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Groundwater Contribution to Crop Water Requirement of Waterleaf (Talinum Triangulare) in Oxisols of South-South Nigeria
Abstract
A drum-culture lysimeter experiment was conducted at the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus research farm to estimate the contribution of groundwater to crop water requirement of waterleaf crop. Soil moisture depletion experiment was undertaken through the use of drums with bases intact and drums with bases removed. The drums were sunk in the field at different depths. The results obtained show that crop water requirements determined for waterleaf varied from 1.32 to 4.76cm for the lysimeter that was solely supplied from groundwater source during the experimental period with no rainfall and no irrigation. Groundwater contribution in the different drums varied with the type of soil and depth of drum from the water table. Greater amount of moisture was contributed from the 300-600mm soil depth which corresponded with the rooting depth of the crop, an area of greatest root proliferation of the crop. It is concluded that soil with shallow groundwater table may need no irrigation or the need for irrigation water may be reduced considerably.