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IRRISPLIT

Partial Root Drying: A sustainable irrigation system for efficient water use without reducing yield.
NUMBER: ICA3-CT-1999-00008
Start Date: 01/03/2000 End Date: 01/03/2003
SUMMARY: (15/08/2000)
We plan to improve the efficiency of water use for Mediterranean agriculture through sustainable approaches via an investigation of the effects of partial root drying on the vegetative and reproductive growth of a range of fruit crops. Irrigation down one side of a row of plants allows soil drying around roots on the other side. If the wetting zone is alternated from one side of the row to the other then some roots of the plant are always in contact with drying soil. This technique will be used to control excessive vegetative vigour, save irrigation water and reduce fertiliser use without influencing fruit yield and quality. We will assess the possibility of adding low concentrations of fertilisers to irrigation water in this system to increase fertilisation use efficiency. We plan to develop a better physiological understanding of the mechanisms controlling carbon allocation to fruits as a basis for developing approaches to the optimisation of irrigation.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
  1. Evaluation of PRD system (yield, water-use and quality)
  2. Evaluation of mechanistic basis of PRD
  3. Training collaborators in physiological and biochemical techniques
  4. Evaluation of irrigation scheduling methodology
  5. Evaluation of effects of fertigation and irrigation procedures under PRD
  6. Evaluation of the effects of PRD on fruit quality
  7. Evaluation of the effectiveness of training and socio-economic impact of PRD
  8. Conduct co-ordination meetings and workshops
  9. Final report and TIP
ACHIEVED RESULTS: ( - )
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AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:
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URL: -
TOPICS 6840 Irrigation, 6830 Drying
KEYWORDS Partial_root_drying, Agriculture, Irrigation
 
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