Impact of different Modern Irrigation Systems on Water Productivity of Some Vegetables Considering Climatic Factors

Abstract

Climate change is emerging as one of the major constraints to global food security and through expected changes in the coming years will become even more influential. Agriculture is the sector most affected by climate change. This experiment is concerned with change in humidity and temperature, and it is effects on the productivity of one unit of water and the productivity of some vegetable crops. Fluctuations in average monthly temperature are one of the most important reasons that negatively affect vegetable production, as many physiological and biochemical activities of the plant depend on temperature. Case studies related to the effect of temperature change on the productivity of some vegetable crops were discussed. A field experiment was conducted in the winter season of 2021–2022 at the Wadi El-Natoun Research Station in the Western Desert of Egypt to study the effect of temperature changes and irrigation systems (surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems) on the water unit productivity of tomato and pepper crops in greenhouses. Irrigation water requirements increased by increased temperature while crop yield increased by decreased temperature. The highest water productivity values 16.1 and 17.3 kg/m³ were obtained in S1 treatment (Covering with plastic only) for tomato and pepper respectively by using subsurface drip irrigation.