Improvement of the Water Use Efficiency and Yield of Eggplant by Using Subsurface Water Retention Technology

Abstract

Sustainable crop production in a coarse soil texture is challenging due to high water permeability and low soil water holding capacity. In this paper, subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) through impermeable polyethylene membranes was placed at depth 35 cm below ground surface and within the root zone to evaluate and compare the impact of these membranes and control treatment (without using the membranes) on yield and water use efficiency of eggplant inside the greenhouse. The study was conducted in Al-Fahamah Township, Baghdad, Iraq during spring growing season 2017. Results demonstrated the yield and water use efficiencies were 3.483 kg/m² and 5.653 kg/m³, respectively for SWRT treatment plot and 3.286 kg/m² and 3.709 kg/m³, respectively for treatment without using SWRT. The increasing percentages for yield and water use efficiency were 6% and 52%, respectively. Additionally, saving in irrigation water in the SWRT membrane was about 44% of the total applied depth comparing with the control treatment.