Interactive effects of water-table depth, rainfall variation, and sowing date on maize production in the Western Pampas
Date
2014
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
tShallow water-tables strongly influence agro-ecosystems and pose difficult management challenges tofarmers trying to minimize their negative effects on crops and maximize their benefits. In this paper, weevaluated how the water-table depth interacts with rainfall and sowing date to shape maize performancein the Western Pampas of Argentina. For this purpose, we analyzed the influence of water-table depthon the yields of 44 maize plots sown in early and late dates along eight growing seasons (2004–2012)that we rated as dry or wet. In addition, we characterized the influence of the water-table depth onintercepted radiation and crop water status by analyzing MODIS and Landsat images, respectively. Thefour conditions we evaluated (early sown-dry growing season, early-wet, late-dry, late-wet) showedsimilar yield response curves to water-table depth, with an optimum depth range (1.5–2.5 m) whereyields were highest and stable (∼11.6 Mg ha−1on average). With water-table above this range, yieldsdeclined in all conditions at similar rates (p > 0.1), as well as the crop water status, as suggested bythe Crop Water Stress Index, evidencing the negative effects of waterlogging. Water-tables deeper thanthe optimum range also caused declines of yield, intercepted radiation and crop water status, beingthese declines remarkably higher in early maize during dry seasons, evidencing a greater reliance of thiscondition on groundwater supply. Yield in areas with deep water-tables (>4 m) was significantly reducedto between a quarter and a half of yields observed in areas with optimum water-tables. Rainfall occurredaround flowering had a strong impact on maize yield in areas with deep water-tables, but not in areaswith optimum depth, where yields showed high temporal stability and independence from rainfall in thatperiod. Our study confirmed the strong influence of water-table on rainfed maize and provides severalguidelines to help farmers to take better decisions oriented to minimize hydrological risks and maximizethe benefits of shallow water-tables.
Description
item.page.type
Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Keywords
AGROECOLOGY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, ARGENTINA--PAMPAS, WATER BALANCE, PLAINS, HYDROLOGY, SALINIZATION, CROP MANAGEMENT, CROP YIELD, WINTER CROPS
Citation
Florio, E.L., Mercau, J.L., Jobbágy, E.G., & Nosetto, M.D. (2014). Interactive effects of water-table depth, rainfall variation, and sowing date on maize production in the Western Pampas. Agricultural Water Management, 146, 75-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.07.022