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Dry mass production and water use of non- and drip irrigated shape Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’: Field experiments and modeling

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Abstract

Generally, irrigation increases dry mass production (DM) on sandy soils of horticultural crops and at the same time increases the risk of percolation losses of water and chemicals to below the root zone. However, the effects of irrigation are highly site-specific and not easily determined, which hampers the development of proper management tools and guidelines. A two-dimensional soil-water balance model combined with a crop growth model was parameterized and validated, and used to investigate DM and water use of Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ in a field trial under non- and drip irrigated conditions. Measured leaf DM and leaf area index (LAI) were not affected by irrigation but irrigation increased stem DM and the specific leaf area. Simulated DM and LAI were in good agreement with the measurements. Simulated pressure head followed the measured pressure head, although model’s performance was better under dry than under wet conditions. Simulation experiments indicated that increasing irrigation threshold levels increased DM production and leaching relatively to no irrigation, when the irrigation threshold level was measured at 0.25m depth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 16, 6700, AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

    A. A. Pronk

  2. Alterra, Soil Science Centre, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700, AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M. Heinen

  3. Farm Technology Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 43, 6700, AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. Challa

Authors
  1. A. A. Pronk
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  2. M. Heinen
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  3. H. Challa
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Correspondence to A. A. Pronk.

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Pronk, A.A., Heinen, M. & Challa, H. Dry mass production and water use of non- and drip irrigated shape Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’: Field experiments and modeling. Plant Soil 268, 329–347 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-0332-2

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