Abstract:
This study was conducted in Northern State, the field experiment was
carried out during the period November 2008 to April 2009 at El Waha-
Elzahra project, to evaluate using of center pivot irrigation system in wheat
production.
The study was designed to determine the optimum speed to attain the
best Christiansen’s coefficient (CU) and Distribution uniformity (DU) and
compare the productivity of wheat under center pivot and surface irrigation
system (common system in the state).
The performance of the system was evaluated when running at four
different speeds (60%, 70%, 80% and 100%) with complete randomized
design (CRD). The respective values of uniformity coefficient (CU) for the
four speeds were 70.5%, 79.6%, 72.4% and 80% and there was a significant
different between these values at p = (0.05). From the results obtained the
general trend found was that the (CU) and (DU) values tend to increase with
speed increase. These values are considered low when compared to the
normally recommended value of 85% for center pivot irrigation system. For
the distribution uniformity (DU) the system gave 55.9%, 75.6%, 61.9% and
68% at the different speeds respectively and there was a significant different
between these value at p = (0.05).
The center pivot has been better when evaluated for producing wheat
and has improvement by 72% in productivity of the wheat under surface
irrigation (3.48 ton/ha for center pivot compared to 2.02 ton/ha for surface
irrigation method) under similar soil, fertilizing rate, seed rate and seed
varieties conditions, (variety Wadi El Neele). In addition to increasing the
productivity the center pivot made high water saving and it significantly
better on yields than surface irrigation method
