PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT EVALUATION OF MODIFIED SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM TO RAISE ITS EFFICIENCY

Abstract

The irrigation process is one of the most important and dangerous agricultural operations. It provides the plant with its water requirements, and nutrition. On the other hand, the irrigation process consumes the largest amount of available fresh water. Surface irrigation system is used spreadly in Nile Delta and old valley lands, Egypt, until now it consumes about 80% of irrigation water resources in Egypt. It is useful to prevent seawater from seeping into the groundwater of agricultural lands, so it protects these lands from the risk of salinization. Generally, it is possible to use some modified systems to preserve the benefits of surface irrigation system, and achieving the goal of saving water. The improved surface irrigation system is one of the systems that have been implemented in separate areas in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Many previous studies have been based on comparing the performance of this improved system with the traditional irrigation system. These study variables included two surface irrigation forms of (Traditional Marwa "TM" (Change unlined Marwa) and improved Marwa "IM" (Change lined Marwa)) under two soil leveling slopes "S"; zero leveling "S1", and laser leveling at 3% "S2". To achieve the objective of the study, the Fayoum area was chosen, in which irrigation is done directly from the Nile without the need for auxiliary equipment to raise the water from the marwa to the fields. The experimental site was Biahmu village, Al-Falih distribution channel, on the 29.38 45' 36" latitudes and 30.85 06' 16" longitudes in Senoras area, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. There are two successful growing seasons (2018/2020), wheat as a winter crop followed by maize as a summer crop. The experiment was designed to include the following variables of: 1- Two types of marwas: the traditional, the improved