“Irrigation, Agronomy and the Environment” Research Group (Spain). Irrigation-salinity research highlights Ramón Aragüés
[email protected] Napoli, 19 March 2012
The Aula Dei Campus (Zaragoza, Spain)
Zaragoza
Outline 1- Description of the research group (objectives, personnel, indicators, priority lines) 2- Irrigation-salinity research highlights: • Application of electromagnetic sensors for appraisal of soil salinity • Impact of irrigation modernization on water quantity and quality • Controlled deficit irrigation and soil salinization
Research Group “Irrigation, Agronomy and the Environment”
http://www.cita-aragon.es
Unidad de Suelos y Riegos Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Diputación General de Aragón Grupo de Riego, Agronomía y Medio Ambiente Departamento de Suelo y Agua, Estación Experimental de Aula Dei, CSIC
http://www.eead.csic.es
Zaragoza (España) March 2012
General objective
Generate scientific and technological information in the “soil-water-cropatmosphere” interface leading to more competitive, efficient and sustainable agricultural systems with emphasis on irrigation, agronomy and the environment, and with an applied-research focus
Strengths • Multidisciplinary group • Adequate critical mass • Multi-objective scientific and technological production • Stakeholder involvement • Applied-research, problem-solving approach • Versatile outdoor experimental facilities
Personnel – Permanent researchers Year 2012 CITA-DGA
E.E. AULA DEI-CSIC
1 ARAGÜÉS, RAMÓN
7
BURGUETE, JAVIER
2 CASTERAD, AUXILIADORA
8
CAVERO, JOSÉ
3 FACI, JOSE MARÍA
9
HERRERO, JUAN
4 ISIDORO, DANIEL
10 MARTÍNEZ-COB, ANTONIO
5 ISLA, RAMÓN
11 PLAYÁN, ENRIQUE
6 QUÍLEZ, DOLORES
12 ZAPATA, VALVANERA
Background in agricultural engineering, biology, chemistry, geology and physics
Personnel – Temporary researchers Year 2012 1 CASTAÑEDA, CARMEN (E.E. AULA DEI) 2 DECHMI, FARIDA (CITA) 3 LECINA, SERGIO (CITA) 4 SALVADOR, RAQUEL (E.E. AULA DEI)
Eight doctors have been “lost” in the last five years…
Personnel – Technicians, students Year 2012 TECHNICIANS 9 permanent 9 temporary STUDENTS 11 Ph D 1 Final Career Project
Personnel – Total Year 2012 Permanent researchers Temporary researchers Technicians Students TOTAL
12 4 18 12 46
Indicators 2006-2010 Nº SCI publications
105
Non-SCI publications
61
Books/book chapters
32
Congresses with proceedings
95
Public and private funding Personnel contracts PhD scholarships
3.9 M € 8* 10,2*
PhD and MSc thesis, Postgraduate
47
PhD and postgraduate courses
93
Dissemination activities
77
*Average/year
Priority lines
1- Sustainable use of water and soil resources 2- Environmental impact of agricultural activities 3- Crop agronomy
Line 1 of 3
Sustainable use of water and soil resources
1- Evapotranspiration and crop water requirements 2- Diagnosis/improvement of on-farm irrigation systems and irrigation conveyance networks 3- Diagnosis/support to collective irrigation management 4- Soil morphology, mapping and evaluation
Line 2 of 3
Environmental impact of agricultural activities
1- Environmental impact of irrigation: soils 2- Environmental impact of irrigation: waters 3- Analysis of relevant habitats in agricultural areas
Line 3 of 3
Crop agronomy
1- Crop responses to abiotic stresses 2- Optimization of water use 3- Optimization of nitrogen fertilization 4- Use of pig slurry as fertilizer 5- Agronomic applications of remote sensing
Irrigation-salinity research highlights • Application of electromagnetic sensors for appraisal of soil salinity
