Abstract
Alfalfa is one the most important forage resources in arid and semiarid regions of the world. To evaluate the response of alfalfa to limited irrigation and surfactant application, an experiment was conducted at Research Farm of College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Iran, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. The experimental treatments were arranged as split plots based on a complete randomized block design with three replications. The limited irrigation treatments comprised of replenishment of 100%, 75% and 50% of weekly evaporation and plant water requirements assigned to the main plots. Water treatments of control (water alone) and water + surfactant, assigned to the subplots. The quantitative and physiological characteristics of alfalfa forage were recorded at 10% flowering stage. The seed yield of alfalfa was measured after the plants reached full physiological maturity stage. The result of the experiment showed that as the severity of limited irrigation increased, plant height, tiller number per plant, RWC, total forge yield and seed yield followed a decreasing trend. Across all the limited irrigation systems, surfactant application increased plant height, RWC, seed yield and total forge yield. As the severity of limited irrigation increased, water use efficiency (WUE) in forage yield followed a significant increasing trend. The highest forage (7500 kg/ha) and seed yield (820 kg/ha) under limited irrigation treatments were achieved at 75% weekly evaporation and plant water requirements + surfactant, while the highest irrigation water use efficiency for forage (1.5 kg/m3) and seed (0.16 kg/m3) production was observed in limited irrigation treatment of 50% weekly evaporation and plant water requirements + surfactant.
Highlights
Drought is one of the most common and critical issues in arid and semi-arid regions of the world
The highest forage (7500 kg/ha) and seed yield (820 kg/ha) under limited irrigation treatments were achieved at 75% weekly evaporation and plant water requirements + surfactant, while the highest irrigation water use efficiency for forage (1.5 kg/m3) and seed (0.16 kg/m3) production was observed in limited irrigation treatment of 50% weekly evaporation and plant water requirements + surfactant
The height of the plant decreased by increasing the severity of limited irrigation, it significantly increased across all irrigation treatments with surfactant application (Table 3)
Summary
Drought is one of the most common and critical issues in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Water shortage for human and agricultural consumption is a vital matter in some parts of the world. By the year 2020 the number of countries that will be faced to water scarcity, reaches 35 (Morid et al, 2004). More attention is needed to improve the management of water consumption in countries located in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The goal of limited irrigation is to increase irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by reducing the amount of water in irrigation or by reducing the number of irrigation events (Kirda, 2002). By inducing limited irrigation methods water consumption will be reduced and the area under cultivation will be increased (Safai et al, 2011)
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