Effects of irrigation systems on quantity and water use efficiency of onion cultivars

The research has been tested over four long-date onion cultivars for purpose of studying 3 methods of irrigation (drip, furrow and basin) on the yield, germination, water use efficiency (WUE) of onion produce at the Neyshabur Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center for two years (2005- 2007). Three methods of irrigation were taken as main factor in three levels and cultivars of onion (Azarshahr red, Kashan White, Neyshabur Red and Neyshabur White) were sub factor in four levels. According to the essence of experiment, the treatments were analyzed in a Strip Plot design based on randomized complete blocks in three repetitions and finally the means were compared on basis of Duncan multi-domain test. The results showed that, yield average in drip irrigation method was more than another irrigation methods. Different between yields on irrigation systems were significant at the 5% level and basin irrigation had least yield. Different between yield cultivars was statistically significant at 5%. So that, Kashan with cultivar with a 19% increase compared to the other cultivars, had the highest yield. WUE in drip irrigation method was higher than other methods in 28% more than furrow method and 52% more than basin method. Economical analysis results showed that expense increment was along income decrement, so basin and furrow treatments in each row of comparisons had negative final income, and finally treatment of drip irrigation was the best among other cultivars.