate control on biochemical activity

Climate influences

vegetation and vegetation influences soil formation

Available water Vs. plant requirement

Biological Activity

Plants

Microorganisms

insects, worms, animals, weeds

Nutrient cycling

Strong interaction with climate!

Feed back loops

Grass prairie>high water capture, little leaching>deep

organic matter accumulation

Topography

Hydrology

Soil movement

Erosion surface

Depositional surface

Microclimate of soil and plant

Time

Profile development

Accumulation

A horizon accumulated

or anicmatter

B horizon accumulates

carbonates, clay, etc.

Losses

A horizons loose clay,

carbonates

Soil properties

Understanding soil properties leads to improved

crop management

Soil texture

Soil structure

Organic matter

Soil texture

Relative amounts of

Sand

Silt

Clay

Controls

Density

Hydraulic properties

American system of soil textural classification

http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/bulkdensity/index.html


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Soil Coloring

Material Chemical Composition Color

Manganese Mn02 Purplish Black

Hematite Fe203 Red

Geothite FeOOH Yellow

Hydrated Ferric Oxide Fe(OH)3*nH20 Red Brown

Calcite CaC03 Whitish

Glauconite KMg(Fe,Al)(SiO3)6.3H2O Greenish

Soil Structure

Formation of soil particles into aggregates

Largely affected by soil management

Important for

Plant growth

Soil water relations

Resistance to soil erosion

Horizonation

Changes in soil properties

with depth

Soil managers must

understand what is below

the surface

Irrigation and hydraulic

properties affected by

textural changes (i.e.:

clay pans)

Organic Matter in Mineral Soils

Air

Mineral

Organic

Water

Small proportion of total soil

Huge impact on soil properties

1/3 or more of cation exchange capacity

Stability of soil aggregates

Energy supply

Nutrient supply

Sources of Soil Organic Matter

Plant residues (roots, shoots)

All other sources are secondary

Microorganisms Bugs, worms

animals


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Organic Matter and Soil Properties

Nutrient retention and supplyWater retention and availability

Cation exchan e ca acit

Buffering capacity

Soil structural development and stability

Biological activity and diversity

C:N Ratios

Typical C:N Ratios

Soil 8:1 to 15:1

10:1 most common

Plants

Legumes 20:1 to 30:1

Small grain straw 100:1

Animal manures20:1 to 30:1

Microbes

4:1 to 9:1

Bacteria lower (more protein) than fungi and others

Cropping Systems and Soil Organic

Matter

Two Controlling Processes

Production of Organic Residues

Decomposition of Residues and Organic Matter

For each element of a system, we must consider how it affects

both processes

For example, how would these affect the processes?

Crop Rotation

Tillage Practices

Fertilizer inputs

Irrigation practices

Crop Rotation and SOM

Plant Species affects SOM in three ways

Amount of Biomass Returned

Harvested parts

ompos t on

Applying Organic Materials to Soils

Livestock manures

Biosolids

Green manures and cover crops

Benefits Chemical and physical affects

Increase soil organic carbon content

Fertility value

Increased microbial activity

Increased crop production

Problems Expensive to transport

Odor

Weed seeds

Toxic compounds/salts

Review Soil Water Principles

MineralPore

Space

Where is water storedin the soil? Pore spaces

Pores vary in size and

Organic

2%

50% s ape micropores

macropores

Water retentiondepends on pore size

Soil texture andstructure determinepore size distribution


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Soil Water

1. Hygroscopic water Microscopic film of water surrounding soil particles

Strong molecular attraction; water cannot be removed by natural forces

Adhesive forces (>31 bars and upto 10,000 bars!)

2. Ca il lar water

Three categories

. Water held by cohesive forces between films of hygroscopic water

Can be removed by air drying or plant absorption

Plants extract capillary water until the soil capillary force is equal to theextractive force Wilting point: soil capillary force > plant extractive force

3. Gravity water Water that moves through the soil by the force of gravity

Field capacity Amount of water held in the soil after excess water has drained

is called the field capacity of the soil.

Irrigation Principles Grain CropsExample - Corn

Know water needs as crop develops

Week Growth Weekly ET (in)

1, 2 -4 leaf .8

3, 4 4-8 leaf 1.4

- .

6 10-12 leaf 1.4

7 12-14 leaf 1.4

8 14-16 leaf 1.5

9 Pollination 2.3

10 Pollination 2.3

11 Grain Fill 1.8

12 Grain Fill 1.8

13 Grain Fill 1.8

14 Grain Fill 1.7

15 Grain Fill 1.7

16, 17 Maturity 3.2

Irrigation Scheduling

Irrigation scheduling is the decision of when and

how much water to apply to a field.

Irrigation scheduling saves water and energy.

Indicators

All irrigation scheduling procedures consist of

monitoring indicators that determine the need for

irrigation.

Scheduling Methods

Hand feel method

Distribute NRCS Feel Method Handout

Practice if time allows

Gravimetric Soil Moisture Sample

Tensiometers

Demonstration

Water budget approach

Typical available water holding

capacities based on soil texture.

