Determining the water productivity and irrigation water of sugar beet under pressurized and surface irrigation methods in Torbat Heydariyeh region

The purpose of this study was to measure the amount of water use, yield and water productivity of sugar beet under farmers management in Torbat Heydarieh region and the comparison of water use with impure water requirement of sugar beet in this region. The fields were selected with the help of experts in management and centers of agricultural in such a way that they represent the whole of sugar beet farms in region. Basic information including geographical characteristics and coordinates of fields, soil texture, electrical conductivity of irrigation water and soil saturated extract were determined. The date of planting, harvest date, growth period, sugar beet cultivar, average water depth per irrigation, total number of irrigation times performed, total volume of water use and leaching requirement was measured, calculated or obtained from farmers. The results showed that the average amount of water used in sugar beet fields in surface (furrow), sprinkler and drip irrigation methods was equal to 11468, 10054 and 10353 m3/ha, respectively. The lowest yield was 29500 kg/ha and the highest was 70000 kg/ha.The lowest water productivity was 3.21 kg/m3 and the highest was 7.01 kg/m3 and both values were obtained in surface irrigation method. The average water productivity in surface (furrow) irrigation methods was 4.19 kg/m3 and in sprinkler and drip irrigation methods were 6.30 and 6.23 kg/m3, respectively. By changing the irrigation method from surface to sprinkler and drip, water productivity has increased by 50.36 and 48.69%, respectively. According to the results of this study, the use of pressurized irrigation in sugar beet cultivation is recommended and farmers should use the irrigation system based on the design booklet and farm irrigation planning should be exactly what is recommended in the booklet.