EFFECT OF LATERAL TYPES AND SOIL CONDITIONERS UNDER SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON YIELD AND WATER USE • EFFICIENCY OF CUCUMBER

Abstract

Due to the limited water resources and the stability in Egypt, and climate change, population growth, which requires saving amounts of irrigation water, Subsurface drip irrigation is considered to be the most modem irrigation system with efficient water delivery that can contribute immensely on improving crop water use efficiency and conserving water, adding water directly to root zones, which reduces the evapotranspiration rate and reduces runoff. It, however, has some disadvantages as a result of the deep percolation problem in sandy soils due to the low natural water holding capacity. Adding soil conditioners to the sandy soil considered good management ways in which agricultural production system because it improves the growth and yield of the plant and soil fertility. There are various natural as compost and rice straw and synthetic materials as polymers, used for soil reclamation. They are added to the soil surface or around the seedling roots at the time of planting, thereby improving the soil's physical properties Cucumber is the most important vegetable is in the family of cucurbits and high nutritional value of crops, which requires high temperatures and soil moisture to get higher productivity, and under unfavorable conditions, several problems may occur, such as the reduction of female flowers, and the delay in the growth of fruits, lack of mineral substances in fruits would prefer planting in the spring and summer season where the weather conditions were favorable.