Impact of Deficit Irrigation on Soil Salinity and Cucumber Yield under Greenhouse Condition in an Arid Environment (original) (raw)

Continuing agricultural expansion and urban development in Saudi Arabia, (located in an arid climate), together with an increased demands for more water supplies, calls for more efficient irrigation practices, and an increase in Crop Water Productivity (CWP). Throughout the present study, a deficit irrigation system was investigated for its impact on soil salinity, crop response factor (Ky), CWP, and a crop, namely cucumber’s (Cucumis sativus L.) yield. Cucumber seeds were planted in a greenhouse equipped with drip irrigation system. The crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was assessed through Pan Evaporation method (PE) and estimation based upon Penman-Monteith equation (PM). The results revealed good agreement between PE and PM ETc. The irrigation treatments consisted of four levels of ETc (40, 60, 80, and 100% of ETc) in addition to the traditional one as practiced by local farmers. At the 60 and 80% ETc treatments, the deficit irrigation was tested at different growth stages (Initial,...