Gu Xiao-bo;Li Yuan-nong;Du Ya-dan;Yin Min-hua

Northwest A&F Univ, Key Lab Agr Soil & Water Engn Arid & Semiarid Are, Minist Educ, Coll Water Resources & Architectural Engn, Yangling 712100, Peoples R China

ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH);supplemental irrigation;winter oilseed rape;seed yield;oil content;water use efficience (WUE)

Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) planting pattern can lessen the effect of water deficits throughout all crop growth stages, but water shortage would remain unavoidable during some stages of crop growth in arid and semiarid areas. Supplemental irrigation would still be needed to achieve a higher production. Field experiments were conducted for two growing seasons (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) to determine an appropriate amount of supplemental irrigation to be applied to winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage with RFRH planting pattern. Four treatments, including supplemental irrigation amount of 0 (11), 60 mm (12) and 120 mm (13) with RFRH planting pattern and a control (CK) irrigated with 120 mm with flat planting pattern, were set up to evaluate the effects of supplemental irrigation on aboveground dry matter (ADM), nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), radiation use efficiency (RUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and seed yield and oil content of the oilseed rape. Results showed that supplemental irrigation improved NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE. However, the NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE did not increase significantly or even showed a downward trend with excessive irrigation. Seed yield was the highest in 13 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 13 averaged 3235 kg ha-1 and 8.85 kg ha-1 mm-1, respectively. The highest WUE was occurred in 12 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 12 averaged 3089 kg ha-1 and 9.63 kg ha-1 mm-1, respectively. Compared to 13, 12 used 60 mm less irrigation amount, had an 8.9% higher WUE, but only 4.5 and 0.4% lower seed yield and oil content, respectively. 12 saved water without substantially sacrificing yield or oil content, so it is recommended as an appropriate cultivation and irrigation schedule for winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage.