Wick irrigation improves seed yield and water use efficiency in mung bean

Abstract

AbstractDrought is a serious threat to crop growth, and finding new irrigation methods can save water. This study was conducted to investigate water use efficiency and seed yield in mung bean under wick irrigation. Irrigation treatments consisted of the wick irrigation method, surface irrigation (common irrigation) with water equivalent to wick irrigation, and surface irrigation with the double water use of wick irrigation. The results showed that the wick irrigation had a seed weight per plant, 100‐seed weight, seed number per pod, pod number per plant, seed yield, biological yield, water use efficiency of seed, water use efficiency of biomass and net income increase of 164, 14, 28, 80, 164, 128, 164, 128 and 300%, respectively, compared to surface irrigation with an equivalent water volume of wick irrigation. Wick irrigation resulted in increases in plant height, internode length, leaf number per plant, node number per plant, branch number per plant, leaf length and leaf width of 60, 59, 65, 91, 91, 52 and 52%, respectively, compared to surface irrigation with an equivalent water volume of wick irrigation. In conclusion, the wick irrigation method, as a new method, can save water and improve seed yield and net income.