Journal of Environmental Biology

Effects of alternate drip irrigation and superabsorbent polymers on growth and water use of young coffee tree

Xiaogang Liu¹, Fusheng Li²*, Qiliang Yang¹ and Xinle Wang³

¹Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming-650 500, China

²College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi - 530005, China

³Faculty of Foreign Language and Culture, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming-650 500, China

*Corresponding Author E-mail: lpfu6@163.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

29 December 2015

Revised received:

23 March 2016

Accepted:

08 April 2016

Abstract

To obtain optimal irrigation management for young coffee tree, the effects of alternate drip irrigation (ADI) and superabsorbent polymers on physiology, growth, dry mass accumulation and water use on one-year old Coffea arabica L. tree were investigated. This experiment had three drip irrigation methods, i.e., conventional drip irrigation (CDI), alternate drip irrigation (ADI) and fixed drip irrigation (FDI), and two levels of superabsorbent polymers, i.e., no superabsorbent polymers (NSAP) and added superabsorbent polymers (SAP). Compared to CDI, ADI saved irrigation water by 32.1% and increased water use efficiency (WUE) by 29.9%. SAP increased root-shoot ratio, total dry mass and WUE by 20.3, 24.9 and 33.0%, respectively, when compared to NSAP. Compared to CDI with NSAP treatment, ADI with SAP treatment increased total dry mass by 13.8% and saved irrigation water by 34.4%, thus increased WUE by 73.4%, and it increased root activity, the contents of chlorophyll and soluble sugar in leaves by 162.4, 38.0 and 8.5%, but reduced the contents of proline and malondialdehyde in leaves by 7.2 and 9.7%, respectively. Thus, alternate drip irrigation with superabsorbent polymers increased the growth and WUE of young Coffea arabica L. tree and was optimal irrigation management for young coffee tree.   

 Key words

Alternate drip irrigation, Coffea arabica, Superabsorbent polymers, Polyacrylatic acid, Water use efficiency

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