EVALUATION OF PARTIAL ROOT ZONE DRYING IRRIGATION UNDER GATED PIPE FOR CORN CROP

Abstract

In recent time, Egypt is suffering from the scarcity of fresh water. In addition, Egypt is one of the event states under the water poverty line, who is identified as less than 1000 m3 per capita per year due to the existence of dry climatic conditions in most parts of the country and limited available water resources, therefore optimization and saving of water consumption have vital importance. The main goal of this research is to study the effect of Partial Root zone Drying (PRD) on corn yield, water distribution efficiency and water use efficiency compared with conventional irrigation (CI).Field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2017 in the Agricultural research station, Etay El-Baroud, El-Behera Governorate (Etay-El-Baroud region is 6m above sea level, 30˚ 88 / N and 30˚ 66 / E).Corn plants were planted under different irrigation regimes which were Alternate Partial Root zone Drying (APRD),Fixed Partial Root zone Drying (FPRD),and Conventional Irrigation (CI) comparing with control irrigation. The irrigation regimes were carried out under two levels of land leveling (0.05% - 0.1%), and three levels of water cutting times. The experimental treatments were irrigated by 152mm diameter of PVC gated pipes system. The results indicated that, the APRD treatment achieved the highest value of corn production (7.85Mg ha-1) when the applied water was reached to the end of furrow plus 5 minutes storage (Q3) under furrow slope of 0.1% and improving water use efficiency (WUE) when applied water was reached 5m before the end of furrow length (Q2) by 1.73 kg m-3 under furrow slope of 0.1%. Also, the APRD regime saved 37.16% of applied water under Q2 and furrow slope of 0.1%.