The reaction of two palm cultivars to different irrigation water levels under a subsurface drip irrigation system

To evaluate the impact of different irrigation water levels on water use efficiency, yield and yield component of two palm cultivars, a research study was conducted in Behbahan Agricultural Research Station equipped to subsurface drip irrigation system. The study was based on a split plot experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications for two growing season years of 2014 and 2015. The irrigation water was applied in three levels of 75, 100, and 125% of crop water requirement (ETc) as main plot and two palm cultivars of Kabkab and Khasi as sub-main plot. According to the results, there was no any significant difference in weight and length of fruits, number of fruits per cluster, and yield under irrigation water levels and palm cultivars and interaction between them. However, water use efficiency was different significantly between the different irrigation water levels. Accordingly, 75% ETc irrigation treatment by 7545.3 m3/ha water consumption and yield of 6284.2 kg/ha were recommended. Yield of Khasi varieties was 6729.7 kg/ha. Water use efficiency of Kabkab and Khasi cultivars under irrigation treatment of 75% water requirement were 0.804 and 0.862 kg/m3, respectively, which was significantly higher compared to other treatments.