African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6893

Full Length Research Paper

Yield and water productivity of maize and wheat under deficit and raised bed irrigation practices in Egypt

Mohammed Karrou1*, Theib Oweis1, Rashad Abou El Enein2 and Mohamed Sherif2
1ICARDA, P. O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria.  2Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Ministry of Agriculture, 9, El Gama'a St. Giza, Egypt. 
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 23 January 2012
  •  Published: 19 March 2012

Abstract

This work aims at evaluating the performance of deficit irrigation (DI) and raised bed techniques (RB) of 
maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as compared to farmers’ practice (FT) and full
irrigation (FWR) in the Nile Delta of Egypt in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons. In maize, results showed 
that the application of FWR as compared to the FT reduced water application by 640 and 460 m3
/ha with 
yields decreases of 7 and 8% in the first and second seasons, respectively. DI and RB resulted in 
savings of 1600 m3 water/ha in maize and 1500 m3 water/ha in wheat. Water saving due to DI was 
accompanied by a yield reduction of 8.8% in maize, but with no effect on wheat. RB had no significant 
effect on yield in both crops. On average, WP values were 1.53, 1.66, 1.83, and 1.99 kg/m3
 in maize and 
1.30, 1.38, 1.86 and 1.88 kg/m3
 in wheat for FT, FWR, DI and RB, respectively. From this study, we can 
conclude that substantial amounts of water can be saved by applying DI with no significant reduction in 
yields especially in wheat. However, RB remains more a promising technique for both crops. 
Key words: Water saving, surface irrigation, on-farm trials, land productivity, tradeoff.