71
Under application of deficit irrigation, an extra 402.1 million cubic meters or 8%
of the applied irrigation water to Egyptian clover presented in Table 4.3 could be
saved. The total cultivated area in this case is the same as the cultivated area of
Egyptian clover under traditional cultivation, but its total production was increased
to 48,368.1 million tons, or by 5% compared to the production attained under traditional cultivation.
4.2.4 Water Productivity of Egyptian Clover
Under the Production Alternatives
Water productivity values of Egyptian clover were calculated under the studied five
production alternatives (Table 4.7). It worth noting that the total production of
Egyptian clover under traditional cultivation, as well as under raised beds cultivation and deficit irrigation application with added new areas were produced using the
same amount of applied irrigation water used in traditional cultivation of
Egyptian clover.
The results in Table 4.7 showed that, in general, the traditional cultivation of
Egyptian clover attained the lowest water productivity, namely 5.7 kg/ha. The
highest average water productivity on the national level will be attain under raised
beds cultivation and the saved water was used to cultivate new areas, as well as
application of deficit irrigation and the saved water was not used to cultivate new
areas, namely 7.4 kg/ha. Few exceptions existed, namely Alexandria, Behira, Port
Said, New Valley, Marsa Matrouh and North Sinai governorates. In Alexandria governorate, low cultivated area in the old lands resulted in similar values of water
productivity when raised beds cultivation was applied, either under taking into
account added area or without taking it into account and resulted also in reduction
in the value of water productivity under deficit irrigation and not using the saved
water to cultivate new lands.
In Behira governorate, higher productivity per hectare in the new lands, compared to the its value in the new lands resulted in lower water productivity under not
using the saved water to cultivate new lands in raised beds cultivation or application
of deficit irrigation. Whereas, in Port Said, New Valley and Marsa Matrouh governorates, the cultivated area was only new lands and there is no cultivated area in the
old lands, cultivation on raised beds was not implemented and deficit irrigation was
applied. In North Sinai, the water productivity values were similar under all production alternatives because only new lands prevailing, and because groundwater is its
irrigation source.
Furthermore, Table 4.7 also indicated that the highest water productivity in
Lower Egypt was attained in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, as a result of high productivity per hectare in the old lands.
4 Field Crops and Deficit Irrigation in Egypt
Under application of deficit irrigation, an extra 402.1 million cubic meters or 8%
of the applied irrigation water to Egyptian clover presented in Table 4.3 could be
saved. The total cultivated area in this case is the same as the cultivated area of
Egyptian clover under traditional cultivation, but its total production was increased
to 48,368.1 million tons, or by 5% compared to the production attained under traditional cultivation.
4.2.4 Water Productivity of Egyptian Clover
Under the Production Alternatives
Water productivity values of Egyptian clover were calculated under the studied five
production alternatives (Table 4.7). It worth noting that the total production of
Egyptian clover under traditional cultivation, as well as under raised beds cultivation and deficit irrigation application with added new areas were produced using the
same amount of applied irrigation water used in traditional cultivation of
Egyptian clover.
The results in Table 4.7 showed that, in general, the traditional cultivation of
Egyptian clover attained the lowest water productivity, namely 5.7 kg/ha. The
highest average water productivity on the national level will be attain under raised
beds cultivation and the saved water was used to cultivate new areas, as well as
application of deficit irrigation and the saved water was not used to cultivate new
areas, namely 7.4 kg/ha. Few exceptions existed, namely Alexandria, Behira, Port
Said, New Valley, Marsa Matrouh and North Sinai governorates. In Alexandria governorate, low cultivated area in the old lands resulted in similar values of water
productivity when raised beds cultivation was applied, either under taking into
account added area or without taking it into account and resulted also in reduction
in the value of water productivity under deficit irrigation and not using the saved
water to cultivate new lands.
In Behira governorate, higher productivity per hectare in the new lands, compared to the its value in the new lands resulted in lower water productivity under not
using the saved water to cultivate new lands in raised beds cultivation or application
of deficit irrigation. Whereas, in Port Said, New Valley and Marsa Matrouh governorates, the cultivated area was only new lands and there is no cultivated area in the
old lands, cultivation on raised beds was not implemented and deficit irrigation was
applied. In North Sinai, the water productivity values were similar under all production alternatives because only new lands prevailing, and because groundwater is its
irrigation source.
Furthermore, Table 4.7 also indicated that the highest water productivity in
Lower Egypt was attained in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, as a result of high productivity per hectare in the old lands.
4 Field Crops and Deficit Irrigation in Egypt