JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Hydraulic coefficients of a porous media such as hydraulic conductivity K(θ) and diffusivity D(θ) have a controlling role in the evaluation of groundwater flow and pollutant transport behavior. Therefore, successful porous media flow evaluation depends on the accurate determination of its hydraulic coefficients. But it is hard and time consuming to measure. Values for these coefficients accurately as measurements usually task place at a moisture range close to saturation. This situation justifies the preference for prediction models to be used. One method for evaluation of K(θ) and D(θ) coefficients is to use models which take measured soil moisture characteristic curve data into consideration. For the purposes of the present study, pressure plates apparatus measured the required data to develop soil moisture characteristic curve for nine various soil textures. The volume of instantaneous outgoing water was measured with respect to time and the total volume of water released at the end of each experiment was measured for a given pressure (0.1 to 1.5 Mpa) imposed on undisturbed soil samples. A simple equation based on Richard’s equation is provided for the estimation of K(θ) and D(θ). Application of Mualem, van Genuchten et. al, Burdine, Green and Corey, and Gardner models for estimation of the K(θ) and D(θ) values at a variety of nine varied soil textures under experiment showed a wide range of variation. Therefore, it is hard to simulate the accurate hydraulic conductivity behavior for the given varied soil textures by means of the models available. However, if the minimum and maximum simulated values obtained from the models at respective soil moisture contents are considered to be a permitted range, one may state that the results of the estimated hydraulic coefficients by the proposed method in this study lie within the permitted range or agree with the results of other models considered. Therefore, the proposed method for determination of K(θ) and D(θ) is capable of selecting the best simulation model to estimate hydraulic coefficient values.

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Estimation of seepage is essential prior to lining of earth canals. In Iran such investigation has been achieved in some irrigation networks using empirical relationships derived in other countries. Estimation of water loss in canal is required in design, operation and management of water distribution systems. Water seepage may be determind by using empirical equations proposed by F.A.O. These equations are applicable for different soils and hydraulic parameters. However, the appropriate estimating equation should be determined for each region. Therefore, these equations should be calibrated for local usage and different canal vegetation conditions. In this investigation water losses in canals at the Rudast region of Isfahan were measured by inflow and outflow procedure. Different canals reaches were selected in soils of relatively heavy, medium and light textures. The density of vegetation population in canals were low, medium and high. The estimated seepage losses by different empirical equations were not corresponded to those of measured values. Therefore, by using the measured seepage at different soil textures and vegetation densities the empirical coefficients of six empirical equations of F.A.O. (Ingham, Davis and Wilson, Affengendon, Moritz, Molesworth and Yennidumia, Misra) were modified for the study region. The relationships between measured seepage and estimated seepage before and after modification of the empirical equations were determined by regression analysis. These equations estimated the seepage loss much smaller than the measured values. The regression parameters (selope, intercept, and coefficient of determination of regression equation) indicated that after modification, the Ingham and moritz equation with higher slopes (0.91, 1.01), lower intercepts (-0.096, -0.039) and higher coefficient of determination (0.96) estimated the closest seepage values to the measured values respectively. The misra equation was the next best equation for seepage estimation. The results of present investigation indicated that the modified Ingham and Moritz equations were the most appropriate ones for estimation of seepage losses at different soil textures and vegetation densities in the study region.

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Iran with a cultivation area of 45000 ha and production of 150 ton/year is the number one saffron producer in the world. Planting of large size corms will increase flowering, but production of corms (number and size) may be affected by irrigation method or frequency. In this research which is performed in the farm of College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, the effects of method and frequency of irrigation on corm production, and the effect of produced corms on flowering were evaluated in two consecutive years. Two irrigation methods (basin and furrow) with four levels of irrigation frequencies (12, 24 and 36 days and dryland farming) were applied. In August of 2000 sample corm was taken from every plot, and the effect of applied treatment from previous growing period on corm production and the effect of produced corms on future flowering were evaluated and analyzed. Based on the results, in furrow irrigation, total number of corms and total number of corms smaller than 4 gr is significantly higher than basin irrigation. In all of the above cases, irrigation frequencies did not show a meaningful difference between themselves or in comparison with dryland farming treatment. Total weight of corms and number and weight of corms larger than 8 gr in basin irrigation were more than furrow irrigation. This is to the extent that it is considered as the main reason for the difference in the flowering of corms, and has caused the flowering of basin irrigation to be significantly higher than furrow irrigation. In basin irrigation, irrigation frequencies of 12 and 24 days had the highest amount of flowering. No significant difference was observed on average corm production between the treatments in the two irrigation methods. However, irrigation treatments in both irrigation methods showed significant differences when compared with dryland farming treatment. So, basin irrigation with irrigation frequency of 24 days is preferred over furrow irrigation due to lower water consumption and production of larger size corms which is effective in flowering.

