Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 , Assistant professor East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center
2 Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering Research Department, East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center
3 Assistant professor, Department of Bio Systems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz
Abstract
In Iran, salinity is a pervasive issue limiting production of agriculture, so that a large part of the arid and semi-arid regions of the country have saline sodic soils with different levels. Saline soils and waters are among the agricultural resources that can be used for cultivation by using full recognition of problem and proper management. This study was performed to evaluate a special grain drill performance which plants wheat seeds into furrows for semi-arid regions with saline soils conditions in margin of Uremia Lake. The experimental treatments of planting method by the grain drill included, (i) planting into the furrows with 60 cm width and furrow irrigation; (ii) planting into the furrows with 100 cm width and furrow irrigation; and (iii) planting on a flat soil and flood irrigation. Statistical analysis was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Seed emergence rate, crop performance indices, water consumption, water productivity, and soil salinity distribution after each irrigation practice were measured. According to the results, there was no significant difference between the methods of planting in any of the measured parameters at the 5% probability level. Results also showed that reducing the width of the furrow from 100 to 60 cm caused salinity reduction (about 37 percent) from inside the furrows. The water productivity of the planting into the furrows with 60 cm width was about 40 percent higher than those of other treatments. Therefore, wheat planting method by the grain drill into the furrows with 60 cm width can be recommended in semi-arid regions with saline soils.
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