9/9/2009

AWATT Workshop on “Water efficiency Research and Demonstration—

and plant protection management for high Appropriate Technology
value crop production”
Dissemination
Dr. Ajay K Jha
Colorado State University Soil, Water Use and
August 8-12
FAO Building, Kabul Crop Production

Soil, Plant and water: Agronomic Best Practices for

Demonstrations a way to promote new
Sustainability of small farm production technologies.

Learning will occur by discovery and hands on Adoption and dissemination of agronomic
practical understanding practices are the hardest steps in extension work
Emphasis on cropping systems Adoption of new management and production
„ Natural Resources Evaluation practices
i is
i key
k ini maintaining
i i i profitable
fi bl farming
f i
„ Soil, water, climate, and plants operations
„ Human Resources Evaluation Even if information is readily available, many
„ Labor needs and supply, knowledge and experience farmers may be reluctant to adopt new
„ Market Evaluation and Trends in other parts of the methodology directly from research sources
world and neighboring countries
A very large disconnect exists between the
transfer of information from researcher to
producers

Lesson Learned from Last

How You Will Learn ? Workshop
Personal discovery and research The plans of 4 group plans are?
„ You need to ask a lot of questions New 5th group
Group discussion
Level of understanding on irrigation methods and
„ Use the collective knowledge of others in the course,
course
instructors, and participants water management at field level
„ Everyone must be involved Small farm adoption of irrigation system and
Presentations evaluation of ongoing activity
„ All course participants will give a presentation during Learning, evaluation of technology, adoption at
the course for their plan on demonstration and
technology transfer.
research and on farm site and strategy for
dissemination

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How Will Work How the Group Plan will work

Individual
Group
demonstration

Soil and Water

Group will meet every month after workshop and
Crop Business
Each group will be Resources Management Management work on their demonstration plan
assigned to adapt
technology in their
Connect with AWATT Farm Manager Naqib
Plants and
Soil fertility Labor
farm and plan a planting
Replication and sustainability is important for
dissemination strategy demonstration and tech transfer
to farmer’s field and Water and Crop rotations Marketing

measure success
irrigation The group will give a short overview of their
through the technology adoption and dissemination strategy at the
Pest Accounting
replication of these management end each cropping season.
farms. On-farm demo at farmers plots of each group needs to
Harvest and
Storage be connected with AWATT Badham Bagh
Demonstration and other regional farm

Adoption and dissemination of

technologies at Farmers plot Assignment of Specializations
On farm
demonstration
Owner: What crops? Irrigation
Location: systems and methods, Soil and Water
Resources
Crop
Management
Business
Management

Type of farm: plant protection

Plants
a ts and
a d
strategy—
strategy S il fertility
Soil f ili planting L b
Labor
Strategy of dissemination
Water and Crop rotations Marketing
irrigation
How to monitor and
evaluate? What Pest
management
Accounting

intervention required
and when? Harvest and
Storage

Assignment of Specialization
Group 4: Drip
Group 1: vegetable irrigation and mulch
production in villages (2009),Tomato Soil, Water and Nutrition
as “kitchen garden”.: certified variety vs.
Parwan hybrid in furrow
irrigation system
Group 2:
(2009-2010). Qargha
Flood/Furrow : Sweet
Corn: Darul Aman Group 5: new project
decide and present.
Group 3: Winter
Balkh and Nangarhar,
Wheat with flood and
Kapisa and Kabul:
furrow (2009-10-
Tomato & other crops
potato): Bamian

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Climate Biological Activity

Precipitation Plants
„ Weathering, leaching Microorganisms
„ Controls biological activity insects, worms, animals, weeds
Temperature Organic matter accumulation
„ Rate control on biochemical activity Nutrient cycling
Climate influences Strong interaction with climate!
„ vegetation and vegetation influences soil formation Feed back loops
Available water Vs. plant requirement Grass prairie>high water capture, little leaching>deep
organic matter accumulation

