Productivity and profitability of modern irrigation methods through the application of on-farm drip irrigation on some crops in the Northern Nile Delta of Egypt

Abstract

Irrigation method has a great effect on water consumption, productivity and profitability of certain crops. Egypt is suffering from water scarcity, it is of great importance to apply modern irrigation techniques to achieve highest productivity with optimum water consumption. This research aims at evaluating the compare drip and surface irrigation systems in old lands of medium salinity in the Nile Delta, determining the best irrigation method to achieve the highest water productivity and optimum water consumption. A field experiment is performed in summer and winter seasons of 2020/2021. Soil and water characteristics are determined through representative sampling. The results show the differences in total cost of producing different summer and winter crops under tested irrigation systems. Surface irrigation system total cost was increased, while drip irrigation system total cost was decreased under all treatments with 29% to 54% based on the crop type. Also, drip irrigation gave more efficient water uses and water saving under different summer and winter crops. Hence, Drip irrigation system increased the value of water use efficiency, while surface irrigation system gave high value of productivity compared with drip irrigation system, due to higher salinity, additional leaching water used to control soil salinity.