INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN-FERTILIZATION, SOIL TYPE AND WATER-STRESS ON PRODUCTION AND WATER-USE EFFICIENCY OF DIGITARIA-ERIANTHA CV IRENE UNDERGREENHOUSE CONDITIONS
Pa. Pieterse et al., INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN-FERTILIZATION, SOIL TYPE AND WATER-STRESS ON PRODUCTION AND WATER-USE EFFICIENCY OF DIGITARIA-ERIANTHA CV IRENE UNDERGREENHOUSE CONDITIONS, Water S.A., 21(4), 1995, pp. 351-356
The influence of N-fertilization, soil type and water stress on the gr
owth rate and water-use efficiency (WUE) of Digitaria eriantha was eva
luated in a pot trial at the University of Pretoria. There were five l
evels of N, on three soil types and the treatment combinations were re
plicated under conditions of sufficient water supply and water stress.
It was concluded that N fertilization, at levels higher than 80 kg Na
.(-1), had a significant effect on both growth rate and WUE. In the c
ase of growth rate, the influence was overshadowed by soil type. Water
stress had a severe effect on growth rate, but only at relative high
levels of N application was WUE effected. Growth rate and therefore al
so WUE, decreased as the season progressed. It would therefore be good
policy to scale down or stop irrigation as soon as the crop's growth
rate start to decrease.