Water use efficiency and yield of garlic responses to the irrigation system, intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilization

This study was conducted to investigate the yield and water use efficiency of garlic responses to the irrigation system, intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilization. The field experiments comprised two irrigation systems of furrow and drip (tape) systems, intra-row spacing of 8 and 12 cm and nitrogen fertilization treatments of 0, 60 and 120 kg ha(-1). Results revealed that produced yield by two irrigation systems were approximately similar (13,045 kg ha(-1)) in two cropping years. In addition, with varying intra-row spacing from 12 to 8 cm, the yield was increased by 23%. Application of 60 and 120 kg ha(-1) fertilizer for plant with space of 8 cm produced the highest yield and application of 0 and 120 kg ha(-1) fertilizer for space of 12 cm produced the lowest yield. Application of drip system produced the highest WUE with the average of 5.2 kg m(-3) and obtained WUE by furrow system averaged 2.7 kg m(-3). Saved water by drip relative to furrow system was about 50%. Consequently, to achieve the optimum yield and WUE it is recommended that garlic should be planted with intra-row spacing of 8 cm with fertilizer of 60 kg ha(-1) by drip (tape) irrigation system under agroclimatic condition of Ekbatan, Iran.