Pulse Irrigation Strategies for Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems as Efficient Alternatives to Traditional Surface Irrigation Systems in Clay Soils

ABSTRACT To maximize yield and water productivity and improve potato quality, four frequencies of pulse irrigation using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems were applied as alternatives to conventional methods of single‐dose surface irrigation. Two field trials were conducted in 2022 and 2023 on clay soils in Egypt. Compared with other irrigation systems, sprinkler irrigation significantly improved potato productivity when using a pulse irrigation strategy. The best application of sprinkler irrigation was six pulses per day. Pulse irrigation produced the highest potato yield values (ranging from 44.4 to 45.6 t ha −1 ) in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively. The irrigation system of pulse sprinkler also produced the best three potato quality parameters (total carbohydrates, specific density and dry matter). The results confirmed that sprinkler irrigation has the following positive effects: (1) lowering soil moisture and salinity stress in the root zone and improving the distribution efficiency of soil moisture and (2) reducing the severity of the ambient high air temperature effect on the plants. Both benefits of improving water and nutrient availability and improving ambient temperature would lead to improving the processes of photosynthesis, dry matter and yield.