During the activities of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Department of Soil Science and Water Resources at the College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Baghdad, organized a discussion session titled “Improving Water Use Efficiency and Lettuce Productivity under Surface Drip and Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems.” The discussion was led by Professor Dr. Alaa Saleh Aati, in the presence of the department’s head the assistant professor, Dr. Shatha Majid Nafaweh, and several faculty members and postgraduate students.
The lecture highlighted the importance of studying the seasonal water consumption estimation for lettuce crops under different irrigation systems. It applied the promising farming method of planting two rows of plants on one drip line, determining the best cultivation method, and optimal irrigation levels for lettuce productivity. This was achieved through a comparison of various irrigation systems, studying growth indicators, total yield, and water productivity under different irrigation management levels.
The lecture emphasized the need to assess the used irrigation system, determine the optimal operating pressure, and appropriate drainage. It recommended adopting the single-row farming method of planting two rows of plants on one drip line and using subsurface drip irrigation systems due to their significant results in reducing seasonal water consumption and enhancing growth characteristics. The lecturer also stressed the importance of educating farmers about the significance of irrigation scheduling, minimizing waste, and the possibility of conducting further studies and expanding research on water consumption for lettuce.
