Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Crop Water Requirements and Irrigation Efficiencies in Egypt

  • Chapter
Conventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 74))

Abstract

Water scarcity is the major factor that limits the ambitious hopes to expand and increase the agricultural area to meet the present gap between food production and consumption. In areas like Egypt, located in an arid/semiarid region, where vegetation water requirement represents an important fraction of the total water consumption, the pressure of population growth and increasing domestic demand and other sectors for water represent other challenges for the agricultural sector. Agricultural activity in Egypt consumes from 80 to 85% of water resources. To meet these challenges, good water governance, which aims to reduce losses and increase benefits per unit of water, should be adopted. One of the most important ways to improve water use efficiency and optimize plant production is to provide crops only with the water they need based on the climate-plant-soil relationship.

There are many ways to increase water use efficiency, such as improving irrigation canals in old land to increase the conveyance efficiency; using a pressurized irrigation system in new reclaimed lands, in addition to water management practices on farm like laser land leveling; using the raised bed irrigation method, irrigation scheduling, intercropping, crop intensification, and mulching; using soil amendments and organic fertilizers; and using short and drought tolerance varieties. The integrated management for soil, water, and crops is very important to maximize crop yield and water productivity, so in this chapter, the author will provide an overview on how to maximize crop yield with minimal water use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Nangia V, de Fraiture C, Turral H (2008) Water quality implications of raising crop water productivity. Agric Water Manag 95:825–835. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2008.02.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Molden D, Oweis TY, Pasquale S, Kijne JW, Hanjra MA, Bindraban PS, Bouman BAM, Cook S, Erenstein O, Farahani H, Hachum A, Hoogeveen J, Mahoo H, Nangia V, Peden D, Sikka A, Silva P, Turral H, Upadhyaya A, Zwart S (2007) Pathways for increasing agricultural water productivity. In: Molden D (ed) Water for food, water for life: a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. Earthscan/IWMI, London/Colombo, pp. 279–310

    Google Scholar 

  3. Batisha AF (2012) Adaptation of sea level rise in Nile Delta due to climate change. Earth Sci Clim Chang 3:1–5. doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lowder SK, Skoet J, Singh S (2014) What do we really know about the number and distribution of farms and family farms in the world? ESA Working Paper No. 14-02. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  5. MWRI (2014) Water scarcity in Egypt. Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Giza

    Google Scholar 

  6. FAOSTAT (2006) FAOSTAT agriculture data, food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Available at: http://faostat.fao.org/. Accessed 23 June 2006

  7. Zaghloul SS (2013) Consideration of the agricultural problems as a base of water resource management in Egypt. Seventeenth International Water Technology Conference, IWTC17, Istanbul, 5–7 November

    Google Scholar 

  8. FAO (2011) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2011, July 7). FAO country briefs: Egypt. http://www.fao.org. Retrieved 12 July 2011, from FAO website

  9. WFD (2000) WFD, 2000/60/EC: Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy

    Google Scholar 

  10. Jury WA, Vaux HJ (2007) The emerging global water crisis: managing scarcity and conflict between water users. Adv Agron 95:1–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Abd-El-Hai M (2002) Current and emerging issues for economic analysis and policy research CUREMIS II NENA. FAO. INP. In: Rural non-farm employment workshop

    Google Scholar 

  12. El-Agroudy NM, Mohamed EAEF, Mokhtar S, Hasan HBA (2016) The water crisis with Nile basin countries and its impact on the water security of Egypt. Int J ChemTech Res 9:101–107

    Google Scholar 

  13. Omar MEDM, Moussa AMA (2016) Water management in Egypt for facing the future challenges. J Adv Res 7:403–412. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2016.02.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Abdin AE, Gaafar I (2009) Rational water use in Egypt. In: El Moujabber M, Mandi L, Trisorio-Liuzzi G, Martín I, Rabi A, Rodríguez R (eds) Technological perspectives for rational use of water resources in the Mediterranean region. CIHEAM, Bari, pp. 11–27

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gohar AA, Ward FA (2011) Gains from improved irrigation water use efficiency in Egypt. Water Resour Dev:1–22. doi:10.1080/07900627.2011.598132

  16. Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (2014) Annual report for irrigation water and water resource statistics, Egypt

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yang CM (2012) Technologies to improve water management for rice cultivation. Crop Environ Bioinforma 9:193–207

