Investigating the Possibility of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis.L) Use of Shallow Groundwater with Different Qualities

A part of the plants' water needs can be met by shallow groundwater with desirable quality. In this research, contribution of shallow and saline groundwater to evapotranspiration of rosemary plant was studied in a completely randomized factorial design with three replications and using drainage lysimeters with a diameter of 1.20 m, in 2017 and 2018. The applied treatments included groundwater with salinity levels of 1, 2 and 4 dS/m at a constant depth of 0.8 m. The results showed that the total water requirement of rosemary was 597 mm. From total water required by the plant, 312.6 mm (54%), 260.3 mm (44%), and 201.1 mm (34%) were supplied by shallow groundwater with qualities of 1, 2 and 4 dS/m, respectively. The daily groundwater contribution was 4.9, 3.9, and 3 mm by, respectively, treatments 1, 2, and 4 dS/m. The effects of groundwater salinity on the yield of rosemary plant parameters were significant at the level of 5%, which can be attributed to the tolerance of this plant to groundwater salinity. In addition, due to the rosemary plant use of groundwater with different qualities, some water from surface water can be saved and irrigated land can be expanded, with consequently higher crop production and more jobs for farmers.