Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Productive Response of Drip-irrigated Onion (Allium cepa L.) in Mediterranean Conditions

[EN] Water is an essential resource for food production, and agriculture consumes close to 69% of total freshwater use. Water shortage is becoming critical in arid and semiarid areas worldwide; therefore, it is vital to use water efficiently. The objective of this research was to evaluate the response of onion growth, plant water status, bulb yield, irrigation water use efficiency and bulb quality using three continued deficit strategies, applying 100, 75, and 50% of the irrigation water requirements during three seasons. The yield response factor was 0.71, indicating that in the analysed conditions the crop was tolerant to a water deficit. Compared to full irrigation, deficit irrigation with 75% of the irrigation water requirements resulted in a low yield and profit reduction for the growers (10.3% and 10.9%, respectively), but also important water savings (26.6%), improving both the irrigation water use efficiency and water use efficiency. However, onion exposure to severe water deficits at 50% of the irrigation water requirements drastically reduced plant growth and bulb yield and growers' profits, although it did increase their soluble solid content. Irrigating at 75% of the irrigation water requirements could be an actionable strategy for onion production under water-limited conditions.Abdelkhalik, A.; Pascual-Seva, N.; Nájera, I.; Domene, MA.; Baixauli Soria, C.; Pascual España, B. (2019). Effect of Deficit Irrigation on the Productive Response of Drip-irrigated Onion (Allium cepa L.) in Mediterranean Conditions. Horticulture Journal. 88(4):488-498. https://doi.org/10.2503/hortj.UTD-081S48849888

Python software to transform GPS SNR wave phases to volumetric water content

[EN] The global navigation satellite system interferometric reflectometry is often used to extract information about the environment surrounding the antenna. One of the most important applications is soil moisture monitoring. This manuscript presents the main ideas and implementation decisions needed to write the Python code to transform the derived phase of the interferometric GPS waves, obtained from signal-to-noise ratio data continuously observed during a period of several weeks (or months), to volumetric water content. The main goal of the manuscript is to share the software with the scientific community to help users in the GPS-IR computation.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.Martín Furones, ÁE.; Anquela Julián, AB.; Ibañez Asensio, S.; Baixauli Soria, C.; Blanc Clavero, S. (2022). Python software to transform GPS SNR wave phases to volumetric water content. GPS Solutions. 26(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-021-01190-315261Chen Q, Won D, Akos DM, Small EE (2016) Vegetation using GPS interferometric reflectometry: experimental results with a horizontal polarized antenna. IEEE J Sel Top Appl Earth Obs Remote Sens 9(10):4771–4780Chew CC, Small EE, Larson KM, Zavorotny VU (2014) Effects of near-surface soil moisture on GPS SNR data: development and retrieval algorithm for soil moisture. IEEE T Geosci Remote Sens 52(1):537–543Chew CC, Small EE, Larson KM, Zavorotny UZ (2015) Vegetation sensing using GPS-interferometric reflectometry: theoretical effects of canopy parameters on signal-to-noise ratio data. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 53(5):2755–2764Chew CC, Small EE, Larson KM (2016) An algorithm for soil moisture estimation using GPS-interferometric reflectometry for bare and vegetated soil. GPS Solut 20(3):525–537Larson KM, Nievinski FG (2013) GPS snow sensing: results from the earthscope plate boundary observatory. GPS Solut 17(1):41–52Larson KM, Small EE (2015) PBO H2O data portal: documentation and derived data products. https://www.unavco.org/data/gps-gnss/derived-products/pbo-h2o/documentation/documentation.html#soil. Accessed Dec 2019Larson KM, Small EE, Gutmann ED, Bilich AL, Axelrad A, Braun JJ (2008a) Using GPS multipath to measure soil moisture fluctuations: initial results. GPS Solut 12(3):173–177Larson KM, Small EE, Gutmann ED, Bilich AL, Braun JJ, Zavorotny VU (2008b) Use of GPS receivers as a soil moisture network for water cycle studies. Geophys Res Lett 35:L24405. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL036013Larson KM, Braun JJ, Small EE, Zavorotny VU (2010) GPS multipath and its relation to near-surface soil moisture content. IEEE J Sel Top Appl Earth Obs Remote Sens 3(1):91–99Martín A, Ibañez S, Baixauli C, Blanc S, Anquela AB (2020a) Multi-constellation interferometric reflectometry with mass-market sensors as a solution for soil moisture monitoring. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3573-2020Martín A, Luján R, Anquela AB (2020b) Python software tools for GNSS interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR). GPS Solut 24:94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-020-01010-0Nievinski GG, Larson KM (2014) An open source GPS multipath simulator in Matlab/Octave. GPS Solut 18:473–481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-014-0370-zRoesler C, Larson KM (2018) Software tools for GNSS interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR). GPS Solut. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-018-0744-8Roussel N, Frappart F, Ramillien G, Darroes J, Baup F, Lestarquit L, Ha MC (2016) Detection of soil moisture variations using GPS and GLONASS SNR data for elevation angles ranging from 2 to 70°. IEEE J Sel Top Appl Earth Obs Remote Sens 9(10):4781–4794Small EE, Larson KM, Chew CC, Dong J, Ochsner TE (2016) Validation of GPS-IR soil moisture retrievals: comparison of different algorithms to remove vegetation effects. IEEE J Sel Top Appl Earth Obs Remote Sens 9(10):4759–4770Vey S, Güntner A, Wickert J, Blume T, Ramatschi M (2016) Long-term soil moisture dynamics derived from GNSS interferometric reflectometry: a case study for Sutherland, South Africa. GPS Solut 20:641–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-015-0474-0Wan W, Larson KM, Small EE, Chew CC, Braun JJ (2015) Using geodetic GPS receivers to measure vegetation water content. GPS Solut 19:237–248Zhang S, Roussel N, Boniface K, Ha MC, Frappart F, Darrozes J, Baup F, Calvet JC (2017) Use of reflected GNSS SNR data to retrieve either soil moisture or vegetation height from a wheat crop. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 21:4767–478

Adelante / Endavant

Séptimo desafío por la erradicación de la violencia contra las mujeres del Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere "Purificación Escribano" de la Universitat Jaume

Productive Response to Gibberellic Acid in Three Cultivars of Seed Propagated Artichoke

The usual artichoke productive cycle in The Spanish Mediterranean Coast with common clone varieties happens from October to May, but the most interesting period is from middle October to first March. Plants of three seed propagated cultivars('Imperial Star', 'Harmony' and 'Madrigal'), which were planted on 1st August 2005; were sprayed three times between 20th September and 20th October 2005 with gibberellic acid (GA(3)), at doses of 30, 60 and 90 mg L-1 (D-1, D-2 and D-3 respectively); so that it was applied a total of 375 L. ha(-1). Three replicates of 10 plants per cultivar were arranged in a completely randomized design. The highest early yields (until the end of January 2006) were obtained with all GA(3) doses compared to the control, and with 'Imperial Star' and 'Harmony' against ` Madrigal'. GA(3) doses did not affect early production of ` Imperial Star'. Nevertheless in 'Harmony' and mainly in ` Madrigal', the higher doses caused earlier productions, having been found significant interactions (GA(3) doses x cultivar). The total commercial yield (until the end of May 2006) was higher on control plants and D-1 and D-2 treated plants, than on D-3 plants. The total commercial yield was also higher in ` Madrigal' than in 'Harmony' and ` Imperial Star'. Besides, in ` Imperial Star' and 'Harmony' the total commercial yields decreased as GA(3) doses were increased. Head weight in the early and total commercial production was similar among cultivars and was not affected by the GA(3) dose. On the other hand the incidence of open bracts in the early production was higher on D-2 and D-3 treated plants, and this incidence was higher in ` Imperial Star' than in 'Harmony' and ` Madrigal' along all the experiment with statistically differences.Baixauli Soria, C.; López Galarza, SV.; Pascual España, B.; San Bautista Primo, A.; Maroto Borrego, JV. (2012). Productive Response to Gibberellic Acid in Three Cultivars of Seed Propagated Artichoke. Acta Horticulturae. 942:361-367. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.942.53S36136794

Productive Behaviour of Different Cultivars and Lines of Seed Propagated Artichoke in the Spanish Mediterranean Area

