Dynamic changes of soil water of marigold field under different irrigation patterns

Jinzhan flower （Tagetes erecta） is also called marigold and cultivated in large area used as ornamental flowers to beautify and purify the environment or as a characteristic economy crop to extract natural pigments. In this study, marigold plants were used as experimental materials to determine effects of different patterns of irrigation and fertilization on distribution of nitrate and water in the soil profile (0-80 cm), irrigation efficiency and utilization rate of fertilizers. The results showed that 0-40 cm soil moisture contents of flatten culture treatments were higher than those of corresponding ridge culture treatments from sowing to jointing stage. However, after jointing stage the soil moisture content of ridge furrow irrigation was higher than that of flatten flood irrigation. The 40-80 cm soil moisture content of each ridge furrow irrigation treatment was larger than that of the corresponding flatten culture treatment. The soil water vertical distribution of marigold field showed a W type. Total marigold yield of the ridge furrow irrigation was higher than that of the corresponding conventional irrigation. The utilization rate of water and fertilization were 139.94 kgmm-1ha-1 and 24.9%, respectively. Thus, the ridge furrow irrigation, compared with conventional tillage, effectively improved the soil moisture and water use efficiency, and increased production significantly.