Economic productivity analysis of water and nitrogen fertilizer for tea production with sprinkler irrigation system

Subject Areas : Farm water management with the aim of improving irrigation management indicators

Kourosh Majd Salimi ¹ , Ebrahim Amiri ²

1 - Researcher of Tea Research Institute of Iran, Lahijan 44159-74555, Guilan, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan 44199-54444, Guilan, Iran

Received: 2013-10-26 Accepted : 2014-05-21 Published : 2014-06-21

Keywords: economic production, Nitrogen, Production productivity, supplemental irrigation, tea,

Abstract :

Conservation of soil and water resourcesis the most importantce factor in protection of ecosystem and agricultural product. Due to limited soil and water resources, methods that can optimize the use of water and fertilizer in tea farms are very important. In this study, to analyze theeconomic productivity of water and nitrogen fertilizer in supplemental irrigation in tea farms, split plot experiment, with six levels of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg N ha-1 (N0 to N5) and five irrigation levels consisting of full irrigation (I4), deficit irrigation (I1, I2, I3) and no-irrigation (I0) in four replicates (2008-2010) were conducted. The Results indicated that the highest economic productivity of water and nitrogen fertilizer is obtained with supplemental sprinkler irrigation (3424 m3) and 200 kg N ha-1 application. Increase or decrease in the amount of nitrogen recommended in full irrigated, reduce economic productivity of water and fertilizer. The best economic productivity of water and fertilizer in deficit irrigation was obtained with application of 200 and 100 kg N ha-1, respectively. In rainfed or no irrigation condition, application of 100 kg N ha-1 can be recommended to achieve maximum economic productivity in tea farms.