Maximizing water use efficiency in wheat yields based on drip irrigation systems.

2 Abstract: Maximizing irrigation water use efficiency is one of the most important policies under arid ecosystems conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the wheat yield response to drip irrigation systems and the attributed water use efficiency and saving water indices under sandy soil conditions of arid regions. Results revealed that about 16.33 and 26.57% of wheat grain yield reduction had been observed under the alternative irrigation systems (subsurface and surface drip) compared with the solid-set sprinkler irrigation system. On the other hand, data revealed that attributed water use efficiency and water saving had been enhancement with about 43.13 and 76%, respectively, when using drip irrigation systems. It can be concluded that the alternative irrigation system (subsurface drip irrigation) has an effective way for irrigating intensive field crops, but more studies have to be conducted under similar field conditions.