Investigation of Irrigation Water Volume and Water Productivity of Date in Fars Province

Knowing the amount of irrigation water in the agricultural sector can lead to better management of water resources and increase water productivity in farms and gardens. So far, few scientific studies have been conducted on the irrigation situation of date palms in Iran, especially in Fars province, which is one of the important areas of date production in this country. In this study, fruit yield, irrigation water, water productivity and the difference between irrigation water and gross water requirement in a number of date palm trees in Fars province were measured and studied. This study was conducted in three main areas of date production in Fars province (Jahrom, Qhir-Karzin and Kazerun). 30 orchards were selected and yield, irrigation water, water productivity were measured during 2019-2020. The three scenarios of water requirement, National Water Document, water requirement by Penman-Montieth method in the year of research and water requirement by Penman-Montieth method were considered based on long-term meteorological data for selected orchards. Irrigation water of date palms was compared with gross water requirement by t-test in different regions. The results showed that the average yield, irrigation water volume and water productivity of the studied date palms during one year were 8.9 t/ha, 15118 m3/ha and 0.60 kg/m3, respectively. The difference in irrigation water productivity in the study areas was not statistically significant, but the difference in yield and volume of irrigation water in the study areas was significant. In general, the volume of irrigation water for date palms in the study areas was less than the annual and long-term gross water requirement and more than water requirement based on the National Water Document. The average irrigation efficiency and adequacy in the studied orchards were 91% and 86%, respectively.