Evaluation of quantitative traits of Rosmarinus officinalis L. with use of two drip irrigation systems Influenced by deficit irrigation

In order to study the effects of two drip irrigation systems and deficit irrigation on the quantitative traits of Rosmarinus officinalis L., an experiment was conducted in Kerman Municipality seedling production station in 2016. The experimental treatments were laid out in split plot a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of five irrigation regimes (full irrigation (FI-100), regulated deficit (RDI75 and RDI55) and partial root zone drying irrigation (PRD75 and PRD55)) in main plot and two drip irrigation systems (S1= surface and S2= subsurface) in sub plot. The results showed that applying of subsurface drip irrigation system compared to use of surface drip irrigation, in addition to saving 11.4 percent in water use, increased the water productivity 21 percent. Also, the highest herbage dry weight (4404.2 kg.h-1), plant height (68.4 cm), number of shoots (128.7) and leaf area index in different stages of growth were produced by S2FI. Using S2PRD75 compared to use of S2RDI75, increased all of the Rosmarinus plant growth parameters. However, Using S2PRD75 compared to use S2FI in addition to saving 25 percent in water use, increased the water productivity 12.8 percent and dry weight, number of shoots per plant and height of plant decreased 5.3, 8.9 and 9.8 percent respectively. Simultaneous analysis of Rosmarinus’s water productivity and its growth parameters showed that it could be possible to save in irrigation water use and increase the water productivity with the lowest decrease in the Rosmarinus plant growth parameters by applying S2PRD75.