Universal Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 1(2), pp. 17 - 23
DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2013.010201
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Comparative Study of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) under Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation

Abdellatif Y. Idris^1,*, Abdelmohsin H. El Nadi², Yassin M.I. Dagash³, Siddig A.M.Ali^1
1 Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agric., University of Zalingei, Central Darfur, P.O.Box:6 Zalingei, Sudan
² Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Shambat, Postal code 31314, Sudan
³ College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology (Sustech.), Sudan

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted during the period of 2007 to 2009 in semiarid region of Khartoum State, Sudan to investigate the effect of two irrigation intervals of 8 and 12 days (W1 and W2) on growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) under drip and sprinkler irrigation. The daily rate of water application was 8 mm. Therefore, the amount/irrigation was 64 and 96 mm for W1 and W2 respectively. The irrigation treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The measured parameters were fresh and dry weights of the fodder, leaf/stem ratio and the actual water used by the crop (Etcrop) between two successive cuts. The calculated values were crop water use efficiency (WUE), field water use efficiency (FWUE) and the crop factor (kc). The results showed that the fresh and dry weights and leaf/stem ratio under W1 were greater than those under W2 for both irrigation systems, with superiority of these parameters under drip irrigation. WUE and FWUE under W1 with drip irrigation were always higher than those of W2 with sprinkler irrigation. The highest value for the crop factor (1.33) was during early April to late June with decreasing values during mid July to mid August.

KEYWORDS
Lucerne, Sprinkler Irrigation, Drip Irrigation, Water Use Efficiency

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Abdellatif Y. Idris , Abdelmohsin H. El Nadi , Yassin M.I. Dagash , Siddig A.M.Ali , "Comparative Study of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) under Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation," Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 17 - 23, 2013. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2013.010201.

(b). APA Format:
Abdellatif Y. Idris , Abdelmohsin H. El Nadi , Yassin M.I. Dagash , Siddig A.M.Ali (2013). Comparative Study of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) under Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research, 1(2), 17 - 23. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2013.010201.