Topography Time
Hydrology Profile development
Soil movement „ Accumulation
„ Erosion surface „ A horizon accumulated
organic matter
„ Depositional surface „ B horizon accumulates
carbonates, clay, etc.
„ Losses
„ A horizons loose clay,
carbonates

Microclimate of soil and plant

Soil properties Soil texture

Understanding soil properties leads to improved Relative amounts of
crop management „ Sand
„ Soil texture „ Silt
„ S il structure
Soil „ Cl
Clay
„ Organic matter Controls
„ Density
„ Hydraulic properties

American system of soil textural classification

http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/bulkdensity/index.html

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Soil Coloring Soil Structure

Material Chemical Composition Color

Formation of soil particles into aggregates
Largely affected by soil management
Manganese Mn02 Purplish Black
Important for
Hematite Fe203 Red „ Plant growth
„ Soil water relations
Geothite FeOOH Yellow
„ Resistance to soil erosion
Hydrated Ferric Oxide Fe(OH)3*nH20 Red Brown

Calcite CaC03 Whitish

Glauconite KMg(Fe,Al)(SiO3)6.3H2O Greenish

Organic Matter in Mineral Soils

Horizonation
Changes in soil properties Water Air

with depth Organic

Soil managers must Mineral

understand what is below

the surface
Irrigation and hydraulic
properties affected by
textural changes (i.e.:
clay pans)
Small proportion of total soil
Huge impact on soil properties
1/3 or more of cation exchange capacity
Stability of soil aggregates
Energy supply
Nutrient supply

Sources of Soil Organic Matter

Plant residues (roots, shoots)

All other sources are secondary
„ Microorganisms
„ Bugs, worms
„ animals

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C:N Ratios
Organic Matter and Soil Properties
Typical C:N Ratios
Nutrient retention and supply Soil
Water retention and availability „ 8:1 to 15:1
Cation exchangeg capacity
p y „ 10:1 most common
Buffering capacity Plants
„ Legumes 20:1 to 30:1
Soil structural development and stability
„ Small grain straw 100:1
Biological activity and diversity
„ Animal manures20:1 to 30:1
Microbes
„ 4:1 to 9:1
„ Bacteria lower (more protein) than fungi and others

Cropping Systems and Soil Organic Crop Rotation and SOM

Matter

Two Controlling Processes Plant Species affects SOM in three ways

„ Production of Organic Residues „ Amount of Biomass Returned
„ Decomposition of Residues and Organic Matter „ Harvested parts
„ C
Composition
iti
For each element of a system, we must consider how it affects
both processes
„ For example, how would these affect the processes?

„ Crop Rotation

„ Tillage Practices

„ Fertilizer inputs

„ Irrigation practices

Applying Organic Materials to Soils

Review Soil Water Principles
Livestock manures Where is water stored
Biosolids in the soil?
Green manures and cover crops „ Pore spaces
Pore
Benefits Space
Mineral „ Pores vary in size and
48%
„ Chemical and physical affects 50% shape
h
„ Increase soil organic carbon content „ micropores
„ Fertility value „ macropores
„ Increased microbial activity Organic „ Water retention
„ Increased crop production 2% depends on pore size
Problems „ Soil texture and
„ Expensive to transport structure determine
„ Odor pore size distribution
„ Weed seeds
„ Toxic compounds/salts

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Soil Water Irrigation Principles – Grain Crops

