Crust-breaking device improves water infiltration into furrows

Upadhyaya, S; Far, J; Shafii, S; Fattah, H

Crust-breaking device improves water infiltration into furrows

Authors

Shrini K. Upadhyaya
J. Jafari Far
Sayedahmad Shafii
H. Abdel Fattah

Authors Affiliations

S.K. Upadhyaya is Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis; J.J. Far is Visiting Researcher, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis; S. Shafii is Postgraduate Researcher, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis; H.A. Fattah is Graduate Assistant, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 51(5):21-22. DOI:10.3733/ca.v051n05p21. September 1997.

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Abstract

Surface irrigation may lead to thick depositional crusts at the soil surface, which can reduce infiltration rate. To break the crust on the sides of the bed near the bottom of a furrow, we developed a torpedo-shaped, winged cultivator. Field experiments were conducted on a tomato crop at UC Davis on Yolo loam soil during the summer of 1992. Breaking the crust with the device increased cumulative infiltration significantly, by almost 30%.

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