The effects of irrigation on root density profiles of potato, celery, and wheat

Irrigation rate should correspond to the effective root depth, however, crop root growth is influenced by a number of factors, and little data is available on the impact of irrigation. This contribution presents the results of several experiments in which the influence of sprinkler or drip irrigations on root density distribution of shallow, medium and deep rooted crops within the soil profile were studied. Irrigation significantly increased the root density of potato, celery, and wheat in the topsoil zone. On the contrary, at most cases there was only a slightly reduced root density in the subsoil layers. Total root length, to maximum root depth, only increased significantly with drip irrigation in potato. The root depths of these crops were not significantly modified by irrigation. The results suggest that the use of a constant value for the calculation of maximum irrigation depth in a specific crop may not correspond to the variability of root depth nor the distribution in different years or fields

FATIMA Czech pilot

In FATIMA project, a pilot site in Czechia was established to demonstrate how precision agriculture may serve for optimizing crop yields as well as for protection of water quality, since the pilot is located in Czech largest drinking water reservoir catchment. The pilot site Dehtáře is situated in the south-west Bohemo-Moravian Highland. The site contains tile drainage and is of very heterogeneous soil conditions; from shallow, light and stony Haplic Cambisols to heavy Haplic Gleysols, with profoundly different water regimes. For the field trial (spring barley in 2016), crop yield potential was determined from crop statuses as captured by satellite images) eight years back, assessed by Enhanced Vegetation Index. Based on this, as well as on a detailed soil survey and repeated soil sampling, variable fertilizer application zones (70 – 120%) were delineated and mineral fertilizers distributed accordingly with GPS operated spreader three times from late April to late May. The rest of the site was fertilized uniformly. Soil water regime (soil moisture, soil water potential) was monitored continuously on eight spots and real-time broadcasted by wireless sensor network to WEB GIS interface via SensLog solution, adopted from FOODIE project. In the same spots, soil water was sampled by gravitational soil lysimeters. Precise harvest showed a general agreement with the delineated application zones and yield potential, however, some ambiguities were revealed, most probably due to changeable soil water regime, as documented by the sensors, as well as due to variable soil chemical properties (low soil pH). Nevertheless, precisely applied fertilizer doses in the application zones brought about 10% higher crop yields with simultaneous better N crop efficiency. Soil water quality samples confirmed that heterogeneous doses of fertilizer in correctly delineated zones is a promising approach for improvement of groundwater quality especially in shallow soils with low water and nutrient retention abilit

A methodology for assessing the impact of cattle grazing on soil properties, water quality and quantity, plant and invertebrates diversity

This methodology introduces the approaches for assessment of soil, water, plant, forage and invertebrates characteristics of pastures as influenced by cattle grazing. These parameters are necessary to observe and evaluate in order to set the optimal grazing management of pastures for support of the sustainable land use and for mitigating the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment. Moreover, the proper management of pastures enables to improve livestock welfare, market challenges of foods, and strenghten and diversify various activities in rural areas. For the assessment of grazing-induced changes of aforementioned parameters, the focus is oriented towards different pasture geomorphological / hillslope zones, where grazing may exhibit in a distinct manner. The approaches are postponed based on literature survey as well as on knowledge acquired during a multi-branch research project. The methodology shows the principles for monitoring and evaluation of parameters regarding soil physics and chemistry, water quality and quantity, plant diversity and forage quality and ecology of selected invertebrate species. Beside this, approaches for application and interpretation of remote sensing methods and tools for detecting the changes in plant and soil pasture characteristics are introduced and discussed. The methodics is targeted on one hand for specialist from state administration offices (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Environment) as a background for evaluation of the effectiveness of subsidy programmes focused on grazing management. On the other hand, the approaches described in the methodics can serve the experts for an integrated assessment of grazing management on various pasture parameters or on the environment. The novelty of the methodics lies in the multi-level approach, which enables to assess the pasture parameters both individually or jointly, according to their mutual interrelatons and possible driving factors