Example - Corn
Three categories Know water needs as crop develops
1. Hygroscopic water
„ Microscopic film of water surrounding soil particles Week Growth Weekly ET (in)
„ Strong molecular attraction; water cannot be removed by natural forces 1, 2 -4 leaf .8
„ Adhesive forces (>31 bars and upto 10,000 bars!) 3, 4 4-8 leaf 1.4
2. Capillary water 5 8 10 leaf
8-10 11
1.1
„ Water held by cohesive forces between films of hygroscopic water 6 10-12 leaf 1.4
„ Can be removed by air drying or plant absorption 7 12-14 leaf 1.4
„ Plants extract capillary water until the soil capillary force is equal to the 8 14-16 leaf 1.5
extractive force 9 Pollination 2.3
„ Wilting point: soil capillary force > plant extractive force
10 Pollination 2.3
3. Gravity water 11 Grain Fill 1.8
„ Water that moves through the soil by the force of gravity 12 Grain Fill 1.8
• Field capacity 13 Grain Fill 1.8
– Amount of water held in the soil after excess water has drained 14 Grain Fill 1.7
is called the field capacity of the soil. 15 Grain Fill 1.7
16, 17 Maturity 3.2

Irrigation Scheduling Indicators

Irrigation scheduling is the decision of when and All irrigation scheduling procedures consist of
how much water to apply to a field. monitoring indicators that determine the need for
irrigation.

Irrigation scheduling saves water and energy.

Typical available water holding

Scheduling Methods capacities based on soil texture.
Table 1: Typical available water holding capacities based on
Hand feel method soil texture.
Textural classes Available water in inches/foot*
„ Distribute NRCS Feel Method Handout of depth
Coarse sands 0.60-0.80
„ Practice if time allows
Fine sands 0.80-1.00
Gravimetric Soil Moisture Sample Loamy sands 1.10-1.20
Sandy loams 1.25-1.40
Tensiometers Fine sandy loams 1.50-2.00
Silt loams 2.00-2.50
„ Demonstration
Silty clay loams 1.80-2.00
Water budget approach Silty clay 1.50-1.70
Clay 1.30-1.50
*To convert to metrics, use the following equivalents: 1 inch = 2.5
centimeters; 1 foot = 30 centimeters.

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Limited Irrigation Limited Irrigation Systems

Limited irrigation systems incorporate practices that

Limited irrigation is a form of deficit irrigation that reduce consumptive water use (ET) through a
seeks to maximize water productivity through combination of practices
„ limited irrigation
timing of irrigation applications at critical crop
„ crop rotations with different water use patterns
growth stages and through managed soil
„ lower water use crops
depletions for systems with less than adequate
„ cultural practices that conserve water
capacity or limited quantities of water. „ conservation tillage
„ reduced plant populations
„ weed and pest control practices
„ improved irrigation efficiency
„ variety selection

Cultural Practices AWATT Research and Demonstration

Weeds, Disease 40 m 40m 40m

Channel

Soil fertility Chili Pepper Tomato Corn

Frost, Heat, Salinity

Evaluate yield per unit of water used
Reduce direct evaporation from soil surface
„ Conservation tillage
Water logging Evaluate yield per unit of water Flood
D12 : Unlevelled Plot
Furrow Flood Furrow Flood Furrow

used Total Length of D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 120 m

Total Width of D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 36m
Total Furrow Area for D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 2160 sq.m
„ Reduce direct evaporation from soil surface Conservation No of beds in D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 36
Bed Length = 35m
tillage Bed Width = 75 cm
Total Flood Area for D12 (Unlevelled Field) = 2160 sq.m

AWATT Research and Demonstration

45m

Channel

Chilli Pepper Tomato Corn Tomato Chilli Pepper Corn

Needed Items Area(sq.m) Row x Row distance(cm) Plant x Plant distance(cm)

Sweet Corn Seed 2713 70 25-30
Cherry Tomato 2713 70 20 30
20-30
Chili Pepper 2713 70 20-25
Drip Irrigation Flood Furrow Flood Furrow Flood Furrow
15m 15m 15m 23.5m 23.5m 23.5m
D13:Leveled Plot
Total Length of D13 (Levelled Field) = 116 m
Total Width of D13 (Levelled Field) = 36m
Total drip area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1620 sq.m
Total Furrow Area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1269 sq.m
Total Flood Area of D13 (Levelled Field) = 1269 sq.m
No. of beds in D13 (Levelled Field) = 42
Length of bed = 35 m
Width of bed = 75 cm
Total Area(Sq.m) 4176