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In the present research, for the development of Fars province minimum temperature atlas, minimum daily temperature data of 20 evaporative stations of Fars Regional Water Organization and five synoptic stations of Fars Meteorological Organization were used. At first, two starting times were selected for all of the stations. The first was the first day of Farvardin for analyzing the spring frost and the secend was the first day of Mehr for analyzing the autumn and winter frost. Also, the temperature range of 0 to –1.5 was classified as mild frost or freeze, the temperature range of -1.5 to –3 as the moderate frost or freeze and temperature below –3 as severe frost or freeze. The data of minimum temperatures, the first and the last days in which the three temperature ranges occurred and the day of the lowest temperature based on the two starting times were recorded. The selected number of days (dates) were fitted to the distribution functions by SMADA software and the best distribution function was identified using the statistical parameter Root Mean Square. The best fitted distribution functions were Pearson type III and log Pearson type III. Then, based on the fitted distribution function, the number of days for the occurrence of the first and last frost and number of days for the occurrence of the first lowest temperature were determined at 50 and 70% probability levels. Finally, each of these occurrence dates was plotted with Surfer software using the geographical positions of each station (longitude and latitude) for Fars province. Based on these plotted maps, the best days of planting and harvesting of the crops can be determined throughout the Fars province.

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Agricultural investigations use computer models for simulation of crop growth and field water management. By using these models, the effects of plant growth parameters on crop yields are simulated, hence, the experimental costs are reduced. In this paper, the model of MSM (Maize Simulation Model) was calibrated and validated for the prediction of maize forage production at Agricultural College, Shiraz University in 1382 and 1383 by using maize forage yield under furrow irrigation with four irrigation and three nitrogen treatments. Irrigation treatments were I4, I3, I2, and I1, with the depth of water 20% greater than, equal to, 20% and 40% less than potential crop water requirements, respectively. Nitrogen treatments were N3, N2, and N1, with the application of N as urea equal to 300, 150, and 0 kg N ha^-1, respectively. After calibration and validation of MSM, it was used to estimate suitable planting dates, forage yield and net requirement of water discharge for planting at different dates. The results indicated that the net requirement of water discharge was reduced by gradual planting at different planting dates. By considering different planting dates for maize, from Ordibehest 20th to Tir 10th, the planting area might be increased 17.9%, compared with single planting date on Ordibehesht 30th under a given farm water discharge and full irrigation.

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Irrigation water Scarcity is the major limiting factor for crop production in irrigated farming. Therefore, optimal use of water is influenced by seasonal rainfall especially where the water price is high. Nitrogen also plays a key role in plant nutrition. In this study, wheat grain yield production as a function of applied water (irrigation plus seasonal rainfall) and nitrogen fertilizer (applied plus soil residual nitrogen) using existing data of a field experiment, were used. This function was obtained based on the data from the Maraghah Agricultural Experiment station. Based on this production function, maximum attainable yield can be 8.12 t/ha obtained by the consumption of 1.56 m of water (irrigation plus rainfall) and 193 kg/ha of nitrogen. An economic analysis based on the Iso-Quant curve was conducted to optimize the application rates of production inputs (water and nitrogen). When land is limited, the optimum water and nitrogen use will be based on maximizing net returns from land unit area. The optimal levels of these inputs were determined on the basis of farmer ability for paying the costs of water and nitrogen. Furthermore, optimum amounts of water and nitrogen were determined for different levels of wheat yield. The results indicated that despite low price of irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer, at present market value, optimum values of water were more variable than those of nitrogen, for its high effective role in wheat production. The results also indicated that when there is no limitation of the source and use of water and nitrogen, and farmers are also able to pay their costs, application of 1.47 m of water (irrigation plus rainfall) and 190 kg/ha of nitrogen (applied plus soil residual) will produce maximum profit per hectare, reaching Rls 12,207,506. When water is limited, optimum levels of water and nitrogen will be based on the maximizing profit per unit of water. In this analysis, the use of 0.556 m of water (irrigation plus rainfall) and 190 kg/ha of nitrogen (applied plus soil residual) resulted in maximum net income per unit of applied water (irrigation plus rainfall) amounting to Rls/m3 1203. This amount of water use, which is 64.4 % lower than its amount under maximum yield condition, resulted in 181 % increase of cultivated area. Graphic expansion path on the isolines of yield showed more dependence of wheat production on water than nitrogen. Therefore, the optimum amounts of nitrogen in the three mentioned conditions are close to each other due to its subsidized price and lower effect on wheat production relative to water.

