ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

. Iran‘s potato production in arid areas mainly relies on groundwater that is being discharged by long-established and extensive sprinkler irrigation systems across the region. Within the past few years, drought, excess withdrawal, and slow recharging processes have all contributed to a rapid and drastic decline in the groundwater levels. Under these circumstances, drip tape irrigation (DTI) can be considered as a possible alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of solid set portable sprinkler (SS) and DTI systems on the irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), tuber yield (TY), and growth characteristics of two potato varieties of Satina and Burren. A randomized complete block design experiment with three replications was applied during the 2011-2012 growing season at Isfahan, Iran. Results indicated that the DTI system in comparison with SI system, consumed 16% less water and produce 37% more tuber yield. IWUE for the DTI and the SS systems were 3.83 kg m-3 and 1.95 kg m-3, respectively, which the difference was statistically significant. The DTI increased the shoot height (SH), root dry matter (RDM), and root length (RL) by 11, 34 and 35% respectively. The microclimate under the SS system not only delayed the germination by 9 days, but also prolonged the growing season due to its effect on increasing the required cumulative growing degree days (GDD) at each growing stage. The drip tape irrigation can be considered as a good alternative irrigation system for potato production in the arid regions.