Response of Durum Wheat to Deficit Irrigation

Abstract

Deficit irrigation trial has been conducted to see the response of durum wheat to the extent of deficit irrigation at Debre Zeit research center for three successive seasons from 2016 to 2018. Establishment irrigations were given for all plots after swing and irrigation water application events were monitored using long term meteorological data and soil moisture readings. Irrigation water application depths (amount of water applied) were calculated from cumulative crop evapotranspiration (ETc) values in a given period and plots were irrigated with depths that was replenish 100 %, 75%, and 50 % of the cumulative ETc as per the treatment to be applied. Measured amount of irrigation water applied to every plot measured by using 3 inch Parshall flume. Results indicated those grain yields significantly affected by deficit irrigation levels and furrow irrigation methods. The highest mean grain yield of 5.8 t/ha attained from 75% ETc irrigation level with alternate furrow irrigation method while the lowest mean yield of 3.989 t/ha was obtained from treatment irrigated with 50% ETc and conventional furrow irrigation method. Therefore, based on the current findings, the highest grain yield was obtained at 75% ETc with alternate furrow irrigation system while the highest WUE was recorded at irrigating 100% ETc with alternate furrow system.