HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thompson, T. L. Articles by Doerge, T. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Thompson, T. L. Articles by Doerge, T. A. Agricola Articles by Thompson, T. L. Articles by Doerge, T. A.

Nitrogen and Water Interactions in Subsurface Trickle-Irrigated Leaf Lettuce: I. Plant Response

Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, Univ. of Arizona, 429 Shantz Bldg. no. 38, Tucson, AZ 85721

*Corresponding author (thompson{at}ag.arizona.edu).

ABSTRACT

Rising water costs and concerns about groundwater contamination by NO^-₃ are forcing growers in arid regions to adopt practices to improve water and N use efficiency. Subsurface trickle irrigation offers the ability to precisely deliver appropriate amounts of water and N to the crop root zone. The objectives of this research were to: (i) determine the optimum level (with respect to marketable yield) of soil water tension for subsurface trickle-irrigated leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Waldmann's Green), (ii) determine N by water interactions on crop yield and quality, and (iii) determine seasonal patterns of crop N uptake. Three field experiments were conducted during the 1990 to 1993 winter growing seasons on a Casa Grande soil (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic, Typic Natriargid [reclaimed]) in southern Arizona. Deficient to excessive N (35–300 kg ha^-1) and target soil water tension (SWT) treatments (12.0–4.0 kPa) were applied in factorial combinations each year. Maximum marketable leaf lettuce yields observed were 54.0 Mg ha^-1. Nitrogen rates associated with maximum yields ranged from 120 to 300 kg ha^-1, and depended on average SWT. Excessive irrigation (5.3 kPa average SWT) resulted in lower yields, head weight, and head length. Marketable yields showed a pronounced water x N interaction, but yield quality (head length and weight) did not. Maximum N flux was 4.3 kg ha^-1 d^-1, and an average of 75% of total N accumulation occurred in the 38 d prior to harvest. Results suggest that the soil water tension at 0.3-m depth should be maintained at 6 to 7 kPa for optimum yields of trickle-irrigated leaf lettuce.

Received for publication September 13, 1994.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin Subsurface Drip Irrigation and Fertigation of Broccoli: II. Agronomic, Economic, and Environmental Outcomes Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2002; 66(1): 178 - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin Subsurface Drip Irrigation and Fertigation of Broccoli: I. Yield, Quality, and Nitrogen Uptake Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2002; 66(1): 186 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Delgado, R. R. Riggenbach, R. T. Sparks, M. A. Dillon, L. M. Kawanabe, and R. J. Ristau Evaluation of Nitrate-Nitrogen Transport in a Potato-Barley Rotation Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2001; 65(3): 878 - 883. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin Nitrogen and Water Interactions in Subsurface Drip-Irrigated Cauliflower: I. Plant Response Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2000; 64(1): 406 - 411. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin Nitrogen and Water Interactions in Subsurface Drip-Irrigated Cauliflower: II. Agronomic, Economic, and Environmental Outcomes Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2000; 64(1): 412 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text]