Kassab, M.M., M.A.M. Ibrahim and N.I. Talha( 2012). Effect of Cultivation Method and Irrigation Rate on Productivity and Water Effecincy of Berseem Crop-Grown in North Nile DeltaMinufiya J. Agric. Res. Vol.37 No. 4(2):1019-1033
Abstract: Two field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, North Nile Delta region during the two growing seasons of 2009/10 and 2010/11. The main target of the study was to find out the proper cultivation method and the irrigation level as two ways towards effective management of berseem watering. The adopted treatments were assessed in factorial, split plot design with three replicates where the main plots were assigned to the cultivation methods as A- dry seed on dry soil B- soaked seed on dry soil and C- traditional (wet seed on wet soil) . The sub plots were occupied by four different irrigation regimes as follows :
1. Convenient irrigation (control) i.e. irrigation till the water level reaches 5.0 cm above soil surface.
2. Irrigation according to Ibrahim equation(1981) as follows
ETp = 0.1642 + 0.8 EP …… where
ETp = Potential evapotranspiration, cm and
Ep = Pan evaporation,cmday-1
3. Irrigation with 0.8 of Ibrahim equation,
4. Irrigation with 0.6 of Ibrahim equation.
The main findings could be summarized as follows:
1. Saving irrigation water of an amount of about 169.2 m3/fed. and 151.2 m3/fed for dry and semi-dry cultivation methods or 423 and 378 million m3 at the national level, respectively comparing with the wet or the traditional cultivation method.
2. Almost the same yield was produced under the three cultivation methods. The average values were 32.81, 34.01and 34.62 ton/fed for dry, semi-dry and the common cultivation, respectively.
3. Higher values of yield per unit applied water (WUtE) as well as consumed water (WUE) averaging 15.52, 15.68 kg/m3 and 20.06, 19.74 kg/m3 for dry and semi-dry cultivation, respectively comparing with 15.07 kg/m3 applied and 18.47 kg/m3 consumed, respectively under the wet or the common cultivation method
Keywords: (Trifolium alexandrinum, water use efficiency, irrigation rate, cultivation method)