Table 1: Typical available water holding capacities based on

soil texture.

Te xtural c lasses Avail able water in inches/f oot*

of depth

Coarse sands 0.60-0.80

Fine sands 0.80-1.00Loamy sands 1.10-1.20

Sandy loams 1.25-1.40

Fine sandy loams 1.50-2.00

Silt loams 2.00-2.50

Silty clay loams 1.80-2.00

Silty clay 1.50-1.70

Clay 1.30-1.50

*To convert to metrics, use the following equivalents: 1 inch = 2.5

centimeters; 1 foot = 30 centimeters.


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Limited Irrigation

Limited irrigation is a form of deficit irrigation that

seeks to maximize water productivity through

timing of irrigation applications at critical crop

growth stages and through managed soil

depletions for systems with less than adequate

capacity or limited quantities of water.

Limited Irrigation Systems

Limited irrigation systems incorporate practices thatreduce consumptive water use (ET) through acombination of practices

crop rotations with different water use patterns

lower water use crops

cultural practices that conserve water

conservation tillage

reduced plant populations

weed and pest control practices

improved irrigation efficiency

variety selection

Cultural Practices

Weeds, Disease

Soil fertility

Frost, Heat, Salinity

va uate y e per un t o water use

Reduce direct evaporation from soil surface

Conservation tillage

Water logging Evaluate yield per unit of water

used

Reduce direct evaporation from soil surface Conservationtillage

40m

Channel

Chili Pepper Tomato Corn

40 m 40m

AWATT Research and Demonstration

Flood Furrow Flood Furrow Flood Furrow

D12 : Unlevelled Plot

Total Length of D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 120 m

Total Width of D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 36m

Total Furrow Area for D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 2160 sq.m

No of bedsin D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 36

Bed Length = 35m

Bed Width = 75 cm

Total Flood Area for D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 2160 sq.m

Chilli Pepper Tomato Corn Tomato Chilli Pepper Corn

Channel

45m

AWATT Research and Demonstration

Fl ood Furrow Fl ood Furr ow Fl ood Furrow

15m 15m 15m 23.5m 23.5m 23.5m

D13:Leveled Plot

Total Length of D13 (Levelled Field) = 116 m

Total Width of D13 (Levelled Field) = 36m

Total drip area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1620 sq.m

Total Furrow Area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1269 sq.m

Total Flood Area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1269 sq.m

No. of bedsin D13 (Levelled Field) = 42

Length of bed = 35 m

Width of bed = 75 cm

Total Area(Sq.m) 4176

Drip Irrigation

Nee de d Ite ms Ar ea(s q.m ) Row x Row dis tance (cm ) Plant x Plant distance (cm )

Sweet Corn Seed 2713 70 25-30

-

Chili Pepper 2713 70 20-25


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Soil components

A. Solids

1. inorganic particles =sand, silt, clay

diameter:

clay < 0.002 mm

silt 0.002 to 0.05 mm

sand 0.05 to 2.0 mm

2. organic matter

B. Fluids

1. Water (moisture)

2. AirSource:http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/

Depth of water (dw)

Drz= da+ dw+ ds1 unit area

dw

da

What about volumes?

Source:http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/

Drz

ds

Drz

= depth of root zone

da

= depth of air

dw= depth of water

ds= depth of solids

Assuming a unit area, all water balance

components can be expressed as depths of

water.

P = precipitation

ETIrrP

RO

Irr = irrigation

ET = evapotranspiration

RO = surface runoff

Source:http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/

I

S

D

= n ra on

D = drainage

S = storage (dw)

All components can also

be expressed as fluxes(depth/area/time).

L = lateral flow

L

C

C = capillary rise

Field capacity (FC)

Moisture content that the soil can hold against

gravity

Water in the soil after the excess water has been

drained; commonly assumed to be at 1/3 bar soil

moisture tension (SMT)

Permanent wilting point (PWP)

Soil moisture content at which a plant

permanently wilts

Normally approximated at 15 bar SMTActually varies with plant species and soil

physical properties

Basic Principles:

Irrigation Scheduling

This is the decision of when and how much water toapply to a field

Irrigation scheduling will save water pumping costs,an a or

Minimizes crop water stress

prevents over- and under-irrigation

Increases production

Helps to control salinity

There are several tools to help you to judge the soilmoisture content


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Basic Irrigation Principles and

Management

When is it time to

irrigate?

