Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evapotranspiration and groundwater exchange for border and drip irrigated maize field in arid area with shallow groundwater

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Irrigation effectively guarantees the development of agriculture in arid areas, and groundwater is an essential source of supporting farmland water consumption in shallow groundwater areas. However, it is difficult to accurately quantify the contribution of groundwater to evapotranspiration (ET) on a short time scale, and the influence of different irrigation methods on the hydrological process of farmland are rarely involved. It is significant to understand this process for managing agricultural water use and assessing groundwater resources, especially in arid areas with shallow groundwater. The main purposes of this study were to evaluate the effects of border and drip irrigation on maize ET, and to assess the contribution of groundwater to crop water consumption under shallow groundwater. In this study, eddy covariance system and meteorological station were used to estimate actual ET and potential ET, and the groundwater depth, soil water content in the maize field were monitored. Water balance equation was used to clarify the effective utilization efficiency of irrigation water and water transformation process. The results showed that the total ET of maize growth period under border irrigation and drip irrigation were 490.3 mm and 536.9 mm, and the crop coefficient at the critical growth period were 1.11 and 1.22, respectively. According to the water balance calculation, the effective utilization efficiency of irrigation water under the two irrigation methods were only 0.72 and 0.66. The daily average water flux of groundwater evaporation under border irrigation was around 1.55 mm, which was less than 2.58 mm under drip irrigation over the whole growth period of maize. The contribution rates of groundwater evaporation to crop water consumption of border irrigation at whole growth stage was 26%, which was less than 41% of drip irrigation. These results highlighted the effects of irrigation methods and shallow groundwater on the crop evapotranspiration and field water flux exchange in arid regions, and provided a new perspective for understanding agro-hydrological processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed are available upon request by email to the corresponding author.

References

  • Allan RG, Pereira LS, Raes D, Smith M (1998) Crop evapotranspiration: Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

