Automatic irrigation scheduling based on real-time measurement of soilless substrate water status has been recognized as a promising approach for efficient greenhouse irrigation management. Identification of proper irrigation set points is crucial for optimal crop performance, both in terms of yield and quality, and optimal use of water resources. The objective of the present study was to deter...

soil moisture retention curve (smrc) is an important soil property which expresses reaction between matric potential and moisture of soil. direct measurement of soil matric potential and moisture is labour- and time-consuming. in order to prevail this problem, indirect methods are used for smrc prediction. pedotransfer functions (ptfs) are one of these indirect methods. this study was carried o...

Potential C and N mineralization and soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) are soil biological properties important in understanding nutrient and organic matter dynamics. Knowledge of soil water content at a matric potential near ®eld capacity is needed to determine these biological properties. The objective of this study was to examine whether adjustment of soil water content to a common level of wa...

Baked ceramic aggregates (fritted clay, arcillite) have been used for plant research both on the ground and in microgravity. Optimal control of water and air within the root zone in any gravity environment depends on physical and hydraulic properties of the aggregate, which were evaluated for 0.25-1-mm and 1-2-mm particle size distributions. The maximum bulk densities obtained by any packing te...

Saline water resources are abundant in the coastal areas of south China. Most of these resources still have not been effectively utilized. A 3-year study on the effects of saline water irrigation on tomato yield, quality and blossom-end rot (BER) was conducted at different lower limits of soil matric potential (-10 kPa, -20 kPa, -30 kPa, -40 kPa and -50 kPa). Saline water differing in electrica...

Biofilms exist in a variety of habitats that are routinely or periodically not saturated with water, and residents must integrate cues on water abundance (matric stress) or osmolarity (solute stress) into lifestyle strategies. Here we examine this hypothesis by assessing the extent to which alginate production by Pseudomonas putida strain mt-2 and by other fluorescent pseudomonads occurs in res...