SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE (SCS) AS A TOOL FOR PROPER DESIGN OF COTTON-FURROW IRRIGATION IN CLAY SOIL

Abstract

Flood surface irrigation is the main watering system in Egypt and worldwide. Proper design of such system is the milestone for up-grading and improving surface irrigation as for other irrigation systems. In this regard, the said Soil Conservation Service (S.C.S) developed by the soil reclamation bureau, USA was the used tool in the evaluating and assessment of the implemented or the practiced parameters, which executed in cotton furrow irrigation system design in the Northern Nile Delta area. The field trial was conducted during the two growing summer cotton seasons 2017 and 2018 at the experimental farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, North Nile Delta area. Combined effects of different land leveling (i.e. traditional, precession (dead level =zero level), 0.05 and 0.10%) and irrigation inflow rates. (2.0, 2.7 and 3.3 Lps/m widths) were used. The stated treatments were implemented at fixed furrow length and width of 40.0 m and 0.75 m. respectively. The comparing elements between design created by SCS and the actual practiced measures were: furrow inflow rate (Lps/m), irrigation time (min.), advance time (min.), recession time (min.), opportunity time (min.), depth applied (mm), deep percolation (mm), deep percolation ratio and irrigation application efficiency (IAE).Moreover, extensive economic evaluation was done regarding seed cotton yield, total return, benefit/cost ratio and the specific cost. Analysis of obtained data revealed that application efficiency is acceptable for inflow rate at 2.0 Lps/m width along with precession land leveling of 0.05 or 0.10%, providing the importance of using SCS in design furrow irrigation system in the clayey soils at North Nile Delta. Moreover, maximum water well land productivity were observed under the stated treatment (2.0 Lps/m width with 0.05 or 0.10% land leveling)