Potential of raised bed-furrow irrigation system in improving yield of winter wheat and water productivity in a sierozem soil of Kazakhstan

Abstract

A field study was conducted in Baizaksky district of Zhambylsky province, Kazakhstan to evaluate the performance of winter wheat planted on the raised-beds and in traditional strip border plots irrigated traditionally (flood irrigation) in strip plots and furrow irrigate at constant and variable flow rates. The experimental plot under raised-bed furrow irrigation was 12 hectares (150m x 800m) and 41 hectares under traditional planting. In order to improve water use efficiency in raised bed planting system, irrigation was applied at constant flow rates (q=0.52 L/sec) and variable flow rates (0.75 L/s and 0.40-0.50 L/s). For traditional flood irrigation in strip plots, flow rate was (q= 5L/sec). Raised bed planting at Dostyk farm in Baizak district of Jambyl province in 2007-2008 improved the crop productivity by 0.53-0.69 tons/ha. Compared with traditional strip plot irrigation, furrow irrigation reduced water requirements by 28-43 percent. Application of irrigation water at variable flow rates in raised bed- furrow system further improved yield of winter wheat. Water productivity (1180 m3/t) of winter wheat was highest with variable flow rate of water applied to raised bed furrow system. Runoff under flood irrigation was 1150 m3/hectares (18 % of total applied water) whereas in raised bed-furrow irrigation system, it was just 5 to 6 percent.