Assessment of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Cultivation under Two Irrigation Systems in Central Iraq

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Abbasiya area of Najaf Governorate, located in the Middle Euphrates region during the winter season of 2022-2023. The primary focus of the study was to evaluate the performance of two irrigation systems, nano-irrigation, and subsurface drip irrigation, on broccoli plants grown in clay soil. The experimental design followed a Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD). Nano-irrigation demonstrated several advantages over subsurface drip irrigation. It exhibited a reduction inater con-sumption and lower energy requirements for water pumping opera-tions. Notably, the root length of broccoli plants was significantly greater under the nano-irrigation system, with an increase of 18.2 cm compared to the drip irrigation system. The use of nano-irrigation resulted in better water use efficiency and energy efficien-cy, leading to improved root development in the broccoli plants. The study results indicated that nano-irrigation offers benefits in terms of water conservation and plant growth promotion, ultimately leading to increased overall productivity. This makes nano-irrigation an appealing option for improving water use efficiency in agriculture, particularly in regions that face water scarcity. Moreo-ver, there was no significant difference in yield between the nano-irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation systems.