Original Articles
A. M. S. Kheir*, M. A. Bayoumi
Abstract
Two field experiments of Egyptian sandy soils were chosen. The main objectives of this investigation are to study and evaluate the effect of natural raw minerals, soil conditioners, their mixtures and their application rates in sandy soil subjected to different irrigation deficits on the economic yield of wheat and maize crops as well as on crop water productivity. Four types of soil conditioners (bentonite, compost, mixture of natural mineral raw materials and their mixtures 1:1:1) were mixed well to soil before cultivation. The application process was conducted through two recommended rates, the first rate represent the low (R1), while the second represent the high level(R2). Irrigation treatments were scheduled according to the moisture depletion regimes in three levels, irrigation at 30,50 and 70 % depletion from soil available water. By summarizing these results in easy readable charts, adding soil conditioners improved crop water productivity and also increased the farm net return. The mixture from different conditioners (1:1:1) treatment realized the superiority for both experiments. The highly application rate (R2) was better than the lowest application rate (R1). Also, irrigation at 50 % depletion from available water achieved the best values of water productivity and economic evaluation in meaning of net return as well