Effects of drip and flood irrigation on carbon dioxide exchange and crop growth in the maize ecosystem in the Hetao Irrigation District, China

doi:10.1007/s40333-024-0093-0

Journal of Arid Land

2024, Vol. 16

Issue (2): 282-297 DOI: 10.1007/s40333-024-0093-0

Research article

Effects of drip and flood irrigation on carbon dioxide exchange and crop growth in the maize ecosystem in the Hetao Irrigation District, China

LI Chaoqun¹, HAN Wenting²^,³^,^*(

), PENG Manman¹

¹College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Heze University, Heze 274015, China
²College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
³Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

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Abstract

Drip irrigation and flood irrigation are major irrigation methods for maize crops in the Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This research delves into the effects of these irrigation methods on carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange and crop growth in this region. The experimental site was divided into drip and flood irrigation zones. The irrigation schedules of this study aligned with the local commonly used irrigation schedule. We employed a developed chamber system to measure the diurnal CO₂ exchange of maize plants during various growth stages under both drip and flood irrigation methods. From May to September in 2020 and 2021, two sets of repeated experiments were conducted. In each experiment, a total of nine measurements of CO₂ exchange were performed to obtain carbon exchange data at different growth stages of maize crop. During each CO₂ exchange measurement event, CO₂ flux data were collected every two hours over a day-long period to capture the diurnal variations in CO₂ exchange. During each CO₂ exchange measurement event, the biological parameters (aboveground biomass and crop growth rate) of maize and environmental parameters (including air humidity, air temperature, precipitation, soil water content, and photosynthetically active radiation) were measured. The results indicated a V-shaped trend in net ecosystem CO₂ exchange in daytime, reducing slowly at night, while the net assimilation rate (net primary productivity) exhibited a contrasting trend. Notably, compared with flood irrigation, drip irrigation demonstrated significantly higher average daily soil CO₂ emission and greater average daily CO₂ absorption by maize plants. Consequently, within the maize ecosystem, drip irrigation appeared more conducive to absorbing atmospheric CO₂. Furthermore, drip irrigation demonstrated a faster crop growth rate and increased aboveground biomass compared with flood irrigation. A strong linear relationship existed between leaf area index and light utilization efficiency, irrespective of the irrigation method. Notably, drip irrigation displayed superior light use efficiency compared with flood irrigation. The final yield results corroborated these findings, indicating that drip irrigation yielded higher harvest index and overall yield than flood irrigation. The results of this study provide a basis for the selection of optimal irrigation methods commonly used in the Hetao Irrigation District. This research also serves as a reference for future irrigation studies that consider measurements of both carbon emissions and yield simultaneously.

Key words： carbon dioxide exchange maize growth drip irrigation harvest index net primary productivity Hetao Irrigation District

Received: 14 August 2023 Published: 29 February 2024

Corresponding Authors: ^*HAN Wenting (E-mail: hwt@nwafu.edu.cn)

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Cite this article:

LI Chaoqun, HAN Wenting, PENG Manman. Effects of drip and flood irrigation on carbon dioxide exchange and crop growth in the maize ecosystem in the Hetao Irrigation District, China. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(2): 282-297.

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http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-024-0093-0 OR http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2024/V16/I2/282

Fig. 1 Distribution of irrigation canals in the Hetao Irrigation District and the location of experimental site

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram showing the experimental fields with drip irrigation (a) and flood irrigation (b)

Fig. 3 Irrigation and fertilization schedule in 2020 (a) and 2021 (b). The solid arrow represents the fertilization time of drip irrigation and the dotted line arrow represents the fertilization time of flood irrigation.

Fig. 4 Chambers for measuring greenhouse gas CO₂ flux during nighttime (a) and daytime (b)

Fig. 5 Changes in meteorology, volumetric soil water content, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during the maize growth period in 2020 and 2021. (a), daily average air humidity and average air temperature; (b), precipitation and soil water content at a depth of 10.00 cm (VWC₁₀); (c), average PAR value during daytime. DOY, day of year.

Fig. 6 Daily changes in net primary productivity (NPP), net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), and soil respiration (Rs) of maize ecosystem under drip and flood irrigation conditions in 2020. (a), DOY183 in 2020; (b), DOY193 in 2020; (c), DOY203 in 2020; (d), DOY211 in 2020; (e), DOY217 in 2020; (f), DOY227 in 2020; (g), DOY238 in 2020; (h), DOY248 in 2020; (i), DOY257 in 2020.

Fig. 7 Daily changes in NPP, NEE, and Rs of maize ecosystems under drip and flood irrigation conditions in 2021. (a), DOY185 in 2021; (b), DOY196 in 2021; (c), DOY204 in 2021; (d), DOY213 in 2021; (e), DOY219 in 2021; (f), DOY228 in 2021; (g), DOY239 in 2021; (h), DOY250 in 2021; (i), DOY258 in 2021.

Fig. 8 Changes in light response parameters of maize under drip and flood irrigation conditions during the maize growth period in 2020 (a) and 2021 (b). α represents an approximation of the canopy light use efficiency, and (β+γ)₂₀₀₀ represents the average maximum canopy light uptake capacity. α_FI, α value under flood irrigation condition; α_DI, α value under drip irrigation condition; (β+γ)_2000-FI, (β+γ)₂₀₀₀ value under flood irrigation condition; (β+γ)_2000-DI, (β+γ)₂₀₀₀ value under drip irrigation condition.

Fig. 9 Relationship between the main light response parameters and crop biological parameters. (a), relationship between α and leaf area index (LAI); (b), relationship between (β+γ)₂₀₀₀ and aboveground biomass (AGB).

Fig. 10 Variations in AGB and crop growth rate (CGR) in different growth periods of maize in 2020 (a) and 2021 (b). AGB_FI, AGB value under flood irrigation condition; AGB_DI, AGB value under drip irrigation condition; CGR_FI, CGR value under flood irrigation condition; CGR_DI, CGR value under drip irrigation condition.

Table 1 Main biological parameters of maize under drip and flood irrigation conditions in 2020 and 2021


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