CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.) YlELD- WATER PRODUCTION FUNCTION AND WATERUSE EFFICIENCY USING DRIP IRRIGATION

Abstract

This experiment was conducted at the farm Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Fish Sciences, Al Neelain University Jebel Aulia 40 km south of Khartoum during the winter season of 2010 and 2011. The objective of this study was to determine water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency of cucumber plant under the drip irrigation system in the open fields. ' Measurements of plant for growth component crop yield, physical soil properties have been studied. The parameters include moisture content, bulk density, infiltration rate mm/hr, field capacity and permanent wilting point. Plant height (cm), leaf number, leaf area_(,cm2), dry weight/fresh ‘weight % plant, .'dry weight/fresh weight for the-root, dry weight/fresh weight for the fruit, root length (cm) , early yield (kg/m2) , total yield (kg/ha), water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency. The results showed, that there was a significant difference at (P 5 0.05) in all yield and yield components. T4 treatment gave highest yield, plant height, leaves nmnber, leaves area (cmz) and dry Weight/fiesh weight % for plant, root and fruit, early yield kg/m2 and total yield kg/ha. Whereas, T6 treatment gave the lowest leaf number, leaf area, dry weight/fiesh weight % plant, root and fruit, length root, also T; treatment recorded highest root length and lowest plant height, early yield (kg/m2) and total yield kg/ha. The results showed that there was a significant difference at (P 5 0.05) in all treatments water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency. Tltreatment gave the highest water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency. Whereas, T6 treatment gave the lowest water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency. Relation between irrigation water and production following equations Y= -0.019 W2 + 29.01W + 1768 with r2= 0.9 season 2010 Y= -0.019 W2+29.0lW+5l8.3 with r2= 0.9 season 2011 Relation between evapo-transpiration and production following equations Y= 26.89 ET + 322.1 with r2= 0.998 season 2010 Y= 21.87 ET + 332.6 with r2= 0.997 season 20