  • Allen RG, Pruitt WO, Wright JL, Howell TA, Ventura F, Snyder R, Itenfisu D, Steduto P, Berengena J, Yrisarry JB (2006) A recommendation on standardized surface resistance for hourly calculation of reference ETo by the FAO56 Penman-Monteith method. Agr Water Manage 81(1–2):1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayars JE, Christen EW, Soppe RW, Meyer WS (2006) The resource potential of in-situ shallow ground water use in irrigated agriculture: a review. Irrigation Sci 24(3):147–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-005-0003-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babajimopoulos C et al (2007) Contribution to irrigation from shallow water table under field conditions. Agric Water Manag 92(3):205–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao Y, Liu T, Duan L, Tong X, Wang G (2021) Comparison of an improved Penman-Monteith model and SWH model for estimating evapotranspiration in a meadow wetland in a semiarid region. Sci Total Environ 795(3):148736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastug R, Karaca C, Buyuktas D, Aydinsakir K, Dinc N (2021) The effects of deficit irrigation practices on evapotranspiration, yield and quality characteristics of two sesame varieties (Sesamum indicum L.) grown in lysimeters under the Mediterranean climate conditions. Irrigation Sci 39(5):587–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogaart PW, Teuling AJ, Troch PA (2008) A state-dependent parameterization of saturated-unsaturated zone interaction. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chávez JL, Howell TA, Copeland KS (2009) Evaluating eddy covariance cotton ET measurements in an advective environment with large weighing lysimeters. Irrigation Sci 28(1):35–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-009-0179-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding R, Kang S, Li F, Zhang Y, Ling T (2013) Evapotranspiration measurement and estimation using modified Priestley-Taylor model in an irrigated maize field with mulching. Agric Forest Meteorol 168(none):140–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diouf OC, Weihermüller L, Diedhiou M (2020) Modelling groundwater evapotranspiration in a shallow aquifer in a semi-arid environment - ScienceDirect. J Hydrol 587:124967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Djaman K, Irmak S (2013) Actual crop evapotranspiration and alfalfa- and grass-reference crop coefficients of maize under full and limited irrigation and rainfed conditions. J Irrig Drain Eng 139(6):433–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel RE, D’Odorico P, Epstein HE (2007) A dynamic soil water threshold for vegetation water stress derived from stomatal conductance models. Water Resour Res 43(3):455–456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahle M, Dietrich O (2014) Estimation of evapotranspiration using diurnal groundwater level fluctuations: comparison of different approaches with groundwater lysimeter data. Water Resour Res 50(1):273–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan J, Oestergaard KT, Guyot A, Lockington DA (2014) Estimating groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration from water table fluctuations under three vegetation covers in a coastal sandy aquifer of subtropical Australia. J Hydrol 519(PA):1120–1129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Huo Z, Bai Y, Feng S, Huang G, Shi H, Qu Z (2015) Soil salt and groundwater change in flood irrigation field and uncultivated land: a case study based on 4-year field observations. Environ Earth Sci 73(5):2127–2139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghamarnia H, Golamian M, Sepehri S, Arji I (2013) The contribution of shallow groundwater by safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under high water table conditions, with and without supplementary irrigation. Irrigation Sci 31(3):285–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haghverdi A, Singh A, Sapkota A, Reiter M, Ghodsi S (2020) Developing irrigation water conservation strategies for hybrid bermudagrass using an evapotranspiration-based smart irrigation controller in inland southern California. Agric Water Manage 245:106586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hang C, Huo Z, Dai X, Ma S, Xu X, Huang G (2018) Impact of agricultural water-saving practices on regional evapotranspiration: the role of groundwater in sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid areas. Agr Forest Meteorol 263:156–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson B (2007) Effect of subsurface drip irrigation on processing tomato yield, water table depth, soil salinity, and profitability. Agr Water Manage 68(1):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazir SÇ (2021) Groundwater quality assessment for irrigation: case study in the Blinaja river basin, Kosovo. Civil Eng J 7(9):1515–1528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong Y, Zhang XY, Chen SY (2005) Evapotranspiration, yield and crop coefficient of irrigated maize under straw mulch. Pedosphere 15(5):576–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Huo Z, Feng S, Huang G, Zheng Y, Wang Y, Guo P (2012) Effect of groundwater level depth and irrigation amount on water fluxes at the groundwater table and water use of wheat. Irrig Drain 61(3):348–356. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen CR, Battilani A, Plauborg F, Psarras G, Chartzoulakis K, Janowiak F, Stikic R, Jovanovic Z, Li G, Qi X (2010) Deficit irrigation based on drought tolerance and root signalling in potatoes and tomatoes. Agr Water Manage 98(3):403–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia N, Yin N, Zhang N, Zhang N, Zhang N, Tang N, Dong N (2021) Quantification of groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration along a semi-arid wetland transect using diurnal water table fluctuations. J Arid Land 13(5):455–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez MJ, Candela L, Molinero J, Tamoh K (2010) Groundwater recharge in irrigated semi-arid areas: quantitative hydrological modelling and sensitivity analysis. Hydrogeol J 18(8):1811–1824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karimov AK, Im Nek J, Hanjra MA, Avliyakulov M, Forkutsa I (2014) Effects of the shallow water table on water use of winter wheat and ecosystem health: implications for unlocking the potential of groundwater in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia). Agr Water Manage 131:57–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kong Q, Li G, Wang Y, Wen Y (2010) Influences of subsurface drip irrigation and surface drip irrigation on bell pepper growth under different fertilization conditions. Trans Chin Soc Agric Eng 26(7):21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurc SA, Small EE (2004) Dynamics of evapotranspiration in semiarid grassland and shrubland ecosystems during the summer monsoon season, central New Mexico. Water Resour Res 40(9):n/a-n/a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladekarl UL, Rasmussen KR, Christensen S, Jensen KH, Hansen B (2005) Groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration for two natural ecosystems covered with oak and heather. J Hydrol 300(1–4):76–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer P (2020) Groundwater mining in contemporary urban development for European spa towns. J Hum Earth Future 1(1):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín S, Arce B, Garcia-Torres V (2008) Influence of drip and furrow irrigation systems on nitrogen oxide emissions from a horticultural crop. Soil Biol Biochem 40(7):1698–1706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers TP, Hollinger SE (2004) An assessment of storage terms in the surface energy balance of maize and soybean - ScienceDirect. Agr Forest Meteorol 125(1–2):105–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris JD, Collopy JJ (1999) Water use and salt accumulation by Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Casuarina cunninghamiana on a site with shallow saline groundwater. Agr Water Manage 39(2–3):205–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olanya OM, Honeycutt CW, He Z, Larkin RP, Halloran JM, Frantz JM (2012) Early and late blight potential on russet burbank potato as affected by microclimate, cropping systems and irrigation management in northeastern united states. Springer, Netherlands

