Water Productivity of Winter Wheat in Different Irrigation/Planting Methods using Saline Irrigation Water

A field study was conducted to optimize an irrigation/planting method for higher wheat yield and water productivity (WP). The experiment comprised planting winter wheat with three irrigation water salinities as main plots, including: 4, 8 and 12 dS m(-1). Three irrigation/planting methods as sub-plots, namely: furrow irrigated raised wavy beds with 60 cm (FIRWB(60)) and 80 cm (FIRWB(80)) furrow to furrow width and conventional flat planting (FP). Finally, two irrigation depths as sub-sub plots, embodies 0.9 and 1.1 times the evapotranspiration. Results indicated that FIRWB(60) had lower soil salinity than FP in the topsoil. As a result, wheat yield components (1000-grain weight, spike length & grain yield) enhanced. When irrigated with the saline irrigation water of 8 and 12 dS m-1 the FIRWB(60) method produced higher grain yield with less irrigation, so WP increased by, respectively, 14.9 and 18.4% in comparison with the FP method. Based on the low water consumption, and high grain yield and WP of FIRWB(60), it could be concluded that FIRWB(60) is a suitable irrigation/planting method for providing sustainable agriculture in salt prone regions with water shortages.