Abstract:
This study investigated the performance characteristics of Viaflo porous tubing for the irrigation of row crops. It involved preliminary laboratory testing and field experimentation at the Glenlea Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. The size of the plot was 110 m x 25 m, on a slope of 1.1 to 1.2 percent. The soil was predominantly clay with a very high phosphorous and potassium content. During the study, the crop grown was corn. Four subplots - the surface-laid Viaflo system, the buried Viaflo system, the furrow irrigation system and the non-irrigated subplot--were established. Fertilizer was not applied on any of them. Irrigation and moisture measurement were continuous through August. A Troxler depth moisture gauge Model 1255 and a Troxler ratemeter Model 2651 were used in the moisture measurements. Irrigation affected the moisture regime in the upper layer of the soil profile but did not significantly alter the moisture levels at the 60-cm soil depth and deeper. The crop appeared to suffer no moisture stress. Highest crop yield and more uniform crop stands were obtained on the furrow-irrigated treatment. Yields on both surface and subsurface trickle irrigated subplots were equal. The relative yield percentages and water use efficiencies were higher for the trickle-irrigated systems. Soil erosion, weeds and non-uniform water application significantly affected reported yields in the trickle irrigation systems. In the surface subplots, some plants leaned...
