Effect of Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation with Treated Wastewater on Soil and Water Productivity of Okra ( Abemoschus esculentus ) Crop in Semi-Arid Region of Tunisia

Malika Mahmoudi, Mohamed Naceur Khelil (), Sarra Hechmi, Basma Latrech, Rim Ghrib, Abdelhamid Boujlben and Samir Yacoubi
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Malika Mahmoudi: High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem (ISA CM), University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Mohamed Naceur Khelil: National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), University of Carthage, BPN 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
Sarra Hechmi: Water Research and Technology Center, University of Carthage, Soliman 8020, Tunisia
Basma Latrech: National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), University of Carthage, BPN 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
Rim Ghrib: National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), University of Carthage, BPN 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
Abdelhamid Boujlben: High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem (ISA CM), University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Samir Yacoubi: National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), University of Carthage, BPN 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Under semi-arid conditions, irrigated agriculture faces hard competition for water. It is against this backdrop that appropriate management of irrigation techniques and water resources becomes a major concern. This study investigated the effect of surface (SDI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI) with domestic treated wastewater (TWW) and fresh water (FW) on soil water dynamics, salinity, yield, and mineral nutrition of okra. The experimental design was set-up based on two adjacent plots according to the water quality: Fresh Water (FW) T 1 and domestic Treated Wastewater (TWW) T 2 . Results showed that measured soil water contents (SWCs), under TWW treatment (T 2 ), were greater than their corresponding measurements under FW (T 1 ), and in particular at 35 cm depth. Meanwhile, for both water qualities, soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) registered at 5 cm depth was higher than those measured at 35 cm, with values ranging from 0.14 to 0.36 mS·cm −1 and from 0.20 to 0.47 mS·cm −m for T 1 and T 2 , respectively. Regarding crop yield, a statistically significant increase ( p = 0.05) in okra fresh yield was observed when TWW was used. Fresh yield in SDI was 2.55 t·ha −1 and 3.9 t·ha −1 in T 1 and T 2 , respectively. Nevertheless, results indicated that lateral depth did not significantly affect okra fresh yield. Moreover, a significant higher irrigation water productivity ( WP irrig ) with TWW (1.08 ± 0.26 and 1.23 ± 0.18 kg m −1 ) was observed, which was nearly double those obtained with FW (0.72 ± 0.33 to 0.78 ± 0.18 kg m −1 ). Appropriate use of SSDI with TWW stands as an irrigation management technique to improve yield and irrigation water productivity of okra crops.

Keywords: subsurface drip irrigation; water quality; lateral depth; soil water content; salinity; water productivity; okra (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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