The original publication is available at www.actahort.orgThe most interesting artichoke production period in the Spanish Mediterranean Coast is autumn-winter. Seeds of seven cultivars ('Imperial Star', 'Alberca', 'Harmony', 'Concerto', 'Madrigal', 'Opal' and 'Lorca') and five lines ('DS-1000', 'DS-2000', 'AR-1', 'AR-2' and 'AR-3') were sown in polystyrene trays on the 14th June 2005 and planted on the 1st August in south Valencia, Spain. 'Blanca de Tudela' and 'Violeta de Provenza', which are asexually propagated cultivars, were planted in the same date and used as controls. Three replicates of 10 plants per cultivar/line were arranged in a completely randomized design. All cultivars and lines were sprayed three times between 20th September and 20th October 2005 with gibberellic acid at 30 mg L-1. Harvest started in October for 'Blanca de Tudela' and among seed propagated cultivars/lines, 'Imperial Star' and 'Lorca' (beginning harvest in November) were the earliest, while 'Concerto' and 'Madrigal' (beginning harvest in February) were the latest. At the end of February 2006, 'Imperial Star' (0.72 kg m(-2) of market yield), 'Blanca de Tudela', 'Lorca' and 'DS-1000' (0.66 kg m(-2) for all three), were the most productive varieties. The highest total market yields (until the end of May 2006) were obtained in 'Madrigal' (2.28 kg m(-2)), 'Concerto' (1.86 kg m(-2)), 'AR-3' (1.77 kg m(-2)) and 'DS-1000' (1.69 kg m(-2)). Whereas the highest non-marketable yields were reached by 'AR-2' (1.05 kg m(-2)), 'AR-3' (0.84 kg m(-2)) and 'DS-2000' (0.78 kg m(-2)). Furthermore at the end of the experiment (end of May), there were not differences among cultivars/lines, for the variable head size (between 91 and 157 g), however some statistically differences during some controls made over the productive cycle were detected for this parameter.Baixauli Soria, C.; López Galarza, SV.; Pascual España, B.; San Bautista Primo, A.; Maroto Borrego, JV. (2011). Productive Behaviour of Different Cultivars and Lines of Seed Propagated Artichoke in the Spanish Mediterranean Area. Acta Horticulturae. 942(942):319-323. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.942.46S31932394294

Agronomic behaviour of seed propagated artichoke cultivars in the spanish mediterranean area

Seeds of eight cultivars of globe artichoke (‘Imperial Star’; ‘A-107’; ‘A-109’; ‘Harmony’, formerly ‘Nun-3031’; ‘Nun-3007’, ‘Madrigal’, formerly ‘Nun-9444’; ‘Prelude’ and ‘Concert’) were sown in polystyrene trays on the 24th May 2002 and planted on the 30th June, in soil in south Valencia, Spain. The asexually propagated cultivar ‘Blanca de Tudela’ served as control. Three replicates of 9 plants per cultivar were arranged in a completely randomized design. All cultivars were sprayed three times every 2 weeks with 30 mg L-1 of gibberellic acid (GA3) starting on the 29th September 2002. Harvest started on the 7th November 2002 for the cultivars ‘Blanca de Tudela’, ‘I. Star’ and ‘Harmony’; on the 18th November for the ‘A-107’ and ‘Prelude’ cultivars and on the 12th December 2002 for the remaining cultivars. At the end of December the most productive cultivar was ‘Harmony’ (0.71 kg m-2) (p≤0.01), and ‘Imperial Star’ was also more productive than the other cultivars. By the end of February 2003 the most productive cultivars were ‘I. Star’ (1.02 kg m-2), ‘Harmony’ (0.90 kg m-2) and ‘Nun-3007’ (0.92 kg m-2). At the end of the experiment (May 2003) the highest yields were obtained in ‘Madrigal’ (3.03 kg m-2), followed by ‘Nun-3007’ (2.63 kg m-2), ‘Harmony’ (2.23 kg m-2) and ‘I. Star’ (2.18 kg m-2). The average weight of artichoke heads was higher in ‘Concert’ (242 g) and ‘Nun-3007’ (242 g) by the end of December 2002. At the end of February heads were larger in ‘Madrigal’ (189 g), ‘A-109’ (177 g), ‘Concert’ (176 g) and ‘Nun-3007’ (157 g) while at the end of the experiment in ‘Nun-3007’ (160 g), ‘Concert’ (147 g), ‘Madrigal’ (144 g) and ‘Concert’ (132 g). The highest percentage of non-marketable heads was for the cultivar ‘A-107’, which was especially affected by excessively open bracts.Baixauli Soria, C.; Giner, A.; Miguel Gómez, A.; López Galarza, SV.; Pascual España, B.; Maroto Borrego, JV. (2007). Agronomic behaviour of seed propagated artichoke cultivars in the spanish mediterranean area. Acta Horticulturae. 730:143-147. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.730.16S14314773

