EFFECTIVES OF GRANULAR MATRIX SENSORS IN DIFFERENT IRRIGATION TREATMENTS AND INSTALLATION DEPTHS

Monika Marković; Marko Josipović; Jasna Šoštarić; Vladimir Zebec; Irena Rapčan

Monika Marković JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for plant production
Marko Josipović Agricultural Institute Osijek Department for Agricultural Technique and Melioration
Jasna Šoštarić JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for plant production
Vladimir Zebec JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for Agroecology
Irena Rapčan JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for agricultural machinery

Sažetak

Continuous monitoring of soil moisture content plays a key role in irrigation scheduling and yield formation. This study was conducted to derive the technique and efficiency of application of granular matrix sensors (GMS) in a sprinkler-irrigation of maize (Zea mays L.). Two irrigation (a2 = 60%-100% field capacity (FC), a3 = 80%-100% FC) treatments were imposed during two growing seasons (2010, 2012) and compared with rainfed control plots (a1). GMS are used as an indirect method for monitoring soil water status on two depths (b1 = 15 cm and b2 = 30 cm) in order to make decision when to irrigate. The sensors used in this study were calibrated using a mass-based gravimetric method. In both growing seasons irrigation treatment and installation depths have significant influence (P<0.01) on soil water content. Sensors have shown satisfactorily response to wetting and drying periods in irrigation scheduling at 30 cm depth. Yet, doe to variability of weather conditions slow response to wetting and drying was in periods with intensive rainfall events (2010) and drought conditions with frequent irrigation intervals (2012).

Biografije autora

Monika Marković, JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for plant production

PhD

Assistant professor

Research associate

Department for plant production and agricultural amelioration

Marko Josipović, Agricultural Institute Osijek Department for Agricultural Technique and Melioration

PhD

Research scientist

Department for agritechniqe

Jasna Šoštarić, JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for plant production

PhD, full professor

Senior research scientist

Department for plant production and agricultural amelioration

Vladimir Zebec, JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for Agroecology

PhD

Senior instructor

Department for agroecology

Irena Rapčan, JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER UNIVERSITY OF OSIJEK Faculty of agriculture in Osijek Department for agricultural machinery

PhD

Associate professor

Senior research scientist

Department for mechanization in agriculture