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Soil components Depth of water (dw)

A. Solids
1. inorganic particles =
sand, silt, clay
diameter:
clay < 0.002 mm
silt 0.002 to 0.05 mm
sand 0.05 to 2.0 mm
2. organic matter
B. Fluids
Source:
1. Water (moisture)
http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/
2. Air
1 unit area Drz = da + dw + ds
What about volumes?
da
dw
Drz
ds
Drz = depth of root zone
da = depth of air
dw = depth of water
Source:
http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/ ds = depth of solids

Assuming a unit area, all water balance

components can be expressed as depths of
water. Field capacity (FC)
P = precipitation
P
ET
Irr
Irr = irrigation
Moisture content that the soil can hold against
ET = evapotranspiration gravity
RO
RO = surface runoff Water in the soil after the excess water has been
I I = infiltration
i filt ti d i d commonly
drained; l assumedd to be
b at 1/3 bar
b soilil
D = drainage
moisture tension (SMT)
C = capillary rise
S
L S = storage (dw)
L = lateral flow

D C All components can also

be expressed as fluxes
(depth/area/time).
Source:
http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/k_12/lessons/profile/

Basic Principles:
Permanent wilting point (PWP) Irrigation Scheduling

Soil moisture content at which a plant This is the decision of when and how much water to
permanently wilts apply to a field
Normally approximated at 15 bar SMT Irrigation scheduling will save water pumping costs,
and labor
Actually varies with plant species and soil
physical properties Minimizes crop water stress
„ prevents over- and under-irrigation
Increases production
Helps to control salinity
There are several tools to help you to judge the soil
moisture content

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Basic Irrigation Principles and

Management The “look and feel” method
When is it time to 0.4 Dig down to the root zone of a crop/pasture and pick up a
irrigate? 0.35 handful of soil
Field Capacity
Generally, if the soil holds together, there is adequate moisture
% volume)
Usually when your soil is 0.3

at 50 % capacity 0.25 Available Water

Water Content (%

0.2
This is hard to tell 0.15
„ look for grasses that don’t 0.1
Wilting Point

spring up when stepped on 0.05

Unavailable Water

„ soils will usually hold 0

together fairly well when Sand Sandy
Loam
Loam Silt
Loam
Clay
Loam
Silty
Clay
Clay

adequately moist Finer Texture

„ if starting to crumble,
Graphic courtesy of Living on the Land, OSU Extension Service
plan to irrigate soon

Photo courtesy of Living on the Land

Look and Feel: Look and Feel:

Clay, clay loam, or Clay, clay loam, or Sandy loam or fine Sandy loam or fine
silty clay loam at 25- silty clay loam at 50- sandy loam at 25-50% sandy loam at 50-75%
50% moisture 75% moisture moisture moisture

Irrigation is overdue Will need to irrigate Irrigation is overdue Will need to irrigate
soon soon
Photos courtesy of Living on the Land, USDA NRCS

Measuring soil moisture. Soil Moisture Measurement

Measuring soil moisture for growing purposes is Tensiometer: direct measurement of soil water
typically done in one of two ways: tension, which is the tension all root systems must
overcome to extract water from the surrounding
a Volumetric measurement,
a. measurement the percentage of soil.
soil
water in a given amount of soil. The Watermark sensor (granular matrix sensor)
calibrated method of measuring soil water, an
b. Tensiometric measurement, the physical force electrical resistance type sensor, read by Soil
actually holding water in the soil, measured in Moisture Meter which converts the electrical
Centibars (or kPa) of soil water resistance reading to a calibrated reading of
Centibars (or kPa) of soil water tension.