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Optimal crop water requirement is needed for precise irrigation scheduling. Prediction of crop water requirements is a basic factor to achieve this goal. In this study, maize potential evapotranspiration (ET_p) was prediced by maize simulation model (MSM). Then, it was evaluated and validated using experimental field data obtained in Agricultural Research Station of Shiraz University (Bajghah, Fars province) during 2003 and 2004. Comparison of measured volumetric soil water content with predicted values by MSM model in 2003 and 2004 indicated that this subroutine (prediction of maize evapotranspiration) did not need modification. Also, daily potential evapotranspiration of maize was estimated by using Penman-Monteith equation considering single and dual crop coefficients. Comparison between the results of predicted ET_p by MSM model, calculated ET_p by Penman-Monteith, and measured irrigation water and soil water content indicated that the prediction of ET_p by MSM model was satisfactory. Model prediction of seasonal ET_p, potential transpiration (T_p) and soil evaporation (E) were 831, 536 and 329 mm, respectively, in 2003, and 832, 518 and 314 mm, respectively, in 2004. The values of ET_p, T_p and E calculated by Penman-Monteith method using dual crop coefficients were 693, 489 and 205 mm, respectively, in 2003, and 700, 487 and 213, respectively in 2004. Maximum rate of predicted potential ET_p, Tp and E were 11.1, 8.2 and 5.1 mm d^-1, respectively in 2003 and 13.0, 9.0 and 4.0 mm d^-1, respectively in 2004. The values of calculated seasonal ET_p by Penman-Monteith method using single crop coefficient were 615 and 632 mm in 2003, and 2004, respectively. Comparison between the results of predicted ET_p by MSM model, calculated ET_p by Penman-Monteith equation with single and dual crop coefficients (FAO-56) and measured values of irrigation water and soil water contents of root depth indicated that FAO-56 methods underestimated the ET_p.

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Global solar radiation (Rs) has wide applications in several disciplines. The data of measured or predicted Rs are widely applied by solar engineers, architects, agriculturists and hydrologists. Due to the importance of Rs, several empirical models have been developed to predict its values all over the world. In this study, Angstrom model was calibrated based on the ratio of actual and possible sunshine hours n/N by using measured daily data of Rs at Bajghah meteorological station in Fars province during 2003-2004. The model was modified by using air temperature for considering the effect of cloudy conditions as well as n/N ratios. The results showed that using both the air temperatures and the ratios of n/N led to a higher accuracy. In regard to estimation of the Rs values, the results showed that mean air temperatures have a higher accuracy compared with differences between maximum and minimum air temperatures. Also, a new local model with higher accuracy was developed based on a number of daily meteorological parameters such as deficit vapor pressure, relative humidity, precipitation, mean air temperature, maximum and minimum air temperatures difference and n/N. This new local model that used different meteorological parameters had the highest accuracy in comparison with the other models. Also, a number of models developed by other investigators for estimation of Rs were calibrated for the study area. Finally, different selected models were validated by using the measured data of Rs in 2005. The results showed that the developed local multi-variable model provided higher accuracy results in comparison with the other radiation models.