    Google Scholar 

  18. MALR (2009) The sustainable agricultural development strategy towards 2030. Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jacobsen SE, Jensen CR, Liu F (2012) Improving crop production in the arid Mediterranean climate. Food Crop Res 128:34–47. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.12.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. El-Gafy IK, El-Ganzori AM, Mohamed AI (2014) Decision support system to maximize economic value of irrigation water at the Egyptian governorates meanwhile reducing the national food gap. Water Sci 27:1–18. doi:10.1016/j.wsj.2013.12.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hama T, Nakamura K, Kawashima S, Kaneki R, Mitsuno T (2011) Effects of cyclic irrigation on water and nitrogen mass balances in a paddy field. Ecol Eng 37:1563–1566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. De Miguel A, Martínez-Hernández V, Leal M, González-Naranjo V, De Bustamante I, Lillo J, Martín I, Salas JJ, Palacios-Díaz MP (2013) Short-term effects of reclaimed water irrigation: Jatropha curcas L. cultivation. Ecol Eng 50:44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Malashkhia N (2003) Social and environmental constraints to the irrigation water conservation measures in Egypt. Master Thesis, Lund University, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  24. MALR (1998) Assessment of Egypt’s rice policy and strategies for water management. Sector of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Cairo

    Google Scholar 

  25. Alnagar D, Zwarteveen M (2003) Policies and strategic options for water management in the Islamic countries. In: International hydrological programme, Tehran, 15–16 Dec

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sabour Consultant (2004) Terms of reference for the tendering of consulting services for the Integrated Irrigation Improvement and Management Project (IIIMP) and instruction to tenderers

    Google Scholar 

  27. Simons G, Terink W, Badawy H, van den Eertwegh G, Bastiaanssen W (2012) Egypt: assessing the effects of farm-level irrigation modernization on water availability and crop yields. Final report (Summer 2011 and Winter 2011/2012), p 127

    Google Scholar 

  28. Dasberg S, Or D (1999) Drip irrigation. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 162 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. World Bank (2006) Reengaging in agricultural water management: challenges, opportunities, and trade-offs. Water Food Team, Agriculture and Rural Development Department, World Bank, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  30. EU (2007) Water saving potential. Part 1 – Report. ENV.D.2/ETU/2007/001r

    Google Scholar 

  31. Rizk MA, Fayed MH, Osman MS, Ali KYM (2011) Productivity of some summer forage crops under sprinkler irrigation in newly reclaimed soil conditions. Plant Prod Mansoura Univ 2:1061–1072

    Google Scholar 

  32. Van der Kooij S, Zwarteveen M, Boesveld H, Kuper M (2013) The efficiency of drip irrigation unpacked. Agric Water Manag 123:103–110. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Allam MN, El Gamal F, Hesham M (2005) Irrigation systems performance in Egypt. In: Lamaddalena N, Lebdi F, Todorovic M, Bogliotti C (eds) Irrigation systems performance, Options Méditerranéennes: Série B. CIHEAM, Bari, pp. 85–98

    Google Scholar 

  34. Abdullaev I, Hassan MU, Jumaboev K (2007) Water saving and economic impacts of land leveling: the case study of cotton production in Tajikistan. Irrig Drain Syst 21:251–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Mostafa H, Fujimoto N (2014) Water saving scenarios for effective irrigation management in Egyptian rice cultivation. Ecol Eng 70:11–15. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.04.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Stone JF, Reeves HE, Taegaya T (1985) Irrigation water requirements under wide-space furrow irrigation. In: Keyes G, Ward T.J (eds) Development and management aspects of irrigation and drainage systems. IR Division, ASCE, San Antonio, pp 462–468

    Google Scholar 

  37. Karrou M, Oweis T, Abou El Enein R, Sherif M (2012) Yield and water productivity of maize and wheat under deficit and raised bed irrigation practices in Egypt. Afr J Agric Res 7:1755–1760. doi:10.5897/AJAR11.2109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Meleha ME, El-Bably AZ, Abd Allah AA, El-Khoby WM (2008) Producing more rice with less water by inducing planting methods in north Delta, Egypt. J Agric Sci Mansoura Univ 33:805–813

    Google Scholar 

  39. El-Atawy GS (2012) Saving irrigation water and improving water productivity in rice cultivation by inducing new planting method in North Delta, Egypt. J Soil Sci Agric Eng Mansoura Univ 3:587–599

    Google Scholar 

  40. Mahmoud MA (2015) Yield and water productivity of rice on raise beds, irrigation intervals and ammonia gas injection at North Nile Delta. J Soil Sci Agric Eng Mansoura Univ 6:1373–1387

