The impact of “continuous” deficit irrigation on carrot crop development in the Saïs plain, Morocco

Abstract

In the Maghreb, as in many arid and semi-arid zones, water resources are vulnerable to climatic variations, for which reason various scientific studies are being conducted in an attempt to face these changes while maintaining the yield potential of crops. The aim of the following paper is to evaluate the impact of continuous deficit irrigation (CDI) on the carrot (Daucus Carota L.) crop. A complete randomized block design (CRBD) involving five treatments and four repetitions was adopted for this experimental design. The studied treatments are: T1(125% ETc), T2(100% ETc), T3(85% ETc), T4 (75% ETc) and T5 (66% ETc). Vegetative, biochemical, and yield parameters were measured to identify carrot response and provide optimal water management for deficit irrigation on carrot. Irrigation at 125% ETc achieved the highest yield (59 tons/ha). However, in terms of yield, treatment (T1) was not significantly different from (T2) nor (T3). Meanwhile, the 66% ETc water deficit treatment (T5) showed remarkable decreases in yield. This means that even when providing more water it does not increase the yield meaning that the plant does not use the given water but instead, it is lost and on the other hand a 15% water deficit did not significantly impact the yield.