Deficit irrigation and crop water productivity for intercropping pattern in new reclaimed area, Assiut, Egypt

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2017/18 and 2018/19 at the experimental farm of Arab El-Awammer Research Station, Agriculture Research Center, Assiut, Egypt (27° 11/ N latitude, longitude 31° 06/ E and 71m altitude ASL) to evaluate the effect of different irrigation regimes (80, 100 and 120% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and various intercropping patterns (wheat and faba bean intercropped with sugar beet) under drip irrigation system on sugar beet yield and its traits, crop water productivity and land equivalent ratio. The obtained results showed that sugar beet yield and its traits were decreased as the irrigation regime increased and with intercropping system with wheat or faba been. On the average bases of both seasons, sugar beet yielded 20.29, 18.17 and 16.64 ton/ feddan (feddan = 4200 m² = 0.420 hectares = 1.037 acres) at 120, 100 and 80% ETo, respectively. The relative reductions were 21.94 and 9.19% at 120, and 100% ETo compared to 80% ETo. Also, sugar beet yielded 19.48, 17.64 and 17.99 ton/feddan at sole sugar beet, intercropped sugar beet with wheat and intercropped sugar beet with faba bean, respectively. The reduction in sugar beet yield was 9.45 and 7.65% when intercropped with wheat and faba bean, respectively compared to that yielded for sole sugar beet. On the average basis of both seasons, the crop water productivity (CWP) values were 5.21, 5.60 and 6.35 kg/m3 at 120, 100 and 80% irrigation regime, respectively regardless the intercropping system. At 120% ETo, the CWP values were 4.82, 5.08 and 5.73 kg/m3 for sole sugar beet, sugar beet + wheat and sugar beet + faba bean, respectively. At 100% ETo, the CWP values were 5.24, 5.43 and 6.14 kg/m3 for the corresponding sole and intercropping system. The CWP values were 6.23, 5.99 and 6.83 kg/m3 for the corresponding sole and intercropping system at 80% ETo. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) value (1.70) was recorded when sugar beet intercropped with faba bean and irrigated at 80% ETo while the lowest one (1.25) was attained when sugar beet intercropped with wheat and irrigated at 80% ETo. On the average basis of both seasons, the saved lands were 36.92, 35.51 and 29.71% at 120, 100 and 80% ETo, respectively regardless the intercropping system.