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Published on: August 5, 2020
Detecting soil water redistribution in subsurface drip irrigated processing tomatoes using electrical resistivity
Iael Raij-Hoffman1, Daniela Vanella2, Juan Miguel Ramírez-Cuesta3
1Department of Land Air & Water Resources, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Combining soil monitoring methods with hydrological modeling revealed minimal soil water changes during irrigation in processing tomatoes due to simultaneous wetting and root uptake. This highlights the need for integrated approaches to understand the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Engineering
- Soil Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Understanding soil water dynamics is crucial for efficient irrigation and crop management.
- Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) offers water savings but requires precise monitoring.
- The soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) is complex and influenced by multiple factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate soil water redistribution and crop water status in an SDI processing tomato field.
- To compare electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with HYDRUS 2-D hydrological modeling.
- To assess the effectiveness of integrated monitoring techniques.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), proximal thermal sensing, and micrometeorological data.
- Employed two-dimensional (2-D) soil hydrological modeling with HYDRUS 2-D.
- Conducted time-lapse ERT surveys and compared with soil water content (SWC) measurements.
Main Results:
- Negligible electrical resistivity (ER) changes observed in the root zone due to simultaneous wetting and root water uptake.
- ERT indicated a wetted strip along the dripline, consistent with emitter spacing.
- Good correlation found between proximal sensing and ERT results.
Conclusions:
- Integrated monitoring is essential for understanding the SPAC system under field conditions.
- Simultaneous soil wetting and root water uptake significantly influence ER measurements during irrigation.
- ERT and hydrological modeling provide complementary insights into soil water dynamics.
