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Title: Evapotranspiration-based Irrigation Scheduling for Container-grown Viburnum odoratissium (L.) Ker Gawl

Author
item MILLION, JEFF - University Of Florida
item YEAGER, TOM - University Of Florida
item Albano, Joseph

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2010
Publication Date: 11/1/2010
Citation: Million, J., Yeager, T., Albano, J.P. 2010. Evapotranspiration-based Irrigation Scheduling for Container-grown Viburnum odoratissium (L.) Ker Gawl. HortScience. 45(11):1741-1746.

Interpretive Summary: Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of irrigation method, traditional vs. evapotranspiration (ET)-based at two fertilizer rates. The ET-based method relies on just replacing the water lost since last irrigation which can be done simply by weighing containers or by calculation based on environmental conditions. Using the ET-based method for irrigation saved water (39%) and reduced the volume of nutrient-contaminated runoff (42%). Nutrients in runoff using ET-based method were lower than for the traditional irrigation method with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium 16%, 25%, and 22% lower, respectively. In conclusion, ET-based irrigation can reduce irrigation and runoff volumes and to a lesser extent nutrient loss while providing adequate water for plant growth.

Technical Abstract: The capacity for evapotranspiration (ET)-based irrigation scheduling to reduce runoff volume and nutrient leaching was tested in Fall 2004 and Spring 2005. Runoff (container leachate plus unintercepted irrigation and precipitation) was collected continuously for 17 weeks during production of sweet viburnum [Viburnum odoratissimum (L.) Ker Gawl.] in 2.4-L (16-cm top diameter) containers fertilized with an 18N-2.6P-10K polymer coated, controlled release fertilizer. Treatments were a factorial arrangment of two irrigation rates (fixed rate of 1 cm/d or a variable, ET-based rate) and two fertilizer rates (15 or 30 g/container in 2004 and 10 or 15 g/container in 2005). Averaged over the two experiments and compared with the 1 cm/d rate, ET-based irrigation reduced the amount of irrigation water applied (L/container) by 39% and runoff volume (L/container) by 42% with the greatest reductions observed during the second half of 2004 experiment and the first half of the 2005 experiment. Compared with 1 cm/d rate, ET-based irrigation reduced runoff nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) (mg/container) by 16%, 25%, and 22%, respectively, in 2004 and runoff K (15%) in 2005 with irrigation effects varying on a weekly basis. Irrigation treatments did not affect the response of plants to fertilizer rate. Because shoot dry weight was unaffected by irrigation treatments, results indicate that compared with fixed irrigation rate, ET-based irrigation can reduce irrigation and runoff volumes and to a lesser extent nutrient loss while providing adequate water for plant growth.