Wang et al. (2025) Analysis of Potato Growth, Water Consumption Characteristics and Irrigation Strategies in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northwest China

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Identification

• Journal: Agronomy
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-22
• Authors: Guoshuai Wang, Xiangyang Miao, Jun Wang, Delong Tian, Jie Ren, Zekun Li
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15122685

Research Groups

Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study utilized the DSSAT model and two-year field observations to quantify potato water consumption and efficiency in the Yinshanbeilu agro-pastoral ecotone. It provided specific, validated irrigation recommendations to optimize potato yield or groundwater utilization, addressing challenges from the shift to irrigated agriculture.

Objective

• To understand potato water consumption patterns, water use efficiency, and optimize irrigation strategies for potato cultivation in the Yinshanbeilu agro-pastoral ecotone, particularly in response to the shift from rainfed to irrigated agriculture.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Yinshanbeilu agro-pastoral ecotone (a main potato-producing region).
• Temporal Scale: Two years of in situ observational experiments.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) model.
• Data sources: Two years of in situ observational experiments, providing data for soil moisture, leaf area index, and potato yield.

Main Results

• DSSAT model simulations for soil water moisture, leaf area index, and yield showed acceptable accuracy, with Absolute Relative Error (ARE) of 4.18–5.27%, Normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE) of 5.64–8.65%, and Coefficient of Determination (R2) of 0.86–0.921.
• Potato water consumption ranged from 375.2 mm to 414.2 mm, with 50–52% occurring during the tuber formation to bulking stages.
• The average water consumption intensity was 2.62 mm/d to 2.81 mm/d.
• Water Use Efficiency (WUE) reached 162.17–166.20 kg/(ha·mm).
• Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE) varied between 86.1 kg/(ha·mm) and 108.1 kg/(ha·mm).
• Recommended irrigation amounts for achieving the highest yield were 180 mm in a normal year and 240 mm in a dry year.
• Recommended irrigation amounts for achieving the highest utilization rate of groundwater resources were 162 mm in a normal year and 192 mm in a dry year.

Contributions

• Provides quantitative insights into potato water consumption patterns and efficiencies specific to the Yinshanbeilu agro-pastoral ecotone.
• Offers data-driven, optimized irrigation recommendations tailored for different management objectives (maximizing yield or groundwater utilization).
• Contributes to promoting sustainable groundwater use and enhancing water conservation practices in the study region.

Funding

Not mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Wang2025Analysis,
  author = {Wang, Guoshuai and Miao, Xiangyang and Wang, Jun and Tian, Delong and Ren, Jie and Li, Zekun},
  title = {Analysis of Potato Growth, Water Consumption Characteristics and Irrigation Strategies in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northwest China},
  journal = {Agronomy},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/agronomy15122685},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122685}
}