THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING SURFACE IRRIGATION WITH BLOCKED END ON SPARSE GRAPE TREES

Abstract

Border system that applies water over the whole soil surface is a widely used method of surface irrigation in Egypt to irrigate grape farms. Furrow system can be used to lessen water applied per irrigation in distant parallel channels to partially wet the soil surface along with plants line. A field study was carried out in northern Egypt to authorize using distant furrows rather than borders as an improving irrigation system for grape farms on a clay loam soil with 1.3 g cm -3 bulk density during 2008 season in Shibin El-Kom area, Egypt. Border irrigation was practiced to apply 9.8, 12.0, and 15.5 m 2 /h inflow rate per unit width when gravimetric soil moisture content was initialized at 24.7%. A 9.8 m 2 /h per unit width was applied when soil moisture content by weight was initialized as 21.4, 24.7, and 27.1%. Inflow rates of 2.2, 3.0, 4.0 m 3 /h were applied by furrow irrigation at 25.1% initial moisture content by weight. Gravimetric initial moisture contents 22.7, 25.4, and 27.2% were initialized under furrow irrigation with 2.2 m 3 /h inflow rate. The results showed that the greater inflow rate or the wetter initial soil surface was applied, the smaller water advance time and the greater recession time were occurred. Infiltrated water depth was individually increased by decreasing either inflow rate or initial soil moisture content. Coefficient of variation as well as distribution and application efficiencies was generally improved by increasing inflow rate, initial soil moisture content, or storage phase time. Water use per day was ranged from 4.9 to 6.1 mm by border irrigation and from 2.8 to 3.6 mm by partially wetted furrow irrigation. Water saving was achieved as 39.5-49% by partially wetted furrow irrigation compared to border as practiced in grape farm. Grape yield was significantly improved with increasing inflow rate, initial moisture, and storage phase. Keyword: surface irrigation; evaluation; water distribution and efficiency; water use.