OPTIMIZING THE RETURN FROM A JOJOBA PLANTATION UNDER SCARCE DATA CONDITIONS1

ABSTRACT: There is a serious shortage of yield data for Jojoba (SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS) from mature and cultivated plantations of ten years or older. Thus, the optimal quantities of water and fertilizers that are needed annually by a Jojoba plantation to achieve maximum profits were estimated from existing plantations. A computer model (IMSL subroutine ZXMWD) was used to determine a Mitscherlich yield function. An economic profit model that incorporates the yield function was then designed to maximize the profits. According to the net present value (NPV) criterion, the maximum yearly net profit is about $7800 per ha, which is achieved during the 11th growth year. The computed cumulative NPV is approximately $21,000 per ha for the entire 15-year period. Similar profits were calculated when the model was tested to examine the NPV using different assumptions with respect to varying costs.     

DETERMINATION OF UNGAGED TRIBUTARY FLOWS AND INTERSEGMENTAL RESERVOIR FLOWS USING SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE1

ABSTRACT: Spreadsheet software was utilized on two related large scale trial and error problems. Gaged streamflow data and known reservoir volumes were used to construct a daily continuity balance in order to estimate the daily mean flows from ungaged portions of a study watershed over one year. Watershed yield coefficients were determined for two diverse types of watersheds with and without significant ground water contribution. Subsequently, a spreadsheet template was devised to ensure than an EPA supported water quality model, WASP, would successfully model the actual segmental volumes of a flood control reservoir. Inlet, outlet, and intersegmental advective flows were determined on a two week average basis using a continuity balance, segmental routing, and known segmental volumes. The protocols described relate the use of microcomputers to the resolution of hydraulic and hydrologic problems requiring iterative solutions.     

BRUSHLAND MANAGEMENT FOR INCREASED WATER YIELD IN TEXAS1

ABSTRACT: Policies to encourage brush management are under consideration as a means to address the water scarcity issue in Texas. Additional water can be generated by treating some of the 100-million-plus acres of brush-infested rangelands in Texas. Evidence of water yield benefits are, however, tentative at this time. Economic investigations based on available data show the potential desirability of brush management but also show benefits to be critically dependent on added water yield, value, and cost-sharing policy. Wildlife, water rights, and environmental issues are also important considerations. The lack of research information on likely impacts makes it difficult to choose among alternative policies for encouraging brush management. More research on this potential opportunity is needed.     

USING CROP YIELD AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION RELATIONS FOR REGIONAL WATER REQUIREMENT ESTIMATION1

ABSTRACT: Values of dry biomass of corn, sugarcane, sorghum, rice, taro, millet, cotton, cowpeas, soybeans, and velvet beans as related to the evapotranspiration (ET) were studied. The linear regression model was sufficiently accurate to establish the crop dry biomass and ET relations. A water-use efficiency index (WUE), which is defined as the additional crop dry biomass per unit ET, is used in this study. The WUE were grouped into high, medium, and low categories. The WUE varied from greater than 35 kg ha^-1/mm for the high category, between 15 and 35 kg ha^-1/mm for the medium category, and less than 15 kg ha^-1/mm for the low category. Application of the established model to the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida, showed that the regional El can be predicted from the known regional crop yields. The crop yield and ET relations could be used as a potential tool to improve water resources planning and management practices for crop production.     

POLLUTANT RUNOFF MODELS: SELECTION AND USE IN DECISION MAKING1

Models for pollutant runoff can be useful in water quality management planning if appropriately structured for the problem at hand. Accordingly, a “top-down” approach is proposed for the examination of extant pollutant runoff models. The approach consists of the identification of objectives and attributes that reflect the needs of planners and decision makers when these models are used for water quality management planning. Ideally, the attributes should concern the effect of model information on improved decision making and the cost of model application. Practical difficulties with the first attribute necessitates substitution of surrogate attributes reflecting model appropriateness, resolution, and uncertainty. Common pollutant runoff models, in particular export coefficients and hydrology-driven simulation models, are found to have serious weaknesses on some of the attribute scales. The “top-down” approach leads to a set of desirable pollutant runoff model attributes; alternate modeling techniques are thus examined in order to identify promising future directions for model development. The focus of this examination is phosphorus, due to its importance in the eutrophication of surface waters. Models for both sediment-attached and dissolved phosphorus are considered. Among the conclusions is the belief that the partial contributing area concept can yield an effective yet simple simulation despite the variable and complex nature of runoff.     