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Why to use Tensiometer

•Soil-water tension and available
Amount of water is not as important as how water holding capacity (the amount
of water held in the root zone).
difficult it is for the plant to extract it from the soil •The % shown are Available Water
Holding Capacity depleted.
Soil water tension (or metric potential) has to be •Tension value is appropriate
pp p to
overcome for f theh plant
l to move water in i to its
i root determine when water needs to be
replenished.
system •Irrigations are scheduled when
Different soil types will have different tensions 50% of the available water has
been depleted (MAD or
even at the same volumetric measurement, making Management Allowable Depletion).
•Soil water tension measurement
volumetric information relative to local conditions is what really determines the
and often requiring site calibration for reading availability of moisture for plant
material
equipment.

Typical Available Water-Holding Capacity

Soil Texture mm Available Water
Coarse Sand 15-20
Fine Sand 20-25
Loamy Sand 28-30
Sandy Loam 32-36
Fine Sandy Loam 38-50
38 50
Loam 56-64
Silty Loam 51-64
Silty Clay Loam 46-51
Silty Clay 38-43
Clay 33-38
Source: SCS Colorado Irrigation Guide, 1988.

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General Estimates for Common High Value Crops

Crop water Requirement
Crop Crop water need (mm/total growing Crop water requirements, irrigation systems and
period) schedules maximizes crop growth and water
Beans 300 - 500 efficiency
Citrus 900 - 1200 It reduces nutrient leaching and water pollution
caused by runoff—a better utilization of scarce
Maize 500 - 800
water resources.
Sorghum/ 450 - 650
3 factors which determine the amount of water
millet that a crop requires:
Soybean 450 - 700 „ The climate in which the crop is grown
Sunflower 600 - 1000 „ The crop type that is grown
„ The development stage that the crop is in.

Crop water Requirement Transpiration

Local climate conditions, crop development stage
and season, soil properties to design an irrigation
system and schedule.
Thi allows
This ll for
f cultural
l l practices
i designed
d i d to
maximize crop water use efficiency.
Crop Evapo-transpiration rate (ETo)

Efficient Irrigation technology

Crop water Requirement (Water Use at the Farm)
The pan evaporation method is obtained by directly
measuring the evaporation rate from an evaporating Land preparation,
pan. The standard for this pan is a circular pan with
diameter of 1.21 m and depth of 25 cm placed 15 Crop selection and
cm above the soil surface.
management,
To use the pan, water is filled to 5 cm below the rim, Irrigation scheduling
and then water is allowed to evaporate over the
course of a day. Measurements are taken at a set Water application
time every day and daily rainfall is monitored as
well. With this size pan, the amount of water that Discharge flow
has evaporated (Epan) is the difference between the
two measured water depths (after taking rainfall into
measurement
account).

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Benefits Crop Per drop

N fixation with legumes
Improve soil tilth and H2O infiltration
Reduction of nematodes and disease
Weed
W d suppression/control
i / t l
N sequestration
Beneficial arthropod habitat
Organic certification – land use plans
C banking
Maximize Income per unit water use
„ Maximize Yield per unit water
„ Maximize “effectiveness” of rainfall and irrigation
„ Maximize Crop Value
„ Minimize Production Costs
„ Increase Flexibility
„ Reduce Risk

PLUGS
For Success

Timing
Good seed quality
I l t with
Inoculate ith appropriate
i t inoculums
i l
Good seed bed
Weed control
Irrigate
Appropriate mixtures of species/cultivars
Fertilize

Irrigation system design

High Quality Seedling nursery

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Strategic thinking !
Strategic thinking & planning ahead

What I am good at?

How do I plan ?
What are the options for successful planning?
What can go wrong?
How to create a team?
What is the level of coordination, cooperation and Suggested Additional Outlet on Island

communication exist with stakeholder and work?

What way successful for implementation?

Continuation of Knowledge
Promote appropriate technology to farmers field
for increasing productivity, income for Afghan
livelihood

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