Improving irrigation schedule of potato in order to improve water use efficiency index

Achieving sustainable water resources has been considered as the biggest challenge of sustainable agriculture among the majority of countries across the world. Obviously, preserving water resources requires optimization of water consumption in different sectors, particularly in agricultural section. This study has been carried out with the aim of water use management reform via applying deficit irrigation techniques in order to promote potato plant productivity and water use efficiency (WUE) indicator in Shahrekord area. Accordingly, management indicator's quantities such as application efficiency, distribution uniformity and irrigation adequacy were measured and compared at the rates 60, 80, 100 and 120 percent supplying conditions of potato water requirement in the form of a complete randomized block design with three replications from June to October 2014. Determining aforementioned management indicators requires sufficient knowledge of the distribution pattern and amount of percolated water. In this regards, mentioned management indicators were determined by designing and installation of the six simple WFD devices at the beginning, middle and end of each furrow in two different depths. The distribution pattern and the amount of percolated water along the furrows were followed, measured and evaluated. Based on the results of this research, the average application efficiency of mentioned water treatments were calculated as 81.26, 68.09, 56.26 and 46.92, respectively. While, the lowest levels of adequacy efficiency and distribution were equal with 86.29 and 75.56% which was related to 60 percent treatment, respectively. Eventually, the findings indicated that irrigation management of potato farm in the study region will bring about the highest water use efficiency (WUE= 1.83KG/M3) with considering MAD of 47 percent and water application equal to 80 percent of water requirement.