Effects of Irrigation Systems and Leaching Ratio Scenarios on Bean Water Productivity in Ahar Plain (East Azarbaijan Province)

Improving water productivity in agricultural productions is one of the fundamental plans in food security in Iran. Because of the importance and vast cultivation of bean in Ahar plain; and the necessity of improving water productivity in the saline soil and water conditions, the current study was conducted with the objective of the evaluation of the effects of irrigation systems and leaching ratio scenarios on bean water productivity in this plain. Bean yields with consumed water under two irrigation systems of surface and sprinkle were directly measured in several farms under farmers' management without any irrigation scheduling. For irrigation systems, five leaching ratio scenarios of 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of net water were applied in this study. Results revealed that irrigation systems treatments caused different yields and water applied in bean farms. Bean yield averaged 1189±395 kg ha-1 with sprinkle system (probably with deficit irrigation), while averaged 2396±180 kg ha-1 with surface irrigation system. Water applied averaged 4717±747 and 7297±1276 m3 ha-1 with sprinkle and surface irrigation systems, respectively. Water productivity was acquired to be 0.29 kg m-3. Also, we found that leaching ratio scenarios of 0 and 5% had a similar productivity (= 0.47 kg m-3), 10% and 15% produced a similar productivity (= 0.35 kg m-3) and leaching ratio scenarios of 20% had a productivity of 0.22 kg m-3. In addition to these findings, some suggestions were made to continue research and study to improve water productivity in bean production.