Developing Drip Irrigation and its Nitrogen Fertigation, Using Sub Recommended Levels for Commercial Production of Clay Loam Soil Cultivated Banana Plants

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Badaway district, Dakahlia Governorate during 2017 and 2018 seasons. This study aimed to investigate the effect of drip irrigation levels of 120, 100% and deficit drip irrigation at 80 % of crop evapotranspiration, drip fertigated nitrogen rates of 100 % (N1) recommended, 80 % (N2) and 60 % (N3) sub recommended rates and their interaction on growth attributes, fruit yield and its components and water use efficiency of clay loam soil cultivated banana plants var. Grand Nain banana. Also to detect levels and rates that save water and nitrogen fertilizer, maximize WUE. The results revealed that, drip irrigation at 80 % ETc level (deficit drip I) save 20 % water, maximize WUE and gave potential effect and high values of growth attributes and significantly high fruit yield and its components similar to / or more than that obtaining by drip irrigation 100 % of ETc recommended level of clay soil cultivated banana plants. 80 % sub recommended drip fertigated nitrogen rate save 20 % nitrogen fertilizer and gave the same effects on banana growth and productivity as drip irrigation level of 80 % ETc. The most potent concluded was 80 % ETc deficit drip irrigation level x 80 % sub recommended drip fertigated nitrogen, which save 20 % irrigation water and 20 % N fertilizer, maximize WUE and gave potential growth attributes, high yield and its components equal significantly to that of 100 % ETc X 100 N (recommended drip irrigation and its fertigated N levels) of clay loam soil cultivated banana plants.