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 Román, R. Articles by Vallejo, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Román, R. Articles by Vallejo, A. Agricola Articles by Román, R. Articles by Vallejo, A.

Water and Solute Movement under Conventional Corn in Central Spain: I. Water Balance

Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, Finca Experimental La Poveda, CSIC, Ctra., de Campo Real km 0.300, 28500 Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain

M. C. Cartagena and A. Vallejo

Departmento de Química y Análisis Agrícola, ETSIA-UPM, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Partitioning temporal changes in soil water storage to water balance components (evapotranspiration [ET], drainage) under field conditions remains a vexing task. An in situ protocol using neutron probes and tensiometers was established on a sandy loam (Typic Xerofluvent) under irrigated, conventional corn (Zea mays L.) with the objectives to separate ET from deep drainage and to improve the accuracy of estimating the water balance components. An experimental research site (0.4 ha) at La Poveda Field Station near Madrid (Spain) was divided into 24 plots of 9 by 11.1 m each. The heterogeneity of the research site had been previously determined and the experimental field was instrumented accordingly. Vacuum soil-water extractors were placed in all plots, but neutron probe and tensiometers were installed in only eight plots based on soil texture. Plot management included nine furrow irrigations of 404 mm and rainfall of 250 mm throughout the growing season. Measurements of water flow and soil water storage for periods of a few days allowed the determination of ET and drainage with the soil water balance equation. Four water flow patterns and six water balance cases were identified. Results showed a cumulative ET of 532 ± 70 mm and total drainage of 75 ± 22 mm below the 1.4-m soil depth. Peak drainage took place 20 d before maximum ET and represented 19% of total irrigation water.

Received for publication July 28, 1994.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Cavero, A. Beltran, and R. Aragues Nitrate Exported in Drainage Waters of Two Sprinkler-Irrigated Watersheds J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 916 - 926. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Diez, A. I. de la Torre, M. C. Cartagena, M. Carballo, A. Vallejo, and M. J. Munoz Evaluation of the Application of Pig Slurry to an Experimental Crop Using Agronomic and Ecotoxicological Approaches J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2001; 30(6): 2165 - 2172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Caballero, A. Bustos, and R. Roman Soil Salinity under Traditional and Improved Irrigation Schedules in Central Spain Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., July 1, 2001; 65(4): 1210 - 1218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.R. Brye, J.M. Norman, L.G. Bundy, and S.T. Gower Water-Budget Evaluation of Prairie and Maize Ecosystems Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., March 1, 2000; 64(2): 715 - 724. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Roman, R. Caballero, and A. Bustos Field Water Drainage under Traditional and Improved Irrigation Schedules for Corn in Central Spain Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 1999; 63(6): 1811 - 1817. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]