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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Ouda et al., Deficit Irrigation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35586-9_2
Chapter 2
Deficit Irrigation and Water Conservation
Samiha Ouda and Tahany Noreldin
Abstract In this chapter, we tackled some of the concepts and definitions used in
application of deficit irrigation instead of full irrigation as a technology aims at
conserving irrigation water. Both water use efficiency and water productivity are
important estimators in the assessment of the effect of deficit irrigation. Water use
efficiency serves as a key variable in the assessment of plant responses to water
stress induced by deficit irrigation. On the other hand, water productivity is a quantitative term used to define the relationship between crop produced and the amount
of water involved in crop production. This chapter also reviewed deficit irrigation
strategies, which consist of sustain deficit irrigation, regulated deficit irrigation
(stage-based and partial root zone irrigation), and subsurface drip irrigation. The
hidden role of intercropping systems in irrigation water conservation was also
discussed.
Keywords Water use efficiency · Water productivity · Sustain deficit irrigation ·
Regulated deficit irrigation · Stage-based and partial root zone irrigation ·
Subsurface drip irrigation · Intercropping systems
2.1 Introduction
Recently, water shortages is prevailing in many parts of the world and threaten its
population, where nearly 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water and
2.5 billion have no proper sanitation (Schiermeier 2014). It is expected that this situation will get worse in coming decades, as world’s population is anticipated to
increase by 30% in 2050 (Godfray et al. 2010). Thus, providing food for the growing population is expected to be more difficult in light of the situation of water
shortage. Globally, more than 40% of annual food production comes from irrigated
S. Ouda (*) · T. Noreldin
Water Requirements and Field Irrigation Research Department, Soils, Water and Environment
Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. Ouda et al., Deficit Irrigation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35586-9_2
Chapter 2
Deficit Irrigation and Water Conservation
Samiha Ouda and Tahany Noreldin
Abstract In this chapter, we tackled some of the concepts and definitions used in
application of deficit irrigation instead of full irrigation as a technology aims at
conserving irrigation water. Both water use efficiency and water productivity are
important estimators in the assessment of the effect of deficit irrigation. Water use
efficiency serves as a key variable in the assessment of plant responses to water
stress induced by deficit irrigation. On the other hand, water productivity is a quantitative term used to define the relationship between crop produced and the amount
of water involved in crop production. This chapter also reviewed deficit irrigation
strategies, which consist of sustain deficit irrigation, regulated deficit irrigation
(stage-based and partial root zone irrigation), and subsurface drip irrigation. The
hidden role of intercropping systems in irrigation water conservation was also
discussed.
Keywords Water use efficiency · Water productivity · Sustain deficit irrigation ·
Regulated deficit irrigation · Stage-based and partial root zone irrigation ·
Subsurface drip irrigation · Intercropping systems
2.1 Introduction
Recently, water shortages is prevailing in many parts of the world and threaten its
population, where nearly 800 million people lack access to safe drinking water and
2.5 billion have no proper sanitation (Schiermeier 2014). It is expected that this situation will get worse in coming decades, as world’s population is anticipated to
increase by 30% in 2050 (Godfray et al. 2010). Thus, providing food for the growing population is expected to be more difficult in light of the situation of water
shortage. Globally, more than 40% of annual food production comes from irrigated
S. Ouda (*) · T. Noreldin
Water Requirements and Field Irrigation Research Department, Soils, Water and Environment
Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt