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Linear crop response functions to soil salinity with a threshold salinity level
Author(s) -
Feinerman E.,
Yaron D.,
Bielorai H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr018i001p00101
Subject(s) - salinity , soil salinity , mathematics , irrigation , statistics , yield (engineering) , piecewise linear function , threshold model , soil science , linear regression , crop yield , environmental science , econometrics , agronomy , soil water , geology , mathematical analysis , physics , oceanography , biology , thermodynamics
The response function of a crop yield to soil salinity level is essential in decision‐making in regard to irrigation with saline water. A switching regression approach to estimate the piecewise linear response function with critical threshold level is presented, and the asymptotical stochastic properties of the estimates are described. The empirical estimates, based on grapefruit yield data, are compared with those of a recent published study by Maas and Hoffman (1977) and the statistical significance of the differences is discussed. Finally, the threshold hypothesis is tested empirically against some alternative formulations. It turns out that the ‘threshold hypothesis’ is confirmed.