Optimizing crop production through control of water and salinity levels in the soil

Sizable invalmentJ ha..., been made.nd """Iinue 10 be made throughoo' the_lei to dt:mop inililion poItnli.l$. RCftflI food fhol'Ugn h."" Miahtel\ed ~ tol'l«l1l for obI,i";"1 pUtn mums 10 lnilltion through im~ w.le. man.semen! and IIW. A t __ ledge ofbow pI.nt if"O"'lh ~Ics reLote 10 moisture and salinity Icyels in th. I'0OI ron. b p.....,quisit. \0 developi"g practical .... ys of maintaining opIimum f/OIIdi l ionf for muimum production pcr unit or .... ,., concemN. Thi. rut.reh fUrl he. defines Ihe role of irrigation liminll .nd $I1inil1 management on ~rop production. and proposes praelical loohniques for prMiclinalhe crop .... pon .. to management mea.u ..... Some ufthe adyantillt> and .pee;.! featura of the reH.n:h program ouTlined b)' Ih • .. port arc lisled as followo: I. l"M upet1nwn\.1 dn;", is unique in that • >prinkl • • Ii ... is 11M:<! as • ,in,1e SOU""" of ""n. This Ipproach prooi<k$ Lo~ yolumes of yield dlta as influ.r>eed br ... ter wppllcs Iyailable 10 th. crop. These da'i will p_ido: ;nfooma'ion on the follow; .. ,: b. Th. optima! sequencing of d.lid,s dutini crop growth slages. (. Th~ "I.blish"'~nl of yield ~nus evapOlranspl.alion ~Ialionsbipo~. Ihe aui~ .ange or "ale. suppl, from .ainfaU (drylud) 10 ~ • • irrigO!ion , d . An evaluation or ..,il .. II .... holding capacilies in lerms of it< "'lOItributiom 10 lhe .... 'e. need. or the crop. This infornl "lion """,ides p;,bntt on how 10 besl ulilize 'hc """ srsl~m of . Jiven crop Iypo a. a ""'e. ",Ihering 1001 in terml of II",. du.ingl,," growin. ~a_. For ulmple. plan,ing d .... pllnt spadn •• and fmill..,. pra<tices ",ill b<: innuenoed bYlbi< infornlalion . 2. Th~ cxperimenl.llaJn"1 i< .en'li l~ in Ih., It lend. iuelf 10 •• tudy oflhe . tT..: .. on planl growlh of inpul par.meten nthe. Ihan WIler. such as fenilily level' and plant spacing . 3. n.. design un be ,udily adaPled 10 a«ommod". inaal ,ari<'lies and/ or sp..:ies in Ih~ .. m~ UPl'ri~l . •. The raean:h """,I ... n: practical and genenlly .pplicable 10 a wide nn. of ttnp. dima' •. ..,il. and ",.'U ... pply (non lite Ip..:ifk and .ile specific) condition •. S. The ...... rch provides a cle .. demonst.aTion (bot h .i<Ulllnd qUlnlillliv.) of Ih. benefidal efT..: .. of proper manaS"menl practi .... on crop production. 6. ~ ...... "h deals ",ilh boIh dom."ic and In,.rna'ional .... It'!' problem. in¥GIving crop produc:fiOfl. na....,I,. the innue""" of a.ailabl. "';1 m";51" .. Ind "';1 IIlinit, on plant yiold •.