Effect of alternate furrow irrigation method on grain yield and water use efficiency of common bean genotypes

A field experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effect of alternate furrow irrigation on yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of common bean genotypes in Karaj, Iran during 005 - 006. The experimental design was split plot based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Three furrow irrigation methods including: alternate furrow irrigation (AFI), fixed furrow irrigation (FFI) and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI) methods were considered as main factor and three genotypes of Akhtar, Derakhshan and D808 line were planted in subplots. Results showed no significant difference between the effect of AFI and FFI methods on grain yield of bean genotypes. However AFI decreased grain yield of line D808, Akhtar and Derakhshan cultivars up to 0.,. 5 and 0.9 percent in comparison to CFI method, repectively. Line D808 showed higher water use efficiency than other two studied genotypes. Irrigation water use efficiency of Akhtar and Derakhshan cultivars and line D808 was also increased by AFI in comparison to CFI method up to 9.%,. 9% and 5.9%, respectively.