EFFECT OF IRRIGATION INTERVALS, FERTILIZER LEVELS AND PLANTING METHODS ON YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY

Abstract

This work was carried out during summer and winter seasons at Gharbia Governorate ,to study the effect of irrigation intervals ( every14, 21 and28 day ),fertilizer levels (40 ,50 and 60uN/ fed) , planting methods ( row and two rows) and interaction between them on irrigation water quantity, total yield and water use efficiency of okra and garlic crops . Data show that decreasing when irrigation intervals increase from every 14 days to every 21 and with a bout 5.89 and 17.50% for okra and about 11.60 and 25.27 % for garlic respectively. Meanwhile irrigation water quantity increases by increasing fertilizer levels from 40 to 50 and 60 uN/ fed by 8.60, 15.66 % for okra and about ,5.00 and 11 % for garlic respectively. Planting on two rows save irrigation water quantity by 12.09 and 14.54 % for okra and garlic crops respectively compering by planting on one row .Increasing irrigation intervals decrease the yield of okra by 6.00 and 9.8 % but increase the garlic by about 8.73and 18.59 % for irrigation every 21 and 28 day compering by irrigation every 14 days . Also, data show that increasing fertilizer levels from 40 to 50 and 60 uN / fed increase the okra yield by 9.06 and 18.53%respectivily for 50 and 60 uN/ fed compered by40 uN /fed of okra crop. The same trend was happened for the garlic yield but increasing percent was about 6.40 and 7.73 % respectively. Water use efficiency affected by irrigation intervals, fertilizer levels, planting methods and interaction between them. Increasing irrigation intervals to 21and 28 days compered by irrigation every 14 day decrease the WUE by about 6.3and 18 %, resp. for okra crop. While for garlic crop, increasing irrigation intervals increase WUE by 13.3 and 16.53 %, resp. Moreover increasing fertilizer levels, increased WUE by 3.06 and 4.37% for okra and 2.47 and 3.73 % for garlic under 50 and 60 uN / fed compared with 40 uN / fed resp. The same trend happen in planting methods. Using two rows increased the WUE by 17.59 and 25.67 % for okra and garlic crops, resp.