Design, development and applications of a mobile, georeferenced electromagnetic sensor for measuring soil salinity and other soil variables of interest in precision agriculture
GPS Field computer
Sled with Dualem 1S electromagnetic sensor
• Cost: 15000 € + tractor • Versatile, robust and ideal for mapping of soil variables (salinity in particular)
Development of soil salinity maps based on sensor readings (ECa) and ECa-ECe calibrations The INCO Qualiwater project (2006-2010): ECe maps obtained in four irrigation districts (Spain, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey) Morocco (Beni Amir)
ECe-h (dS m-1)
Spain (Lerma)
EC ECe-he-h-1 -1 (dS ) ) (dS mm
Black points: ECa lectures
< 1.0 1.0 - 2.5 2.5 - 4.0 4.0 - 5.5 > 5.5
Tunisia (Kalaât Landalous)
ECe-h (dS m-1)
Turkey (Akarsu)
ECe-h ECe-h -1 (dS m (dS m)-1) < 0.33 0.33 - 0.40 0.40 - 0.47 0.47 - 0.54 > 0.54
Realibity of results: depends on the level of significance of calibration equations and degree of independence of ECa with other soil variables (water content, texture…)
Calibration of the EMI sensor in each irrigation district: nº of calibration points (N) and regression equations of soil-profile average ECe vs. ECa ECe (dS m-1) = a ECa (dS m-1) + b MOROCCO N
a
b
R2
SPAIN N
a
b
TUNISIA R2
N
a
b
TURKEY R2
N
a
b
R2
29 3.97 0.57 0.89 34 3.90 0.44 0.86 18 3.40 -2.1 0.89 20 0.30 0.17 0.86
Realibity of results: depends on the level of significance of calibration equations and degree of independence of ECa with other soil variables (water content, texture…) Effects of ECe, gravimetric water content (WC) and saturation percentage (SP) on ECa: nº of sampling points (N) and MLR equations of standardized ECa against standardized soil profile ECe, WC and SP. Probability values: nsNot significant at P > 0.1, *, **, ***Significant at P < 0.1, T1 increase
Strategies for soil salinity control in CDI I- Decrease Water Deficit (WD = ETc – Irrig. – Precip.) by irrigating outside the irrigation season ECe change (%/day)
Irrig. season
Non-irrig. season
0.8 0.4 0.0
y = 0.002x + 0.13 R2 = 0.745
-0.4 -200 0 200 400 Water Deficit (WD = ETc - I - P) (mm)
1- Decreasing the water deficit by increasing irrigation decreases soil salinization (daily relative percent change in ECe) 2- This increase in Irrig. is compatible with CDI if it is applied in the non-irrigation season (when salt leaching is more efficient)
II- Decrease Water Deficit (WD = ETc – Irrig. – Precip.) by decreasing evaporation through soil mulching Drip-irrigated nectarine orchard. Monitoring of soil solution EC (ECss) with suction probes. Four replications/mulching treatment
Geotextile
Plastic
Pine bark
Bare
CR
GOTERO
DRIPPER
4,5
42,5 mm
4,0
GEOTEXTIL DESNUDO
3,5
CORTEZA PLÁSTICO
CEss (dS m -1)
3,0
33,4 mm
2.6c 2.2b
2,5 2,0
2.0ab
1,5 1,0
1.8a
0,5 13,6 mm
12,6 mm
15,8 mm
14,2 mm
4-10
20-9
CR
LÍNEA GOTERO 2010 (Día-Mes)
DRIPPER LINE
10
6-9
23-8
9-8
26-7
12-7
28-6
14-6
31-5
17-5
3-5
19-4
5-4
22-3
0,0
42,5 mm
33,4 mm
9 GEOTEXTIL DESNUDO
8
CEss (dS m-1)
6.2c
CORTEZA
7
PLÁSTICO
5.6bc
6 5
5.4b
4 3
3.5a
2 1
13,6 mm
12,6 mm
14,2 mm
15,8 mm
4-10
20-9
6-9
23-8
9-8
26-7
12-7
28-6
14-6
31-5
LÍNEA 2010ÁRBOL (Día-Mes)
TREE LINE
16
11.3c
GEOTEXTIL DESNUDO CORTEZA PLÁSTICO
14 12
7.7a
8 6
7.6a
4 2
2010 (Día- Mes)
31-5
24-5
17-5
10-5
3-5
26-4
19-4
12-4
5-4
0 29-3
Eficiency of mulching treatments for salinity control
9.9b
10
22-3
CEss (dS m -1)
17-5
3-5
19-4
22-3
5-4
0
+
Eficiency
-
Plastic > Pine Bark ≥ Geotextil > Bare
Many thanks¡
