Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
The shortage of fresh water and growing competition for clear water makes less water available for agriculture production. The great chalange for the coming decades will be the task of increasing food production with less water, particularly in countries with limited water and land resources. Therefore, increasing of irrigation efficienciy and decreasing of water losses are important factores in agricultural development. Evaluation of different irrigation management and their performance is essential for improving of irrigation water application. In this research, on-farm furrow irrigation efficiencies under different management and different crops such as sugarbeet and corn were measured in some parts of Moghan region. After selection of the irrigation plots (for two selected crops) and measurment of water discharge, runoff rates, soil moisture befor and after irrigation, rooting depth and wetted soil depth, different irrigation efficiencies were determined. The results showed that irrigation efficiencies vary extremely with respect to farmers management, length and slope of plots, physical characteristics of soils, crop and other factors. The minimum irrigation application efficiency for corn was about 6.9% and the maximum of that was 93.4% and on average was 45%. The average irrigation application efficiency for corn under governmental management was 24.9% and the average of that for corn under farmers management was 65.3%. Also the minimum irrigation application efficiency for sugarbeet was about 7.8% and the maximum of that was 84.5% and on average was 49.2%. The average irrigation application efficiency for sugarbeet under governmental management was 62.7% and the average of that for sugarbeet in farmers management was 35.6%. The study showed that losses to deep drainage were substantial and improvement of irrigation management can reduce water losses.
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