Differences in soil water content between perennial and annual forages and crops grown under deficit irrigation and used by the dairy industry

• Published in: Field crops research 2012-10, Vol.137, p.148-162
• Main Authors: Neal, J.S., Murphy, S.R., Harden, S., Fulkerson, W.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alfalfa; Corn; Crop water use; Drainage; Root depth; Soil water extraction
• ISSN: 0378-4290; 1872-6852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.013

► 22 forage and crop species were compared for differences in soil water extraction over three years. ► There were large differences in soil water extraction between forages and crops. ► The C4 perennial paspalum had the greatest soil water extraction. ► Over all forages soil water extraction was poorly correlated with forage production. Water for irrigated agriculture is becoming increasingly scarce worldwide and this has led to interest in deficit irrigation (DI) as a means of reducing forage and crop water requirements. While perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) dominates the forage base on Australian dairy farms, its ability to extract water from the soil profile under DI compared to other species has not been documented under best practice management. Changes in soil water content (SWC) of twenty two perennial and annual forage and crop species were evaluated over three years to assess the ability of these forages to extract water from the soil profile compared to perennial ryegrass under DI on a brown Dermosol, over three years at Camden, Australia. Seven perennial and three annual forage species created a greater (P