Deficit Irrigation Management of Maize in the High Plains Aquifer Region: A Review

Irrigated agriculture is a major economic contributor of the High Plains Region and it primarily relies on the High Plains Aquifer as a source of water. Over time, areas of the High Plains Aquifer have experienced drawdowns limiting its ability to supply sufficient water to sustain fully irrigated crop production. This among other reasons, including variable climatic factors and differences in state water policy, has resulted in some areas adopting and practicing deficit irrigation management. Considerable research has been conducted across the High Plains Aquifer region to identify locally appropriate deficit irrigation strategies. This review summarizes and discusses research conducted in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas, as well as highlights areas for future research. Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on Optimizing Ogallala Aquifer Water Use to Sustain Food Systems. See the February 2019 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

有机无机肥配施比例对蔬菜产量和品质及土壤重金属含量的影响

关于蔬菜施有机肥和它与无机肥的合理配施比例,对蔬菜的产量和品质有重要影响,对土壤有机质和重金属含量也有影响。为控制施禽畜粪类有机肥对蔬菜的负面影响,探讨蔬菜的合理施用量和有机/无机肥配施比例,在不同质地的土壤上进行田间试验。结果表明,(1)施过量禽畜粪类有机肥对试验蔬菜产量和品质都会产生不良影响,小白菜(Brassica chinensis)和茄子(Eggplant)施禽畜粪超过22500kg/hm2、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum L.)超过24000kg/hm2时,其产量不再增加,成活率下降,维生素C含量下降,多个试验均表现出有机肥用量增加而小白菜硝酸盐随之增加的典型特征;同时不论土壤的质地轻重,蔬菜重金属Pb有随禽畜粪用量增加而提高的趋势;在质地较轻的土壤上,蔬菜重金属Cd、As有随禽畜粪用量增加而提高的趋势;小白菜施禽畜粪肥超过7500kg/hm2、茄子和冬种马铃薯施禽畜粪肥超过75000kg/hm2,收获后土壤重金属含量高于对照和施无机肥的总Cr和As。(2)蔬菜单独施用有机肥的合适施用量,小白菜在较粘重的土壤上可施到22500kg/hm2,但有机肥与无机肥配合施用时有机肥用量可减量;茄子合适施用量应在22500kg/hm2左右;冬种马铃薯合适施用量应在24000kg/hm2左右。(3)蔬菜的有机/无机肥合理配比,小白菜、茄子、和冬种马铃薯施肥的有机氮与无机氮之比均为0.25∶1至0.5∶1时其产量和品质水平较佳。     

乳源优质白肋烟因土施肥技术研究

通过田间试验，研究乳源县砂泥田和红火泥地氮、磷、钾养分的供应特性；白肋烟各生育期吸收氮、磷、钾养分的规律，以及在不同类型的土壤上氮、磷、钾肥的不同配比对白肋烟产量和质量的影响。根据试验结果进行统计，提出了优质白肋烟因土施肥技术方法。     

杂交水稻高产稳产施肥技术研究——Ⅰ.施肥量研究

本文研究了高产杂交水稻的施肥量,通过回归分析建立的土壤养分自然供给量与土壤速效养分含量之间的双曲线方程和水稻产量与养分吸收量之间的幂函数方程,阐明了土壤养分自然供给量随土壤养分含量的变化而变化的规律和水稻产量与养分吸收量之间的关系。同时,介绍了根据土壤养分含量测定值和由这两个方程演算而得的值,运用公式计算水稻计划产量的施肥量的方法,为高产水稻的计量施肥提供了参考依据。     

马尾松低产林套种木荷的林地与根际土壤养分特性的研究

马尾松低产林套种木荷的混交林林地与根际土壤养分特性研究表明，木荷根际对土壤养分的活化能力大于马尾松，这利于混交林中马尾松的生长．套种后所形成的混交林根际微区对土壤养分活化程度的提高改善了两树种的养分利用状况，这可能是低产林改造后林地土壤养分高于纯林地且林分生产力提高的主要原因之一．