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Water and fertilizer applications management should be improved due to scarce resources and environmental protection aspects. An analysis of crop yield production and profit maximization was conducted to determine the optimal water and nitrogen allocation. In this study, maize grain yields were predicted for 25 different amounts of irrigation water (350-1700 mm) and 46 different rates of nitrogen application (0-450 kg N/ha) were predicted using MSM (Maize Simulation Model) model. Irrigation water was distributed in growth period based on maize evapotranspiration. 30% and 70% nitrogen fertilization was used 19 and 50 days after planting date, respectively. Based on field operational costs and present market value in Fars province, optimal amounts of applied water and nitrogen were determined in different conditions of maximum yield (Wm and Nm, respectively), maximum profit under limited land (WL and NL, respectively) and maximum profit under limited water (Ww and Nw, respectively). At present market value ( 88 Rls m-3 for water, 1946 Rls kg-1 for nitrogen and 1570 Rls kg-1 for maize grain), the amounts of Wm, WL and Ww were 1336, 1008, 844 mm, respectively, and the amounts of Nm, NL and Nw were 450 kg N ha-1. Because of the low price of nitrogen, the optimum amounts of nitrogen in the analyzed conditions were similar. If the price of nitrogen and water are increased (i.e. 30000 Rls kg-1 N and 1000 Rls m-3 water), the optimum amounts of applied nitrogen and water in the analyzed conditions are changed to 450, 120 and 210 kg N ha-1, and 1336, 899 and 874 mm, respectively.

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Optimum management of water use in agriculture results in higher cultivated areas or enhances the share of water for municipal and industrial uses leading to economic development of a country. One of the effective methods in optimum water management is irrigation scheduling by using models which simulate water content in soils. In this study, a previously prepared model for irrigation water scheduling was modified to calculate daily effective rain, soil water content and deficiency. The model was applied for winter wheat field in Bajgah area using 13 years of local meteorological data. Furthermore, the effect of water storage in the soil profile on the amount and frequency of irrigation was examined. This model was written in Visual Basic.Net programming software. The model was run under two assumptions: 1) the effective rain compensates water deficiency of soil down to daily root depth and the excess water is assumed as deep percolation (case I) 2) the effective rain compensates water deficiency of soil down to maximum root depth and the excess water is assumed as deep percolation (case II). The results show that the amount and the frequency of irrigation in case 2 is less than case 1. Average amount and number of irrigation events decreased from 706.8 (mm) and 8 in case I to 569.2 and 6.4 in case II. The average relative percentage of effective rain increased from 45.2 % in case I to 76.9% in case II. The effective rain is 108.9 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 9 and 757.7 mm, respectively in case I (at probability level of 80%). The effective rain is 236.7 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 636.9 mm and 7.2, respectively in case II (at probability level of 50%). The effective rain is 165.6 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 712.6 mm 8, respectively in case I. The effective rain is 292.1 mm and the amount and number of irrigation events is 545.1 and 6, respectively in case II.

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In recent years, simulatiom modelling of yield has been the focus of attention for many researchers. Because, while reducing adminestrative costs, it can easily provide simulation models of different situations. In this study, while a subroutine on simulation of canola was added to CRPSM model, effect of different water treatments on canola was also investigated. In this research, canola (Talaye) under 5 irrigation treatments (full irrigation treatment during the growing period, water stress treatment at the spring re-growth stage, the flowering stage and pod formation, the grain formation stage and dry land treatment) was sown in complete randomized block designs at the college of Agriculture, Shiraz University during 2007-2008, and then the model was calibrated based on available information (soil-location -plant-water). Review of statistical indicators between simulated and measured yield show high accuracy in the estimation of crop yield (R2=0.98) and soil water content. The result of model validation with independent data series also showed that the result of soil water content is desirable except in dry treatment, and the corrolation coeficient between simulated and measured crop yield (R2=0.98) was acceptable.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crop residues management on soil physical and biological properties. The impacts of residue management on yield of forage corn and barley and soil micro-organisms population were also studied. The results showed that application of crop residues increased soil organic matter (22.2 %), saturated hydraulic conductivity (51.9 %), porosity (3.7 %), mean weight diameter (MWD) of the aggregates (5.4 %), and field capacity (5.8 %) and decreased bulk density (3.7 %) Whereas crop residues burring decreased soil organic matter (31.8 %), saturated hydraulic conductivity (36.6 %), porosity (0.5 %), mean weight diameter (MWD) of the aggregates (5.1 %), and field capacity (4.1 %) and increased soil bulk density (1 %). Soil water characteristic curves showed that the observed differences in soil water retention of application and burning residues treatments were higher at low matric suctions than those at high water matric suction. The results demonstrated that micro-organisms population significantly (P<0.05) decreased in residues burning treatment compared with the residues application treatment. Therefore, based on the results of this study residues' burning is not recommended in Ardabil.

