EFFECT OF LEVELING AND SURGE IRRIGATION ON WATER RATIONALIZATION

Surge irrigation is a new innovation in surface irrigation showed its merits in increasing irrigation efficiency and other performances, especially in furrows. The present study aims to assess the potential of using surge irrigation on borders. Field tests were conducted on borders ( 9.5m x70m )of heavy clay soil. Two different land treatments (dead and traditional levelling) were examined to compare surge flow of (20 min. on / 30 min. off) with continuous irrigation for assessing their potential in improving irrigation system of Egyptian clover (Giza 6 multi-cut type). Water applied during surge irrigation advanced faster in comparison with continuous irrigation with water saving of 17.66% to 20.62% in surge irrigated plots under the dead and traditional levelling methods. In addition, Higher crop yield was obtained as an another advantage for the surge irrigated plots. Keeping in view different parameters as amount of water, distribution uniformity, application efficiency, deep percolation losses and yield of and Egyptian clover (Giza 6 multi- cut type), the surge mode of irrigation is convincingly better in comparison with the conventional continuous irrigation even under the border irrigation.