EFFECT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND PLANTS DISTRIBUTION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF SOME SNAP BEAN CULTIVARS

Abstract

An experimental field trial was conducted at on a farm in Al-Khatatba area, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt (latitude of 30o 52/ 66// and a Longitude of 30o 38/ 11//), during the growing season of 2019 and 2020. This study aimed to assess the optimum irrigation system and plants distribution on growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of some snap bean cultivars under sandy soil condition. The field trial was arranged in a split- split -plot design with two irrigation systems (drip and microsprinkler), two plants distribution (regular and irregular distribution) and four snap bean cultivars (Alfa, Giza 6, Alkarnak, and Nebraska). The Results showed that drip irrigation system exhibited the highest values of vegetative growth ((number of plants ha-1), (number of branches/ plant), (number of leaves/plant), (number of pods/plant), (weight of the pods, Mg ha-1), (weight of dry seeds, Mg. ha-1) and (weight of 100 dry seeds (g)); and WUE while microsprinkler irrigation system produced the lowest values in the same concern during studied seasons. However, under the interaction (drip irrigation + regular distribution + Alfa cultivar) exhibited its superiority in growth parameters. While, under the interaction (microsprinkler irrigation + irregular distribution + Nebraska cultivar) recorded the lowest in growth parameters. In conclusion under the conditions of the experiment Alfa snap bean cultivar is recommended in cultivation (for export or local marketing) with drip irrigation at 5851 m3/ha/season and regular distribution, due to its superiority in yield/ha and (WUE).