Comparison of drip and sprinkler irrigation strategies on sunflower seed and oil yield and quality under Mediterranean climatic conditions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.02.005
• Publication Date: 2011-03-16T20:10:01Z
• Authors: S.M. Sezen; A. Yazar; B. Kapur; S. Tekin
• Keywords: DNS root zone; Surface irrigation; Sunflower seed

Abstract This study compares the effects of different irrigation regimes on seed yield and oil yield quality and water productivity of sprinkler and drip irrigated sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) on silty-clay-loam soils in 2006 and 2007 in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. In sprinkler irrigation a line-source system was used in order to create gradually varying irrigation levels. Irrigation regimes consisted of full irrigation (I1) and three deficit irrigation treatments (I2, I3 and I4), and rain-fed treatment (I5). In the drip system, irrigation regimes included full irrigation (FI-100), three deficit irrigation treatments (DI-25, DI-50, DI-75), partial root zone drying (PRD-50) and rain-fed treatment (RF). Irrigations were scheduled at weekly intervals both in sprinkler and drip irrigation, based on soil water depletion within a 0.90 m root zone in FI-100 and I1 plots. Irrigation treatments influenced significantly (P