10 Questions
What is the primary function of straw mulch in soil conservation?
To reduce evaporation and control moisture
What is the advantage of using black plastic mulch?
It reduces evaporation and hastens germination
What is the effect of chemical mulches like hexadeconol on soil evaporation?
It reduces evaporation by 40%
What is the primary objective of vertical mulching?
To reduce runoff and increase infiltration
What is live mulching in the context of intercropping?
Covering soil surface through plant canopy
What is the benefit of pebble mulch in dryland fruit tree culture?
It reduces evaporation and facilitates infiltration
What type of mulch is used to conserve moisture in soil?
All of the above
What is the purpose of using mulches in agriculture?
To reduce evaporation and conserve moisture
What is the limitation of using straw and stubble mulch?
Availability of adequate crop residues
What is the advantage of using white plastic mulch?
It reflects incident radiation and reduces evaporation
Study Notes
Evapotranspiration and Measures to Reduce Evapotranspiration
- Under dry land conditions, soil moisture is the most limiting factor for crop production, lost through evaporation from soil surface and transpiration from plant surfaces.
- Evapotranspiration is the combined loss of moisture through these two processes.
Methods to Reduce Evaporation
- Three principles of evaporation control:
- Decreasing turbulent transfer of water vapour to the atmosphere
- Decreasing capillary conductivity
- Decreasing capillary flow and moisture holding capacity of surface soil layers
Mulches
- Mulch is any covering material applied on the soil surface to reduce evaporation losses
- Types of mulches:
- Soil mulch or dust mulch: a thin layer of loose soil surface that can be created by frequently stirring the soil with surface tillage implements
- Waxy materials: used for reducing post-harvest shrinkage of fruits
- Straw and stubble mulch: reduces both the amount of energy absorbed by the soil and its movement above the soil
- Plastic mulches: very effective for evaporation control, can be white or black
- Chemical mulches: chemicals like hexadeconol reduce evaporation by about 40%
- Vertical mulching: trenches filled with stubbles or organic wastes to check runoff and increase infiltration
- Live mulching: covering soil surface through the plant canopy in intercropping systems
- Pebble mulch: small pebbles placed on the soil surface to reduce evaporation and facilitate infiltration of rain water
Wind Breaks and Shelterbelts
- Wind breaks: any structures that obstruct wind flow and reduce wind speed
- Shelterbelts: rows of trees planted for protection of crops against wind
- Protection offered by shelterbelts depends on the height of central tree row
- Shelterbelts reduce wind speed, evaporation losses, and wind erosion
Effective Weed Control
- Weeds transpire more water than crop plants, controlling weeds is an effective means of increasing water available for crops
This quiz covers the definition of evapotranspiration, its impact on crop production, and methods to reduce evaporation. Learn about the principles of evaporation and how to minimize moisture loss in dry land conditions.
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