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3.2.1 Growing Seasons of the Cultivated Crops
The characteristics of climate of each season determinate crops growth periods and
crops water requirements. The relationships between climate, crop, water and soil
are complex with many biological processes involved (Rao et al. 2011). There are
two main crop growing seasons in Egypt: winter and summer seasons. The winter
season starts as early as October and ends in May. Most of winter field and vegetable crops are cultivated in November, with few exceptions. Egyptian clover, legume
crops (faba bean, and lentil), sugar beet, pea and strawberry could be cultivated
early in October. Fall sugarcane could also be cultivated in September and October
and its season length is 16 months (Ouda 2019). Table 3.1 shows planting and harvest dates of some winter field and vegetable crops.
Summer season starts between 15th of April to 15th of May for all crops, except
cotton and spring sugarcane. Cotton is cultivated in March and its season length is
7 months. Spring sugarcane is cultivated between February and March and its season length is 12 months. Some summer vegetable crops must be cultivated as early
as in February, i.e. watermelon. Whereas, the suitable planting month for fruit trees
in Egypt is February (Ouda 2019) (Table 3.2).
3.2.2 Water Requirements of the Cultivated Crops in Egypt
Water requirement of the cultivated crops is influenced by the type of the growing
season and the length of its growing season. Water requirements of a crop is defined
as the amount of water need to be applied to the growing plants during its growing
season to substitute water losses from its surface and from the soil surface, to insure
healthy growth and attain optimal productivity. Two main components, in which
Table 3.1 Planting and harvest dates for the selected winter field and vegetable crops
Crop
Planting date
Harvest date
Season length (days)
Faba Bean
25-Oct
25-Apr
152
Clover
15-Oct
1-Apr
169
Flax
15-Nov
13-Apr
150
Lentil
25-Oct
25-Mar
152
Sugar beet
15-Oct
12-Apr
180
Wheat
15-Nov
18-Apr
155
Fall sugarcane
51-Oct
15-Feb of the following year
480
Potato
1-Nov
1-Feb
93
Strawberry
1-Sep
15-May
257
Tomato
1-Oct
1-Mar
152
Peas
1-Sep
30-Nov
91
Onion
15-Nov
15-Apr
152
Watermelon
15-Feb
30-Jun
136
Source: Ouda (2019)
A. E.-H. Zohry and S. Ouda
3.2.1 Growing Seasons of the Cultivated Crops
The characteristics of climate of each season determinate crops growth periods and
crops water requirements. The relationships between climate, crop, water and soil
are complex with many biological processes involved (Rao et al. 2011). There are
two main crop growing seasons in Egypt: winter and summer seasons. The winter
season starts as early as October and ends in May. Most of winter field and vegetable crops are cultivated in November, with few exceptions. Egyptian clover, legume
crops (faba bean, and lentil), sugar beet, pea and strawberry could be cultivated
early in October. Fall sugarcane could also be cultivated in September and October
and its season length is 16 months (Ouda 2019). Table 3.1 shows planting and harvest dates of some winter field and vegetable crops.
Summer season starts between 15th of April to 15th of May for all crops, except
cotton and spring sugarcane. Cotton is cultivated in March and its season length is
7 months. Spring sugarcane is cultivated between February and March and its season length is 12 months. Some summer vegetable crops must be cultivated as early
as in February, i.e. watermelon. Whereas, the suitable planting month for fruit trees
in Egypt is February (Ouda 2019) (Table 3.2).
3.2.2 Water Requirements of the Cultivated Crops in Egypt
Water requirement of the cultivated crops is influenced by the type of the growing
season and the length of its growing season. Water requirements of a crop is defined
as the amount of water need to be applied to the growing plants during its growing
season to substitute water losses from its surface and from the soil surface, to insure
healthy growth and attain optimal productivity. Two main components, in which
Table 3.1 Planting and harvest dates for the selected winter field and vegetable crops
Crop
Planting date
Harvest date
Season length (days)
Faba Bean
25-Oct
25-Apr
152
Clover
15-Oct
1-Apr
169
Flax
15-Nov
13-Apr
150
Lentil
25-Oct
25-Mar
152
Sugar beet
15-Oct
12-Apr
180
Wheat
15-Nov
18-Apr
155
Fall sugarcane
51-Oct
15-Feb of the following year
480
Potato
1-Nov
1-Feb
93
Strawberry
1-Sep
15-May
257
Tomato
1-Oct
1-Mar
152
Peas
1-Sep
30-Nov
91
Onion
15-Nov
15-Apr
152
Watermelon
15-Feb
30-Jun
136
Source: Ouda (2019)
A. E.-H. Zohry and S. Ouda