Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-fvjsw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-12T21:17:59.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Using Subirrigation to Maintain Soil Moisture Content in Greenhouse Experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Melinda L. Hoffman,
Jack W. Buxton and
Leslie A. Weston
Melinda L. Hoffman
Affiliation:
Dep. Hort., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
Jack W. Buxton
Affiliation:
Dep. Hort., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
Leslie A. Weston
Affiliation:
Dep. Hort., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
Get accessRights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In greenhouse studies, overhead watering or subsurface irrigating soil can cause fluctuating moisture content, as can treatments such as surface application of residue used in cover crop research. This paper introduces a method of capillary mat subirrigation that maintained soil moisture at about field capacity for 16 d while no moisture could be detected after 6 d in soil placed under similar conditions that was not irrigated. In another study, subirrigation eliminated differences in soil moisture due to the presence of surface-applied residue and moisture supplied by hand watering from overhead was apparently removed from subirrigated treatments, which never differed in soil moisture content.

Keywords

Capillary matoverhead wateringsubsurface irrigation

Information

Type
Special Topics
Information
Weed Science , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , June 1996, pp. 397 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Literature Cited

1. Barnes, J. P. and Putnam, A.R. 1983. Rye residues contribute weed suppression in no-tillage cropping systems. J. Chem. Ecol. 9: 1045–1057.Google Scholar
2. Beale, O. W., Nutt, G. B., and Peele, T. C. 1954. The effects of mulch tillage on runoff, erosion, soil properties, and crop yield. Soil Sci. Soc. Proc. 19: 244–247.Google Scholar
3. Bjerre, H. 1983. Pot plant growing on a capillary mat covered with a perforated polyethylene foil. Acta Hort 133: 161–164.Google Scholar
4. Blevins, R. L., Cook, D., Phillips, S. H., and Phillips, R. E. 1971. Influence of no-tillage on soil moisture. Agron. J. 63: 593–596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Buxton, J. W., Jia, W., and Hou, G. 1994. Providing a constant, optimum, moisture/air ratio in plug trays during seed germination and seedling growth. HortSci. 29: 502.Google Scholar
6. Buxton, J. W. and Switzer, D. 1991. Recirculating flood/mat subirrigation systems for plug production. HortSci. 26: 103.Google Scholar
7. Evangelou, V. P. and Blevins, R. L. 1988. Effect of long-term tillage systems and nitrogen addition on potassium quantity-intensity relationships. Soil Sci. Soc. 52: 1047–1054.Google Scholar
8. Haan, C. T. and Barfield, B. J. 1971. Controlling the soil moisture environment of transpiring plants. Plant Soil 35: 439–443.Google Scholar
9. Henley, R. W. 1981. Tips for growing potted ornamental plants on capillary mats. Foliage Dig. 4: 13–15.Google Scholar
10. Hoffman, M. L., Weston, L. A., Snyder, J. C., and Regnier, E. E. 1996. Separating the effects of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and rye (Secale cereale) root and shoot residues on weed development. Weed Sci. 44: (In press).Google Scholar
11. Jones, J. N., Moody, J. E., and Lillard, J. H. 1969. Effects of tillage, no tillage, and mulch on soil water and plant growth. Soil Sci. Soc. Proc. 61: 719–721.Google Scholar
12. Molitor, H. 1990. The European perspective with emphasis on subirrigation and recirculation of water and nutrients. Acta Hort. 272: 165–173.Google Scholar
13. Pike, J. 1979. Capillary watering. Proc. Inter. Plant Prop. Soc. 29: 586–589.Google Scholar
14. Richards, M. 1978. Capillary watering of container-grown plants. Proc. Inter. Plant Prop. Soc. 28: 411–413.Google Scholar
15. Smith, E. M. 1983. Utilizing capillary irrigation from the propagation bench to harvest. Proc. Inter. Plant Prop. Soc. 32: 564–569.Google Scholar
16. Snow, M. D. and Tingey, D. T. 1985. Evaluation of a system for the imposition of plant water stress. Plant Physiol. 77: 602–607.Google Scholar
17. Teasdale, J. R. and Mohler, C. L. 1993. Light transmittance, soil temperature, and soil moisture under residue of hairy vetch and rye. Agron. J. 85: 673–680.Google Scholar