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Patil A, Tiwari KN (2018) Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of Okra under subsurface drip with and without plastic mulch. Curr Sci India 115(12):2249–2258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pool S, Francés F, Rats AG, Puertes C, Artínez JJ (2021) Hydrological modeling of the effect of the transition from flood to drip irrigation on groundwater recharge using multi-objective calibration. Water Resour Res 57(8):1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin S, Li S, Kang S, Du T, Tong L, Ding R (2016) Can the drip irrigation under film mulch reduce crop evapotranspiration and save water under the sufficient irrigation condition? Agr Water Manage 177:128–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez VJ, Heinemann AB, Castro AD, Breseghello F, Navarro RC, Tao L, Rebolledo MC, Challinor AJ (2018) Breeding implications of drought stress under future climate for upland rice in Brazil. Global Change Biol 24(5):2035–2050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherm H, Bruggen A (1995) Comparative study of microclimate and downy mildew development in subsurface drip- and furrow-irrigated lettuce fields in California. Plant Dis 79(6):620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seo H, Kim Y (2021) Role of remotely sensed leaf area index assimilation in eco-hydrologic processes in different ecosystems over East Asia with community land model version 4.5 – biogeochemistry. J Hydrol 594:125957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shu LZ, Liu R, Min W, Wang YS, Zhu JR (2020) Regulation of soil water threshold on tomato plant growth and fruit quality under alternate partial root-zone drip irrigation. Agr Water Manage 238:106200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Si Z, Zain M, Mehmood F, Wang G, Gao Y, Duan A (2020) Effects of nitrogen application rate and irrigation regime on growth, yield, and water-nitrogen use efficiency of drip-irrigated winter wheat in the North China Plain. Agr Water Manage 231:106002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun H, Zhang X, Liu X, Liu X, Shao L, Chen S, Wang J, Dong X (2019) Impact of different cropping systems and irrigation schedules on evapotranspiration, grain yield and groundwater level in the North China Plain. Agr Water Manage 211:202–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syed N, Zhao S, Babar M, Soothar R (2021) Analysis of conveyance losses from tertiary irrigation network. Civil Eng J 7(10):1731–1740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian H, Chen G, Liu M, Zhang C, Sun G, Lu C, Xu X, Ren W, Pan S, Chappelka A (2010) Model estimates of net primary productivity, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency in the terrestrial ecosystems of the southern United States during 1895–2007 - ScienceDirect. Forest Ecol Manag 259(7):1311–1327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trejo J, Aguiluz H, Ramírez JO, López AR, Coronado PY (2010) Water use in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with subsurface drip irrigation. Rev Mex Cienc Pecu 1(2):145–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Usman M, Liedl R, Kavousi A (2015) Estimation of distributed seasonal net recharge by modern satellite data in irrigated agricultural regions of Pakistan. Environ Earth Sci 74(2):1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vorosmarty CJ, Green P, Salisbury J, Lammers RB (2000) Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth. Science 289(5477):284–288. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5477.284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Du G, Tian J, Jiang C, Zhang W (2021) Mulched drip irrigation increases cotton yield and water use efficiency via improving fine root plasticity. Agr Water Manage 255:106992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf A, Saliendra N, Akshalov K, Johnson DA, Laca E (2008) Effects of different eddy covariance correction schemes on energy balance closure and comparisons with the modified Bowen ratio system. Agric Forest Meteorol Amst Elsevier 148(6–7):952

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiang K, Li Y, Horton R (2020)Similarity and difference of potential evapotranspiration and reference crop evapotranspiration -a review. Agr Water Manage 232:106043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu CY, Singh VP (2002) Cross comparison of empirical equations for calculating potential evapotranspiration with data from switzerland. Water Resour Manag 16(3):197–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Huang G, Qu Z, Pereira LS (2010) Assessing the groundwater dynamics and impacts of water saving in the Hetao Irrigation District. Yellow River Basin Agr Water Manage 98(2):301–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue J, Huo Z, Wang F, Kang S, Huang G (2018) Untangling the effects of shallow groundwater and deficit irrigation on irrigation water productivity in arid region: new conceptual model. Sci Total Environ 619–620:1170–1182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh JF, Famiglietti JS (2009) Regional groundwater evapotranspiration in illinois. J Hydrometeorol 10(2):464–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Yi, Gu X, Te SH, Goh SG, Mani K, He Y, Gin KY (2019) Occurrence and distribution of viruses and picoplankton in tropical freshwater bodies determined by flow cytometry. Water Res 149:342–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • York JP, Person M, Gutowski WJ, Winter TC (2002) Putting aquifers into atmospheric simulation models: an example from the Mill Creek Watershed, northeastern Kansas. Adv Water Resour 25(2):221–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan BZ, Nishiyama S, Kang YH (2003) Effects of different irrigation regimes on the growth and yield of drip-irrigated potato. Agr Water Manage 63(3):153–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue WF, Wang TJ, Franz TE, Chen XH (2016) Spatiotemporal patterns of water table fluctuations and evapotranspiration induced by riparian vegetation in a semiarid area. Water Resour Res 52(3):1948–1960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Fan J, Zhang F, Wu L, Zou Y, Zhuang Q (2021) Estimation of rainfed maize transpiration under various mulching methods using modified Jarvis-Stewart model and hybrid support vector machine model with whale optimization algorithm. Agric Water Manage 249:106799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu D, Ryan MC, Sun B, Li C (2014) The influence of irrigation and Wuliangsuhai Lake on groundwater quality in eastern Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia. China Hydrogeol J 22(5):1101–1114

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52130902).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, No.17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Yao Rong, Weishu Wang, Zailin Huo, Chaozi Wang, Chenglong Zhang & Guanhua Huang

  2. Chinese-Israeli International Center for Research and Training in Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Guanhua Huang

Authors
  1. Yao Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Weishu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zailin Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chaozi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chenglong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Guanhua Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zailin Huo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rong, Y., Wang, W., Huo, Z. et al. Evapotranspiration and groundwater exchange for border and drip irrigated maize field in arid area with shallow groundwater. Environ Earth Sci 82, 34 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10715-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10715-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation