Improving Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Drought-Tolerant Saplings Using Sub surface Irrigation in a Semi-Arid Environment

Zahra Jafari; Sayed Hamid  Matinkhah; Kumars  Ebrahimi

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i4.174069

Authors

Zahra Jafari Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Sayed Hamid Matinkhah Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Kumars Ebrahimi Department of Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Energy and Sustainable Resources Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i4.174069

Keywords:

water requirement, water-saving irrigation, sustainable water management, water productivity.

Abstract

Efficient and sustainable management of land and water resources is crucial for maintaining environmental stability and increasing productivity, particularly in semi-arid regions where water scarcity is a significant challenge. In these areas, adopting water-saving irrigation technologies is essential to optimize resource use. This study evaluated the effects of surface and subsurface irrigation methods on the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of four drought-tolerant tree species: Ailanthus altissima (Heaven Tree), Melia azedarach (Chinaberry), Morus alba (White Mulberry), and Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust) under semi-arid conditions in Isfahan, central Iran. The study employed a randomized complete block design with three repetitions. Sapling water requirements were estimated based on canopy cover, and soil moisture was monitored using Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR). After two years, yield and WUE were measured for each species under both irrigation systems. Results showed that daily water requirements differed by species, with M. alba, M. azedarach, A. altissima, and R. pseudoacacia requiring 1.85, 1.77, 1.65, and 1.50 liters per day, respectively. Subsurface irrigation significantly increased yield and WUE for all species. For instance, M. alba yield increased from 23.33 to 32.33 kg per sapling, while R. pseudoacacia yield increased from 20.1 to 28.33 kg. Moreover, WUE under subsurface irrigation reached 2.07 kg ha-1, compared to 1.31 kg ha-1 under surface irrigation. These findings highlight the effectiveness of subsurface irrigation as a practical and eco-friendly strategy for improving tree productivity and water use efficiency inwater-limited environments.

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