Impact of surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems and fertigation managements on yield and water use efficiencies of two squash varieties

Abstract EN

Two squash varieties were grown under surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems at the experimental farm of the soils and water depart., Faculty of Agric., Assiut University, Egypt during the summer season of 2016 to study the impact of surface and subsurface drip irrigation and number of fertigation doses (3D = 3 doses, 6D = 6 doses, 9D = 9 doses and 12D = 12 doses) on the yield and water use efficiencies of two squash varieties (Eskendarany and Fadwa squash hybrid).

The experiment was laid out in split spilt block design arrangement with three replicates.

The Results showed that the highest mean values of squash fruit yield and water use efficiency were recorded from subsurface drip irrigation.

Using the same amount of water with subsurface drip irrigation doubled the yield as compared with surface drip irrigation.

Dividing the amount of fertilizer to 12 doses produced the highest yield and WUF.

Increasing number doses from 3 to 6, 9, and 12 doses increased the squash fruits yield and WUF steadily to more than double.

Fadwa squash hybrid produced higher yield compared to Eskendarany variety.

The highest mean values of water use efficiency were recorded from subsurface drip irrigation with splitting the same amount of fertilizer to 12 doses in both varieties.

It could be recommended that, to get economical yield and to increase water use efficiency, one should use subsurface drip irrigation and spilt the amount of fertilizer to 9 or 12 doses whish will not increase the farming coast but almost double the yield.