Comparative study on the effect of changing the system of surface irrigation to drip irrigation system in the old cultivated lands of the lettuce (lactuca sativa) crop spraying with organic acids

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Kanater Horticultural Research Station during two successive winter seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/15. This study aimed to determine the effect of the changing of surface  irrigation to drip one  as well as spraying the plants with organic acids ( humic and folvic acid of  3 ml/L ) on seasonal applied irrigation water, consumptive use, yield, vegetative  growth  and  leaf  mineral content of  Lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Results for surface irrigation system showed that higher applied rate of irrigation water (1637.4 & 1642.4 m³/fed.)  Than the drip irrigation system (1064.3 & 1098.1 m³/fed.) during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, respectively. Therefore drip irrigation system showed that seasonal applied irrigation water decreases with 35.1 and 33.2 % from surface irrigation system in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, respectively. Drip irrigation system supported an increase of water productivity 32.0 and 32.15 kg/m³ irrigation water. Therefore drip irrigation showed increases in Water utilization efficiency by 86.8 and 78.8 % and increases yield by 22.3 and 19.5 % over surface irrigation in 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons respectively. The increase in all morphological characters, yield and nutrient uptake of lettuce by the drip irrigation and foliar spray with humic + fulvic acids.