Gibberellic Acid Concentrations in Seed Propagated Artichoke

In Spain, the artichoke crop is interesting for autumn-winter production. With vegetative propagated cultivars, like ‘Blanca de Tudela’ or ‘Violeta de Provenza’, the harvest starts at the beginning of autumn and finishes at the end of spring. The currently available seed propagated cultivars are not as early as the asexually propagated ones mentioned above. For this reason, to obtain production in the autumn-winter cycle with seed propagated cultivars, it is necessary to use the earlier ones, to plant at the beginning of the summer and to spray plants with gibberellic acid (GA) to substitute the lack of vernalization requirements. The trials were conducted during three seasons. In 1999-2000, using the cultivar ‘A-106’ and ‘A-108’, two concentrations of GA (10 and 30 ppm) were compared with untreated plants. In the 2000-2001 season, using the cultivars ‘Lorca’ and ‘Nun 98465’ and in the 2001-2002 season, using the cultivars ‘A-106’ and ‘Nun 9409’, three concentrations of GA (10, 30 and 50 ppm) were also compared with untreated plants. The cultivars ‘A-106’ and ‘Lorca’ are similar to Imperial Star and earlier than the hybrids ‘Nun 98465’ and ‘Nun 9409’. In the earlier cultivars, GA applications increased early yields. No significant differences in yield or head weight were found among the GA concentrations tested. In the latest cultivars (‘Nun 98465’ and ‘Nun 9409’), higher concentrations of GA slightly increased early yields, but not high enough to be comparable to the earlier ones.Miguel Gómez, A.; Baixauli Soria, C.; Aguilar, JM.; Giner, A.; Maroto Borrego, JV.; López Galarza, SV. (2004). Gibberellic Acid Concentrations in Seed Propagated Artichoke. Acta Horticulturae. 660:167-172. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.660.21S16717266

Agronomic response of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to CO2 enrichment in greenhouses with static ventilation

Three Italian-type sweet pepper cultivars, ‘Palermo’, ‘Estar’ and ‘Charly’, grown in rockwool, were subjected to CO2 enrichment up to 500 and 800 µL L-1 and compared with the natural concentration. Plant growth, measured as plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area, was higher in the CO2enriched greenhouses. CO2 enrichment leads to a higher yields in all cultivars, particularly at the highest concentration. Average fruit weight at 800 µL L-1 was higher than in the other treatments, while blossom-end rot incidence was lower in the control plants and higher in plants with CO2 enrichment, especially at 500 µL L-1. The CO2 enrichment resulted in a significant improvement in water use efficiency, both for marketable and total production.Baba, M.; Maroto Borrego, JV.; San Bautista Primo, A.; Pascual España, B.; López Galarza, SV.; Baixauli Soria, C. (2006). Agronomic response of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to CO2 enrichment in greenhouses with static ventilation. Acta Horticulturae. 719:521-528. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.719.60S52152871

Interaction between cultivar and gibberellic acid concentration in seed propagated artichoke

Plants of three seed propagated artichoke cultivars (‘Harmony’, ‘Madrigal’ and ‘Nun-3033’), planted on 9th July 2004 at 0.74 plants m-2, were sprayed three times, every two weeks, with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 30, 60 and 90 mg L-1, starting on 17th September, applying a total of 375 L ha-1. Significant interactions between cultivar and GA3 concentration were found for early and total yields. Early yields of ‘Harmony’ reached the maximum at 60 mg L-1 of GA3, decreasing the response at higher concentration. Early yields of ‘Madrigal’ and ‘Nun-3033’ increased up to 90 mg L-1 of GA3. Early yields of ‘Madrigal’ were very low and not significantly affected by GA3 application at any concentration. There was no response by ‘Madrigal’, the latest among the three cultivars, at 30 mg L-1 of GA3, needing higher concentrations to achieve some early yields. Total yields proportionally decreased as GA3 concentration increased. In ‘Madrigal’ this reduction was less than proportional. In ‘Harmony’ and ‘Nun-3033’ total yields were higher in control than in GA3-treated plants, while in ‘Madrigal’ the highest yields were obtained in plants treated with 30 mg L-1 of GA3. Head weight in the early production was similar among the three cultivars and was not affected by the GA3 concentration, while average head weight at the end of the experiment was greater in ‘Madrigal’ than in the other cultivars.Baixauli Soria, C.; Giner, A.; Miguel Gómez, A.; López Galarza, SV.; San Bautista Primo, A.; Maroto Borrego, JV. (2007). Interaction between cultivar and gibberellic acid concentration in seed propagated artichoke. Acta Horticulturae. 730:165-170. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.730.19S16517073