EFFECT OF PULSE DRIP IRRIGATION ON YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF POTATO CROP UNDER ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN SANDY SOILS

Abstract

(1); F.G. El-Ebabi (2); M.T. El-Saidi (3) and A. R. E. Abdelghany(4) ABSTRACT Pulse drip irrigation is a recent concept where small frequent irrigation applications are applied to saturate the soil and meet the plant water requirements. The field experiment was carried out during two summer growing seasons 2006 and 2007, it executed in Abo-Ghaleb farm, Cairo-Alex. Rood, 60 Km away from Cairo and the soil was sandy. Seed tubers were planted on 2 th of February and harvested on 28 th of May in two seasons, and the well water was used as irrigation source having EC 1.9 ds/m, the soil sample were taken up to 45 cm depth. Diameter of the lateral line was 16 mm (OD)with discharge of 2.1 l/h. The distance between emitters was 30 cm and between laterals was 70 cm. The present investigation aimed to study the effect of pulse drip irrigation under organic agriculture for saving water and increasing yield of potato. The following parameters were studied to evaluate the performance of pulse drip irrigation :(1) Soil moisture distribution, (2) Application efficiency "AE", (3) Yield of potato "YP", (4) Water use efficiency of potato "WUE potato ". The results indicated that wetted soil volume (more than or equal 100% of field capacity) in root zone"WSV ≥100% FC " , application efficiency, yield and water use efficiency of potato were increased by increasing number of irrigation pulses where: (1) WSV ≥100% FC in root zone increased from 9617 cm