Effect of Application Uniformity on Production under Deficit Sprinkler Irrigation

AbstractThe study aims to develop a computer model for assessing the effect of uniformity and deficit irrigation on farm crop production. The formulation of the model is based on the concept of field water balance. The model was applied for a selected autumn crop (maize). Ready to use values of evapotranspiration in the selected site (Al-Jazeera irrigation project-Nenawah) were used. Also, a published field data for sprinkler water distribution uniformity was adopted in the study. The study revealed that the yield ratio deficit increases with the increase in soil moisture depletion but decreases with the increase in irrigation uniformity. The actual crop evapotranspiration increases with uniformity. The results of the study also showed that the relative water use efficiency under deficit irrigation increases with the increase in soil moisture percent depletion and irrigation deficit ratio.Keywords: Sprinkler irrigation, Irrigation uniformity, Deficit irrigation, Evapo-transpiration, Water use efficiency.