A Comparative Field Assessment of Nano-Irrigation and Subsurface Drip Irrigation Methods in Central Iraq

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in winter season in the Abbasiya-Najaf Governorate, which is part of the Middle Euphrates region, during 2022-2023. Clayey-green alluvial texture soils were selected for the study and a complete randomized block design (CRBD) was used. Comparing two irrigation methods, nano-irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation, was marked by great differences in water use efficiency. Nano-irrigation consumed less water and resulted in the reduction of energy used for pumping. The introduction of a drip irrigation system influenced soil bulk density and but the difference was significant before and after its application. In addition, the study areas had significantly different electrical conductivity values, with nano-irrigation having some of the least soil salinity in comparison to subsurface drip irrigation. Alkalinity differences in soils were also found in all places, and marked differences were before and after the drip irrigation. In sum, the findings indicate that the nano-irrigation considerably reduces the water use, supports plant growth, and enhances the total productivity. This makes nano-irrigation a potential solution to improving water use efficiency in agriculture, especially in regions with water shortage or inability to supply water for agricultural purposes.