USING A NON-DESTRUCTIVE GROWTH MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE TO ESTIMATE THE CRITICAL SOIL MOISTURE LEVEL FOR LEEK
A gamma-scanning technique was used for non-destructively measurement of the growth of leeks (Allium porrum L.) in the field.
The calculated ratio of radiometrically measured plant masses of controlled treatments versus plant masses of the standard treatment (cultivated at high soil moisture) were used to estimate the date when growth was limited by low soil moisture.
The soil moisture at this time was defined as critical soil moisture.
In the first experiment, a standard treatment - irrigated at approximately 65 vol% available water (AW) - and two controlled treatments were planted in sandy soil.
For the controlled treatments in the first experiment, irrigation water was supplied whenever this critical soil moisture was reached.
The measured current soil moisture fluctuated from 40 vol% AW to 50 vol% AW for the controlled treatments.
The plant masses at harvest were 137 t ha-1 for the standard treatment and 118 t ha-1 and 121 t ha-1 for the two controlled treatments.
In the second experiment, the growth of four canopies, cultivated at 25, 40, 55 and 70 vol% AW, were measured.
Soil moisture levels between 40 and 70 vol% AW had no significant effect on the total mass at harvest.
The gamma-scanning technique proved to be a reliable method of measuring the effect of soil moisture on plant growth.
Gutezeit, B. (2000). USING A NON-DESTRUCTIVE GROWTH MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE TO ESTIMATE THE CRITICAL SOIL MOISTURE LEVEL FOR LEEK. Acta Hortic. 537, 805-812
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.537.96
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.537.96
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.537.96
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.537.96
Gamma-scanning measurement technique, fresh matter growth, relative mass, yield, critical soil moisture.
537_96
805-812
- Working Group Irrigation and Water Relations
- Working Group Grape Genetics, Physiology and Management
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems
- Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits