New extension system for modern irrigation management in Egypt

Abstract

Uneven distribution of irrigation water and fertilisers are critical problems under different climatic regions in Egypt. The old land is characterised by uneven field surface, short furrows and small basin, deep percolation, water and fertiliser losses, soil profile heterogeneity, and other soil characteristics that all affect water and fertilisers distribution. In all cases yield reduction is the final result. Proper management nowadays depends on accurate irrigation scheduling - that reduces the cost of irrigation and minimises problems related to the misuse of water - and other agricultural management. Irrigation scheduling, in terms of water quantity and irrigation intervals according to crop species, cultivar, soil type, crop canopy area and root depth as a function of plant age, requires real time weather data system covering the country. The Central Laboratory. for Agricultural Climate (CLAC) has established a system that covers more than 33 agrorrieteorological stations. Dissemination of information is carried out via different mass media facilities. Hourly and synoptic data are being processed to produce daily average for some applications. On the other hand, synoptic (3-hr interval) needs to process to calculate hourly data for other applications. Automatically received data are being handled through specifically build software to produce the same uni rm outputs. The uniform data is be used to daily potential evapotranspiration (ET), growth rates and yield from the daily weather data using computer models. Produced information is be distributed to the growers via several channels. Faxing to the media i.e., television and radio stations as well as to the direct customer as specifically neede d also take place.