SURFACE ALTERNATIVE IRRIGATION AS AN EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE FOR SAVING IRRIGATION WATER

Two field experiments were carried out during summer seasons, of 2010 and 2011, at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt. Maize (hybrid single cross 10) was evaluated in a split plot design with four replicates. Three treatments, of furrow length 30, 40 and 50 m, were studied under two surface irrigation methods; traditional and alternative. Data showed that, both water advance time and recession time were increased under traditional furrow irrigation, while opportunity time decreased under alternative irrigation. The results also revealed that, the applied irrigation water amount was less under alternative method. Values of amount were 2673, 2727 and 2856 m3/fed. for 30, 40 and 50 m furrow lengths, under alternate irrigation. While these values were 3177, 3282 and 3378, under traditional irrigation, for the studied lengths, respectively. Water application efficiency (Ea), was higher under the alternative technique. The average values of (Ea), for traditional irrigation method were 60.2, 64.3 and 59%. The corresponding values for alternate irrigation method were 77.5, 86.3 and 80.3% under furrow length of 30, 40 and 50 m respectively. Average values of water productivity (WP), for alternative irrigation method were 1.34, 1.40 and 1.3 kg/m3 under 30, 40 a 50 m furrow length respectively. Meanwhile, corresponding values under traditional irrigation method were 1.06, 1.07 and 1.00 kg/m3, respectively.