Optimizing wolfberry crop productivity and economic sustainability using subsurface irrigation with ceramic emitters for smallholders: A four-year study

Abstract

In the face of rapid population growth, scarce water resources, and changing climate conditions, smallholders confront significant challenges in maintaining the productivity of their agroecosystems. Traditional irrigation methods are often expensive and inefficient, limiting the potential for increasing crop yields. To address these issues, this study designed a subsurface irrigation system with ceramic emitters (SICE). SICE adjusted the discharge of emitters through the difference between the working head and soil water potential to provide a continuous water supply and maintain stable soil moisture. A four-year field study and economic analysis under two irrigation systems were conducted for wolfberry cultivation in Northwest China. Results showed that SICE created soil water content at 60 %-90 % field capacity, increased the photosynthetic rate of wolfberry leaves by 67.17 % and reduced malondialdehyde content by 13.61 % compared with surface drip irrigation (SDI). In comparison, SICE was better than SDI with the average increase in yield by 29.46 %, WUE by 9.97 % and IWUE by 31.71 % in four years. Furthermore, applying the SICE system reduced the total cost by 11.13 % while increasing the total return by 20.90 % compared with SDI. Therefore, the SICE system is an effective irrigation method that provides a suitable soil moisture environment for wolfberry cultivation of smallholders in northwest China, resulting in improved yield and reduced costs.