A Simple Method for Estimating Field Crop Evapotranspiration from Pot Experiments

Effects of superhydrophobic sand mulching on evapotranspiration and phenotypic responses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants under normal and reduced irrigation

Irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions is a vital contributor to the global food supply. However, these regions endure massive evaporative losses that are compensated by exploiting limited freshwater resources. To increase water-use efficiency in these giga-scale operations, plastic mulches are utilized; however, their non-biodegradability and eventual land-filling renders them unsustainable. In response, we have developed superhydrophobic sand (SHS) mulching technology that is comprised of sand grains or sandy soils with a nanoscale coating of paraffin wax. Here, we investigate the effects of 1 cm-thick SHS mulching on the evapotranspiration and phenotypic responses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants as a model system under normal and reduced irrigation inside controlled growth chambers. Experimental results reveal that under either irrigation scenario, SHS mulching suppresses evaporation and enhances transpiration by 78% and 17%, respectively relative to the unmulched soil. Comprehensive phenotyping revealed that SHS mulching enhanced root xylem vessel diameter, stomatal aperture, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content index by 21%, 25%, 28%, and 23%, respectively, in comparison with the unmulched soil. Consequently, total fruit yields, total dry mass, and harvest index increased in SHS-mulched plants by 33%, 20%, and 16%, respectively compared with the unmulched soil. We also provide mechanistic insights into the effects of SHS mulching on plant physiological processes. These results underscore the potential of SHS for realizing food-water security and greening initiatives in arid regions.

Insentek Sensor: An Alternative to Estimate Daily Crop Evapotranspiration for Maize Plants

Estimation of ground-truth daily evapotranspiration (ETc) is very useful for developing sustainable water resource strategies, particularly in the North China Plain (NCP) with limited water supplies. Weighing lysimetry is a well-known approach for measuring actual ETc. Here, we introduced an alternative to lysimetry for ETc determination using Insentek sensors. A comparison experiment was conducted for maize plants at Xuchang Irrigation Experiment Station, in the NCP, in 2015 and 2016. Insentek ETc was evaluated using data on clear days and rainy days independently. We found that daily ETc increased gradually from VE (emergence) to VT (tasseling) stages, peaked at the R1 (silking) stage with the highest value of 7.8 mm·d−1, and then declined until maturity. On average, cumulative total of lysimetric ETc was 19% higher than that of Insentek ETc. The major depth of soil water extraction might be 60 cm for maize plants on lysimeters according to soil water depletion depth monitored by Insentek sensors. Daily ETc significantly related to soil water content (SWC) in topsoil (0–30 cm) in an exponential function (coefficients of determination (R2) = 0.32–0.53), and to precipitation (Pre) in a power function (R2 = 0.84–0.87). The combined SWC (0–30 cm)–Pre–ETc model may offer significant potential for accurate estimation of maize ETc in semi-humid environment of the NCP.