Ability of moisture absorbing substrate to conserve percolating water

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VI, Issue V, May 2021|ISSN 2454-6194

Ability of moisture absorbing substrate to conserve percolating water

Ampitiyawatta, A.D. & Weerasuriya W. M. I.
Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Abstract
Though water is the most abundant natural resource on the earth, in most occasions, it is limited to agriculture especially in dry spells and dry regions. This is aggravated by higher losses from evaporation as well as percolation. If a method adopts to trap percolating water that would be one of the appropriate alternatives which helps to survive plants during dry climates and increase the water use efficiency. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the possibility of reducing percolation by using moisture-absorbing substrate beneath the root zone. Three moisture-absorbing substrates i.e sponge, biochar and sawdust were used as treatments and a control experiment was conducted without any water-absorbing material. Treatments were arranged as Complete Randomized Design with three replicates. Treatments were buried at 20 cm depth as 5 cm layer separated by high gauge polythene. In a 90cm×180cm plot, 12 chilli (Capsicum annuum) plants were planted as two plants per hole. All recommended agronomic practices were carried out. Soil moisture content was maintained above 50 % allowable depletion level by measuring it daily throughout the experiment, supplying the deficiency. Days to 50% flowering, plant height at 50% flowering, first harvesting yield, plant biomass and root biomass were measured. There were no significant differences in plant height, days to 50% flowering, plant biomass or root biomass between treatments. It indicates that there was no any moisture stress among treatments. However, there was a significant difference among the treatments in water usage by the crop throughout the duration. The water usage was significantly lower in sponge compare to other treatments. It means sponge material can conserve water at the rate of 992.59 m3/ha without any effect on the yield. Therefore, a substrate can be used to effectively conserve soil moisture by reducing the percolation and sponge is the best among tested treatments.

Key words: moisture absorbent material, substrate, water holding capacity, sponge

I. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is one of the main income sources of Sri Lanka which contributes more than 7% to the national economy. It is highly depending on two major monsoons: South West monsoon (SWM) from June to September and North East Monsoon (NEM) from December to February; and two inter-monsoons: First Inter-Monsoon (FIM) from March to May and Second Inter-Monsoon (SIM) from October to November (Suppiah 1996). Accordingly, a distinct bi-modal rainfall pattern could be identified, leading to two cropping seasons which are named as Yala (minor) and Maha (major) season. However, the adverse weather conditions observed during recent

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