Economic Feasibility Analysis of Pressurized Irrigation Systems for Wheat under Desert Environmental Conditions

The trials were conducted under four pressurized irrigation systems in season (2012/2013) at the site of NRC Farm, Nubaria, Behaira Governorate, the altitude of trial position are 30° 31'44" & 30°36'44"N and longitudes 30°20'19" & 30°26' 50"E. This research aims to investigate the economic feasibility of cultivating wheat (Triticum aestivum L. CV. Gemmaiza 9), under various pressurized irrigation systems [surface drip (SD), subsurface drip (SSD), solid-set sprinkler (SS), semi-portable sprinkler (SPS). Irrigation applied water amounts are (50, 75 and 100% of calculated applied water and called W1, W2 and W3, respectively). The statistical experiment design was randomized complete blocks. The main results of research are the highest annual fixed cost is SSD, SD, SPS and SS irrigation systems respectively, wherever the highest annual operating cost is SS, SPS, SSD and SD irrigation systems respectively, while the highest annual operating cost for water amount is W3, W2 and W1 respectively. The highest irrigation cost of water unite is SPS then SS is very close to the last system under W1. According to annual total costs, the highest annual total cost is SSD, SD, SS and SPS irrigation systems respectively. By the same token, the irrigation cost of unite production. The highest crop water use efficiency is SS and SPS under W1 and W2 and the others treatment are close. Finally, the economic efficiency of irrigation systems are the heights for SS and SPS under both of W2 and W3 of applied water amount. As we have seen, the sprinkler irrigation systems are more economical for wheat irrigation than drip irrigation systems, whenever the type of sprinkler irrigation systems.