Eddy correlation measurements within the Nile Delta allowed the determination of evapotranspiration (E) for seven crops (rice, maize, cotton, sugar beets, berseem, wheat, and faba beans) using basin irrigation (BI), furrow irrigation (FI), BI with increased intervals (BIi), FI with increased intervals (FIi), strip irrigation (SI), and drip irrigation (DI). Total E values over the cropping season for rice (BI, BIi) were the highest (>600 mm) while those for sugar beets (DI), maize (SI and DI), and berseem (BIi) were the lowest (<250 mm). Differences were due to a combination of atmospheric demand, soil moisture, the presence of surface standing water, root depth, and the length and timing of the cropping season. The DI and SI methods had an advantage for water saving, while the FIi and BIi methods were effective for crops with shallow root lengths. Estimated annual E was 566-828 mm/year (water-saving irrigation) and 875-1225 mm/year (conventional irrigation).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.