Comparative Effects of Drip and Furrow Irrigation with Saline Water on the Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Arid Conditions of Tunisia

摘要

Field experiment was conducted on a sandy soil during spring of 2005 in southern Tunisia for evaluating the effects of drip and furrow irrigation methods on soil salinity, yield and water use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). For both irrigation methods, irrigations were scheduled when readily available water in the root zone (35% of the total available water) was depleted. Well water with an ECi of 3.25 dS m 1 was used for irrigation. Growth, yield, yield components, water supply and soil salinity were measured. Results show that higher soil salinity was maintained in the root zone with furrow than drip irrigation. The growth and yield of potato irrigated through furrows were significantly lower when compared with drip irrigation. Potato yield was increased 11% relative to that for furrow irrigated potato. Under drip irrigation, 20.8% of the irrigation water was saved in comparison with furrow irrigated potato; and irrigation water use efficiency increased by 29% compared with that of furrow irrigation. Drip irrigation method provides significant advantage on yield and WUE, compared to furrow irrigation in potato production under experimental conditions. Therefore, the drip irrigation method is recommended to optimize the use of saline water in potato production under the arid mediterranean conditions of southern Tunisia.