Effects of different irigation patterns on growth and nitrogen utilization of spinach under open field cultivation

Effects of border and sprinkler irrigation patters on nitrogen utilization of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) with different nitrogen levels were studied in the open field of Laiyang, Shandong province. The results showed that the high yield were investigated in the treatment of N 180 kg/hm2 under two irrigation patterns. Since 29 days after seeding, the spinach growth was better in sprinkler irrigation than that in border irrigation under same N levels. The yield of spinach was not different between the nitrogen treatment with N 120 and 180 kg/hm2 in sprinkler irrigation but significantly in strip irrigation. It indicated that the sprinkler irrigation could reduce N loss and improve N use efficiency compared with border irrigation. Therefore the target values (sum of applied N and soil Nmin at preplanting) of N supply for spinach growth are N 164 and 224 kg/hm2 for sprinkler irrigation and border irrigation, respectively under the experimental conditions.