Effect of Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation Methods and Different Water Levels on Vegetable Characteristics, Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Peach Cultivars

This study was conducted with the purpose of investigation the effect of different amount of water on vegetative characteristics¡ yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of peach (Prunus persica L. cv. «Spring time» and Sabze Mashhad) trees at Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources and Research Center. A split plot experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design including 3 different levels of water treatments with three replication. Treatments were including different amount of water 60¡ 80 and 100% water requirement) in main plot and drip irrigation method (surface and subsurface) in sub plot. In cultivars¡ interaction water percent and irrigation method had significant effect on vegetative characteristics. Subsurface drip irrigation with 80% water requirement had highest vegetative characteristics (height of tree¡ crown width¡ trunk diameter). In «spring time» ¡ the highest (31. 4 ton/ha) and lowest (19. 8 ton/ ha) yield were obtained with 100% and 60% water requirement respectively. There were not significant differences on yield in surface (24. 5 ton/ha.) and subsurface (26. 2 ton/ha) irrigation method. In « Sabze Mashhad”¡ the highest (32. 5 ton/ha) yiled were obtained with 100% water requirement. With reducing amount of water¡ there were significant differences on yield. Subsurface drip irrigation method with 31. 4 ton/ha was the better of Surface drip irrigation method. Finally our results showed that subsurface drip irrigation with 80% water requirementwasthe best water use efficiency treatment in both peach cultivars.