Water management in the Demonstration Vegetable Garden at the Universidad Católica de Santiago del Estero

Abstract

Horticulture depends, among other requirements, on the availability of water at every stage of crops development. In order to adjust frequency and volume irrigated, an exploratory trial was carried out in the Demonstration Vegetable Garden at the Universidad Católica de Santiago del Estero. Water availability was registered by electronic sensors, installed at different depths (15, 30, 45 and 60cm). Measurements of water content were carried out in two irrigation situations, 24 hours after water saturation of the soil and after 3 days without water supply, in order to obtain information on its moisture retention capacity. Values registered by the sensors were contrasted with real data of moisture content measured in field and laboratory by extracting and drying soil samples. Results obtained indicated: i) an adjustment in the reading of the sensors is needed (a value 10 % higher than the real one was registered), and ii) loss of moisture due to percolation was 20 % in the first 30cm, reducing to 15 % and 10 % at 45 and 60cm, respectively.