    Google Scholar 

  41. Nasri M, Khalatbari M, Farahani HA (2010) The effect of alternate furrow irrigation under different nutritional element supplies on some agronomic traits and seed qualitative parameters in corn (Zea mays L.) J Cereal Oilseeds 1:17–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Kashiani P, Saleh G, Osman M, Habibi D (2011) Sweet corn yield response to alternate furrow irrigation methods under different planting densities in a semi-arid climatic condition. Afr J Agric Res 6:1032–1040

    Google Scholar 

  43. Abd El-Halim A (2013) Impact of alternate furrow irrigation with different irrigation intervals on yield, water use efficiency, and economic return of corn. Chil J Agric Res 73:175–180. doi:10.4067/S0718-58392013000200014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Thind HS, Buttar GS, Aujla MS (2010) Yield and water use efficiency of wheat and cotton under alternate furrow and check-basin irrigation with canal and tube well water in Punjab, India. Irrig Sci 28:489–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Mahmoud MA, El-hendawy AA, Awad MY (2016) Water productivity of some cotton varieties and yield under different irrigation methods. Assiut J Agric Sci 47:203–216

    Google Scholar 

  46. Da la Hera ML, Romero P, Gomez-Plaza E, Martinez A (2007) Is partial root-zone drying an effective irrigation technique to improve water use efficiency and fruit quality in field-grown wine grapes under semiarid conditions? Agric Water Manag 87:261–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Sadras VO (2009) Does partial root-zone drying improve irrigation water productivity in the field? A meta-analysis. Irrig Sci 27:183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Jensen CR, Battilani A, Plauborg F, Psarras G, Chartzoulakis K, Janowiak F, Stikic R, Jovanovic Z, Li G, Qi X, et al (2010) Deficit irrigation based on drought tolerance and root signalling in potatoes and tomatoes. Agric Water Manag 98:403–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Fereres E, Soriano MA (2007) Deficit irrigation for reducing agricultural water use. J Exp Bot 58:147–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Fan X, Li F, Xiong Y, An L, Long R (2008) The cooperative relation between non-hydraulic root signals and osmotic adjustment under water stress improves grain formation for spring wheat varieties. Physiol Plant 132:283–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Coupal RH, Wilson PN (1990) Adopting water-conserving irrigation technology: the case of surge irrigation in Arizona. Agric Water Manag 18:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Horst MG, Shamutalov SS, Gonçalves JM, Pereira LS (2007) Assessing impacts of surge-flow irrigation on water saving and productivity of cotton. Agric Water Manag 87:115–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Abdel-Maksoud HH, Othman SA, Khater AN (1999) Combined effect of surge irrigation and N-forms on water and N-utilization for wheat and maize crops. In: Third conference on-farm irrigation agroclimatology, Egypt, 25–27 Jan 1999

    Google Scholar 

  54. Oweis T, Pala M, Ryan J (1998) Stabilizing rainfed wheat yields with supplemental irrigation and nitrogen in a Mediterranean climate. Agron J 90:672–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Dawoud MA (2004) Design of national groundwater quality monitoring network in Egypt. Environ Monit Assess 96:99–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Abdelaty IM, Abd-elhamid HF, Fahmy MR, Abdelaal GM (2014) Investigation of some potential parameters and its impacts on saltwater intrusion in Nile Delta aquifer. J Eng Sci Assiut Univ Fac Eng 42:931–955

    Google Scholar 

  57. Mabrouk MB, Jonoski A, Solomatine D, Uhlenbrook S (2013) A review of seawater intrusion in solid the Nile Delta groundwater system – the basis for assessing impacts due to climate changes and water resources development. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci Discuss 10:10873–10911. doi:10.5194/hessd-10-10873-2013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Barnes J (2014) Mixing waters: the reuse of agricultural drainage water in Egypt. Geoforum 57:181–191. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2012.11.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. RRTC (1998) The annual report of the National Rice Program

    Google Scholar 

  60. RRTC (2010) Annual report. Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

    Google Scholar 

  61. Soliman S (2010) Dry rice. http://digital.ahram.org.eg/articles.aspx?Serial= 292651&eid=162

  62. El-Mowafi H (2010) Egypt on top of global rice productivity. http://digital.ahram.org.eg/articles.aspx?Serial=1095486&eid=5764

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Requirements and Field Irrigation Research Department, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

    M. A. Mahmoud & A. Z. El-Bably

Authors
  1. M. A. Mahmoud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Z. El-Bably
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Mahmoud .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim M. Negm

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mahmoud, M.A., El-Bably, A.Z. (2017). Crop Water Requirements and Irrigation Efficiencies in Egypt. In: Negm, A.M. (eds) Conventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 74. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2017_42

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation