ABSTRACT

Potato Crop to Egypt ....................................... 200 7.2.2 Deficit Irrigation ............................................................... 204 7.3 Materials and Methods ................................................................. 206 7.3.1 Chemical Analysis and Physical Properties of Soil,

Irrigation Water and Compost .......................................... 206 7.3.2 Description of the Irrigation System ................................ 208 7.3.3 Experimental Site ............................................................. 209 7.3.4 Fertilization Method and Bio-Fertigation ........................ 209 7.3.5 Experimental Design ........................................................ 210 7.3.6 Estimation the Total Irrigation Water ............................... 212 7.3.7 Determination of Soil Moisture Distribution ................... 214 7.3.8 Determination of Application Efficiency ....................... 214 7.3.9 Determination of Clogging Ratio of Emitters ................ 215 7.3.10 Determination of Emission Uniformity (EU) ................ 215 7.3.11 Plant Growth Parameters ................................................ 215 7.3.12 Potato Yield .................................................................... 216

7.3.13 Determination of Water Use Efficiency (WUE) ............ 216 7.3.14 Determination of Energy Use Efficiency (EUE) ............ 216 7.3.15 Determination of Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) ......... 216 7.3.16 Quality of Potato Tubers ................................................ 217 7.3.17 Economic Analysis ......................................................... 218 7.3.18 Cost Analysis of Irrigation, LE/fed ................................ 218 7.3.19 Statistical Analysis ......................................................... 219 7.4 Results and Discussion ................................................................ 220 7.4.1 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on Soil Moisture

Distribution in the Root Zone ........................................ 220 7.4.1.1 PSDI on WSV

≥100%FC at 100% of WRa ............ 221

7.4.1.2 PSSDI on WSV ≥100% FC

at 100% from WRa ........................................................ 222

7.4.1.3 PSDI on WSV ≥100%FC

at 75% from WRa ........................................................ 223

7.4.1.4 PSSDI on WSV ≥100%FC

at 75% from WRa ........................................................ 224

7.4.1.5 PSDI on WSV ≥100% FC

at 50% of WRa ............. 226 7.4.1.6 PSSDI on WSV

≥100% FC at 50% of

WRa (Figures 7.22 and 7.23) .......................... 228 7.4.2 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation (PDI) on

Soil Moisture Content in Root Zone (MCRZ) ............... 228 7.4.2.1 PSDI on Moisture Content in

Root Zone “MCRZ” at 100% from WRa ........ 228 7.4.2.2 PSSDI on MCRZ at 100% of WRa

(Table 7.9 and Figure 7.25) ............................. 229 7.4.2.3 PSDI on MCRZ at 75% of WRa

(Tables 7.10 and Figure 7.26) .......................... 230 7.4.2.4 PSSDI on MCRZ at 75% of WRa

(Tables 7.11 and Figure 7.27) .......................... 230 7.4.2.5 PSDI on MCRZ at 50% of WRa

(Tables 7.12 and Figure 7.28) .......................... 237

7.4.2.6 PSSDI on MCRZ at 50% of WRa (Tables 7.13 and Figure 7.29) .......................... 237

7.4.3 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on Water Application Efficiency (AE) ................................ 241

7.4.4 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on Clogging Ratio of Emitters ............................................ 243

7.4.5 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on Emission Uniformity ...................................................... 247

7.4.6 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on Potato Yield ............ 250 7.4.7 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Water Use Efficiency ...................................................... 252 7.4.8 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Energy Use Efficiency.................................................... 255 7.4.9 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Fertilizer Use Efficiency ................................................ 258 7.4.10 Effects of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Quality of Potato Tubers ................................................ 261 7.4.10.1 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Tuber Dry Matter........................................... 261 7.4.10.2 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Tuber Specific Density .................................. 261 7.4.10.3 Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation on

Tuber Total Carbohydrates ............................ 263 7.4.11 Economic Analysis ......................................................... 266 7.5 Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................ 269 7.6 Summary ...................................................................................... 270 Acknowledgments ................................................................................. 272 Keywords .............................................................................................. 273 References ............................................................................................. 273 Appendix I. ........................................................................................... 278 Appendix II ........................................................................................... 282

7.1 INTRODUCTION

Pulse irrigation is used throughout the world because of its positive effects on yield, fruit quality, water saving, less clogging, and reduction in consumption of energy. Pulse irrigation refers to the practice of irrigating for a short period, then waiting for another short period, and repeating this on-off cycle until the entire irrigation water is completed [28]. Drip irrigation, nowadays, is most efficient plant watering system [37]. For efficient use of water, drip irrigation and pulse technique can be combined.