Effect of moistube fertigation on infiltration and distribution of water-fertilizer in mixing waste biomass soil

Abstract

A series of indoor soil box simulation experiments were carried out to investigate the infiltration capacity of fertilizer solution in mixing waste biomass and the distribution characteristics of water-fertilizer in wetted soil under moistube fertigation. The infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration of moistube fertigation in soils as well as the distribution characteristics of water-fertilizer (soil water, nitrate-N, available P, and available K) in wetted soil were studied in three waste biomass (peanut shell) mixing ratios (MR1.5%, MR3.0%, and MR4.5%) taking a not amended soil as control (CK). The cumulative infiltration of fertilizer solution and the distribution of water-fertilizer were fitted by a modified infiltration model. Results indicated that increasing the mixing ratio improved significantly the infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration of fertilizer solution and the distribution area and content of water-fertilizer in amended wetting soil compared with CK. The relationship between the cumulative infiltration of fertilizer solution and infiltration time conformed to the Kostiakov infiltration model. The distribution uniformity coefficient of soil water and nitrate-N increased with the increase in waste biomass mixing ratio, whereas available P and available K decreased in wetted soil. The 4-parameter log-logistic model fitted well with the distribution of water-fertilizer in mixing waste biomass wetted soil under moistube fertigation. The research results could provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the popularization and application of new moistube fertigation technology.