Subsurface Trickle Irrigation Management with Multiple Cropping

MULTIPLE cropping and minimum cultivation were found to offer many practical advantages for sub-surface rather than surface trickle irrigation of row crops. Several fruit and vegetable crops were produced consecutively with subsurface trickle irrigation systems without major conventional cultural practices or replace-ment of the trickle system. Cantaloupe yield was higher with weekly than with daily trickle irrigations; the reverse was true for dry onion yields, whereas carrot yields were not affected by irrigation frequency. For all three crops and with application of moderately saline water on a clay loam soil, production was highest at water application rates equal to or slightly higher than the seasonal evapotranspiration values recorded under furrow irriga-tion practices.