Using Deficit Irrigation Strategies and Organic Mulches for Improving Yield and Water Productivity of Mango under Dry Environment Conditions

Abdulrahman Alhashimi, Arwa Abdulkreem AL-Huqail, Mustafa H. Hashem, Basem M. M. Bakr, Waleed M. E. Fekry, Hosny F. Abdel-Aziz, Ashraf E. Hamdy, Ramadan Eid Abdelraouf () and Maher Fathy
Additional contact information
Abdulrahman Alhashimi: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Arwa Abdulkreem AL-Huqail: Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Mustafa H. Hashem: Central Laboratory of Organic Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
Basem M. M. Bakr: Pomology Department, Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, National Research Centre, 33 EL Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
Waleed M. E. Fekry: Plant Production Department Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Hosny F. Abdel-Aziz: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
Ashraf E. Hamdy: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
Ramadan Eid Abdelraouf: Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, National Research Centre, 33 EL Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
Maher Fathy: Water Relations and Field Irrigation Department, Agricultural and Biological Research Institute, National Research Centre, 33 EL Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Many techniques have been and are being made to find alternatives to water-saving practices. Among them, Partial root drying (PRD), one effective approach, plays a major role in reducing the harmful effects of water deficit stress. Field experiments were carried out on mango trees for a private farm in Egypt over the course of two years, 2020/2021 to 2021/2022, in an area with sandy soil, hot summer conditions, and cold and rainy winter conditions. In the experiment that was carried out, the experimental design included using different irrigation strategies (I1, 100% full irrigation “FI”; I2, 75% FI; I3, 50% FI; and I4 (PRD), 50% FI) in the main plot and different amounts of organic mulch in the soil (L0, no layers of organic soil mulch, used as a control; L1, a single layer of organic soil mulch; L2, two layers of organic soil mulch; and L3, three layers of organic soil mulch) in subplots of the main plot in order to inspect the impact of the treatments on yield, water productivity, and energy usage under arid conditions. To meet the study’s objective, two field experiments were carried out at a private farm. Our results demonstrate a general decrease in water stress and salt accumulation inside the root-zone area with PRD and L3. During the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons the PRD strategy increased fruit yields by 3.7 and 7.3% and water productivity by 51.9 and 53.1%, respectively, compared with the control treatment (I1) while reducing the amount of applied irrigation water by 50%. The PRD strategy along with organic mulching showed superior results with respect to increasing mango yields and water productivity. In general, PRD can be used as a good technique to save water and energy by up to 50% while enhancing productivity, ultimately improving mango yields under arid climatic conditions. Thus, it may prove a good adaptation strategy for current and future water shortage scenarios involving climate change.

Keywords: water saving; partial root drying; organic mulch; water productivity; water stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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