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Intermittent irrigation of paddy fields with long intervals can cause cracks in heavy soils, facilitate loss of water and finally damage the crop. This study was carried out in order to investigate the cracking trend and some other factors affecting soil cracking in four different physiographical areas of paddy field. The study areas were Rasht, Shanderman, Astaneh and Khomam in Guilan province. The experiment was carried out in paddy fields with transplanted rice by determining the physical properties relevant to cracking behavior after irrigation withdrawal in the reproductive stage. Soil analysis showed that despite similarity in type of dominant minerals, the linear expansion coefficients of Rasht and Khomam soils were higher than those of two other areas. In addition, there was a significant relationship between crack dimensions and volumetric soil water content and clay content. Furthermore, the temporal variation in study of crack development (depth, width and density) showed that they varied in different areas and were affected by volumetric soil water content and the groundwater depth. In addition, the depth of cracks in all soils did not reach the hard pan. All the investigated soils showed a definite threshold for width and depth of cracks for 20-25 days after irrigation withdrawal. After this period, specific values for width (about 3.0, 2.0, 2.5, and 5.0 cm) and depth of cracks (20, 25, 17, and 27 cm) were registered for Astaneh, Khomam, Shanderman and Rasht, respectively

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In this research, the hydraulic behavior of two kinds of envelopes including synthetic envelope, PP450 and gravel envelope with USBR standard in two soil tank models with silty loam texture was investigated. Three water heads including 55, 75 and 105 cm (water logging) from drain level were used. The discharge of pipe drain in the steady state condition for gravel envelope and at 55, 75 and 105 cm water heads was 188.9, 172.0 and 897.0% more than those in PP450, respectively. Envelope hydraulic conductivity rates at gravel envelope for 55, 75 and 105 cm water heads were 24.6, 14.0 and 21.2 times higher than those in PP450, respectively, and gradient ratios in these water heads for gravel envelope were 14.5%, 2.8% and 14.2% lower than those for synthetic envelope. There were also different behaviors in the two kinds of envelopes for hydraulic conductivity and entrance resistance of pipe and envelope in 55 and 75 cm water heads relative to 105 cm. In general, according to the measured parameters in this research, gravel envelope showed a better performance.

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At the river catchments, different strategies at the whole or different parts of the basin can be applied for water resources management. One of these strategies is optimal water allocation and crop pattern. In this study, an optimization model for water allocation and cropping pattern is presented based on the cooperative game theory. To measure the performance of the developed model, the cultivated area of Ordibehesht Canal in the Doroodzan irrigation network has been studied. First, using a fuzzy model and considering the fuzzy coefficients values in the objective function and constraints, the optimal crop pattern and allocated water has been determined for each crop. Second, benefits of stakeholder’s coalitions have been determined by developing a cooperative game model and based on the structure and properties of the irrigation water distribution network and water rights of each part. Then, the total net benefit has been reallocated to the different stakeholder in a rational and equitable way using Least Core games. The results show that by allocating more water to the sectors with more potential production, more profits are generated and water productivity increases. For example when players cooperate together and form the grand coalition, the net benefit increases from 8.906 billion Tomans to 9.724 billion Tomans that show an increase in the economic productivity of water.

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In agricultural development many factors such as weather conditions, soil, fertilizer, irrigation timing and amount are involved that are necessary to be considered by the plant growth simulation models. Therefore, in this study, the values of soil water content at different depths of soil profile, dry matter production and grain yield of winter wheat were simulated using AquaCrop and WSM models. The irrigation treatments were rain-fed, 0/5, 0/8, 1 and 1/2 times of full irrigation conducted in Agricultral College of Shiraz University during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. The models were calibrated using measured data in the first year of experiment and validated by the second year data. The accuracy of soil water simulation was used to refer to the accuracy of simulated evapotranspiration. The accuracy of soil water content at different layers of root depth in the validation period was good for the WSM model (Normalized Root Mean Squer Error, NRMSE= 0/14). But the AquaCrop model showed less accuracy for soil water content (NRMSE=0/26). However, the values of predicted and measured crop evapotranspiration were close together at full irrigation treatment, the accuracy of AquaCop predictions was decreased with inceasing water stress. WSM model has had a good estimation of the dry matter and grain yield simulation with NRMSE of 0/15 and 0/18, respectively. However, they were simulated with less accuracy in the AquaCrop model with NRMSE of 0/19 and 0/39.

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