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Soil water content on drip irrigated cotton: comparison of measured and simulated values obtained with the Hydrus 2-D model

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Abstract

Crop irrigation with subsurface drip (SDI) is increasing in the semiarid Texas High Plains (THP). Information on drip-tubing positioning, irrigation strategies, and wetted soil area is needed to increase rainwater effectiveness when well capacities are inadequate to meet full irrigation requirements. Time and resources necessary to test SDI strategies for different conditions through field experimentation is too large. However, a mechanistic model such as Hydrus-2D can quantify the effect of different installation geometries and irrigation strategies. Our objective was to experimentally validate the Hydrus-2D in an Amarillo soil in THP so that the model can be used to evaluate different irrigation frequency and timing strategies for SDI cotton. Results showed that Hydrus-2D simulated volumetric soil water content within ±3% of measured values, and simulation bias represented the smaller portion of the simulation error, indicating that the model can be used to evaluate irrigation strategies.

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Notes

  1. Mention of this or other proprietary products is for the convenience of the readers only, and does not constitute endorsement or preferential treatment of these products by USDA-ARS.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Ogallala Aquifer Program, a consortium between USDA-ARS, Kansas State University, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Resources and Irrigation, Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020, Km 18, P.O. Box 8223, 73310-970, Brasilia, DF, Brazil

    Vinicius Bof Bufon

  2. Wind Erosion & Water Conservation Unit, USDA-ARS, 3810 4th Street, Lubbock, TX, 79415, USA

    Robert J. Lascano, Jill D. Booker & Dennis C. Gitz

  3. Cotton Breeding Station, Bayer CropScience, 12108 E. Highway 82, Idalou, TX, 79329, USA

    Craig Bednarz

Authors
  1. Vinicius Bof Bufon
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  2. Robert J. Lascano
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  3. Craig Bednarz
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  4. Jill D. Booker
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  5. Dennis C. Gitz
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Correspondence to Robert J. Lascano.

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Communicated by J. Ayars.

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Bufon, V.B., Lascano, R.J., Bednarz, C. et al. Soil water content on drip irrigated cotton: comparison of measured and simulated values obtained with the Hydrus 2-D model. Irrig Sci 30, 259–273 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-011-0279-z

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