Impact of irrigation levels and fertigation frequency on yield, water and NPK use efficiencies of safflower under new valley conditions

Abstract EN

Two field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm, Agricultural Research Station, El-Kharga, New Valley Governorate, Egypt, during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons to study the impact of irrigation levels (I1=100%, I2= 80% and I3= 60% of potential evapotranspiration, ETp) and fertigation frequency (F1= 3, F2= 6, F3= 12 and F4= 18 doses) on safflower crop.

The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design in strip-plot arrangement with three replicates.

Results showed that the highest mean values of seed yield, oil yield and NPK use efficiency were recorded from drip irrigation at 100% of ETp with number fertigation splitting to 12 equal doses.

The increment percentage of seed yield due to I1F3 treatment over fertigation splitting 3 doses under the same irrigation treatment were 62.2% and 61.1%, 42.34% and 41.63% when using I2F4 treatment in both seasons, respectively as compared to 100% of ETp with fertigation splitting 3 equal doses (I1F1).

The highest mean values of water use efficiency were recorded from drip irrigation at 80% of ETp with fertigation splitting 18 doses in both seasons.

So, it is concluded that treated safflower plants with I2F4 to get economical yield and water use efficiency, respectively; therefore it may be saving 20% of irrigation water