Controlled Drainage and Irrigation Regime for Improving Some Soil Properties and Wheat Production, Sahl El-Tina, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

The integrated water management is essential for sustainable agriculture, especially in countries suffering from water shortages. A pilot experimental field was carried out in Sahl El-Tina, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt (latitude 31°1 ¯ 47 = N and longitude 32°33 ¯ 57 = E) to assess the effect of water table depth (WTD) at 60, 80, 100 and 120 cm integrally with irrigation regimes (IR) that practiced at 25, 50 and 75% from the total available water capacity (AWC) on soil properties, water relationships and wheat growth. The results revealed that there was significant effect on electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (B d ), total porosity (TP), hydraulic conductivity (HC), field capacity (FC), available water (AWC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and straw dry weight values. Wheat grains yield increased as the available water depletion (AWD) increased up to 50% and with WTD down to 100 cm. On average basis and regardless WTD, the crop water productivity (CWP) values were 1.00, 0.93 and 0.84 kg/ m 3 at 25, 50 and 75% of AWD, respectively. The amount of saved irrigation water (SIW) significantly differed according to WTD and IR. The lowest value of SIW was 136 m3 at 25% AWD with WTD of 100 cm, while the highest value was 503.0 m3 at 75% AWD with WTD of 60 cm. It can be recognized that wheat crop irrigated at 50% AWD with WTD of 60 cm (CD60) realized the best management practice. It attained the highest CWP and high amount of SIW which reflected on a good wheat grain quality.