Usually when your soil is0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

volume)

Available Water

Field Capacity

This is hard to tell

look for grasses that dont

spring up when stepped on

soils will usually hold

together fairly well when

adequately moist

if starting to crumble,

plan to irrigate soon

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

S and Sandy

Loam

Loam Silt

Loam

Clay

Loam

Silty

Clay

Clay

Finer Texture

WaterContent(%

Wilting Point

Unavailable Water

Graphic courtesy of Living on the Land, OSU Extension Service

The look and feel method

Dig down to the root zone of a crop/pasture and pick up ahandful of soil

Generally, if the soil holds together, there is adequate moisture

Photo courtesy of Living on the Land

Look and Feel:

Clay, clay loam, orsilty clay loam at 25-50% moisture

Clay, clay loam, orsilty clay loam at 50-75% moisture

Irrigation is overdue Will need to irrigate

soon

Photos courtesy of Living on the Land, USDA NRCS

Look and Feel:

Sandy loam or finesandy loam at 25-50%moisture

Sandy loam or finesandy loam at 50-75%moisture

Irrigation is overdue Will need to irrigate

soon

Measuring soil moisture.

Measuring soil moisture for growing purposes is

typically done in one of two ways:

a. o ume r c measuremen , e percen age o

water in a given amount of soil.

b. Tensiometric measurement, the physical force

actually holding water in the soil, measured in

Centibars (or kPa) of soil water

Soil Moisture Measurement

Tensiometer: direct measurement of soil water

tension, which is the tension all root systems must

overcome to extract water from the surrounding

so .

The Watermark sensor (granular matrix sensor)

calibrated method of measuring soil water, an

electrical resistance type sensor, read by Soil

Moisture Meter which converts the electrical

resistance reading to a calibrated reading of

Centibars (or kPa) of soil water tension.


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Why to use Tensiometer

Amount of water is not as important as how

difficult it is for the plant to extract it from the soil

Soil water tension (or metric potential) has to be

overcome for the plant to move water in to its root

system

Different soil types will have different tensions

even at the same volumetric measurement, making

volumetric information relative to local conditions

and often requiring site calibration for reading

equipment.

Soil-water tension and availablewater holding capacity (the amount

of water held in the root zone).The % shown are Available WaterHolding Capacity depleted.Tension value is appropriate todetermine when water needs to bereplenished.Irrigations are scheduled when50% of the available water hasbeen depleted (MAD orManagement Allowable Depletion).Soil water tension measurementis what really determines the

availability of moisture for plantmaterial

Typical Available Water-Holding Capacity

Soil Texture mm Available Water

Coarse Sand 15-20

Fine Sand 20-25

Loamy Sand 28-30

Sandy Loam 32-36

-

Loam 56-64

Silty Loam 51-64

Silty Clay Loam 46-51

Silty Clay 38-43

Clay 33-38Source:SCS ColoradoIrrigation Guide, 1988.


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General Estimates for Common High Value Crops

Crop Crop water need (mm/total growingperiod)

Beans 300 - 500

-

Maize 500 - 800

Sorghum/

millet

450 - 650

Soybean 450 - 700

Sunflower 600 - 1000

Crop water Requirement

Crop water requirements, irrigation systems and

schedules maximizes crop growth and waterefficiency

It reduces nutrient leachin and water ollution

caused by runoffa better utilization of scarce

water resources.

3 factors which determine the amount of water

that a crop requires:

The climate in which the crop is grown

The crop type that is grown

The development stage that the crop is in.


Local climate conditions, crop development stage

and season, soil properties to design an irrigation

system and schedule.

This allows for cultural practices designed to

maximize crop water use efficiency.

Crop Evapo-transpiration rate (ETo)

Transpiration

The pan evaporation method is obtained by directlymeasuring the evaporation rate from an evaporatingpan. The standard for this pan is a circular pan withdiameter of 1.21 m and depth of 25 cm placed 15cm above the soil surface.


To use the pan, water is filled to 5 cm below the rim,and then water is allowed to evaporate over thecourse of a day. Measurements are taken at a set

time every day and daily rainfall is monitored aswell. With this size pan, the amount of water thathas evaporated (Epan) is the difference between thetwo measured water depths (after taking rainfall intoaccount).

Efficient Irrigation technology

(Water Use at the Farm)

Land preparation,

Crop selection and

management,Irrigation scheduling

Water application

Discharge flow

measurement


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Benefits

N fixation with legumesImprove soil tilth and H2O infiltrationReduction of nematodes and disease

ee suppression controN sequestrationBeneficial arthropod habitatOrganic certification land use plansC banking

Crop Per drop

Maximize Income per unit water use

Maximize Yield per unit water

Maximize effectiveness of rainfall and irrigation

Maximize Crop Value

Minimize Production Costs

Increase Flexibility

Reduce Risk

For Success

Timing

Good seed quality

nocu ate w t appropr ate nocu ums

Good seed bed

Weed control

Irrigate

Appropriate mixtures of species/cultivars

Fertilize

PLUGS

High Quality Seedling nurseryIrrigation system design


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Strategic thinking & planning ahead

What I am good at?

How do I plan ?

What are the options for successful planning?

What can go wrong?

How to create a team?

What is the level of coordination, cooperation and

communication exist with stakeholder and work?

What way successful for implementation?

Strategic thinking !

Suggested Additional Outlet on Island

Continuation of Knowledge

Promote appropriate technology to farmers field

for increasing productivity, income for Afghan

livelihood

Training Farm Desmons Crop Water Management Dr Ajay

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