EFFECT OF COMPACTING IRRIGATION FURROWS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT SOWN ON BEDS

Abstract

field study was conducted at the Gemmeiza Research Station, Gharbeiah Governorate, middle of the Nile Delta, Egypt, having a clay textured soil during two winter seasons of 2015/16 and 2016/17. The aim of the current research was to estimate effect of sowing pattern, furrow compaction and water flow rate on improving surface irrigation performance and wheat productivity. Surface irrigation system was studied at two different sowing patterns flat (F) and bed. Bed sowing was applied at three compaction levels; no compaction (NC), compaction one pass (C1) and compaction two passes (C2). Three flow rates values of 0.4 L s- 1 (Q1), 0.6 L s-1 (Q2) and 0.8 L s-1 (Q3) to closed long furrows of 60 m length without dikes were investigated under two sowing methods. Advance time, total applied water, stored water, application efficiency, water distribution efficiency, yield and yield components and water productivity were measured and discussed. Main results cleared out that:The applied water during bed sowing treatments advanced faster compared with flat sowing. 2- Bed sowing and furrow compaction two passes “C2” saved irrigation water by about 33.8% per feddan in average comparing with flat sowing under three different flow rates. 3- Using bed sowing and furrow compaction two passes “C2” enhanced application efficiency by about 14.7% and water distribution efficiency by about 11.9% in average comparing with flat sowing. 4- Wheat grain yield and water productivity increased by about 11.7% and 68.8% respectively in average under bed sowing and furrow compaction two passes “C2” comparing with flat sowing. The furrow compaction technique under bed sowing is convincinglybetter compared with flat sowing.