Irrigation Water Infiltration in Furrows and Crop Water Use of Alternative Furrow Irrigation

A new method of irrigation was designed and tested for its water infiltration and crop water use in the field where maize were grown. Results showed that to compare with conventional furrow irrigation(CFI), lateral infiltration of alternative furrow irrigation(AFI)is more obvious. Due to its wet front depth is less than CFI, it can decrease water deep percolation. AFI can not decrease photosynthesis rate but it can decrease evaportranspiration rate and is helpful to increase evaportranspiration efficiency. For the same irrigation water use, total water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency were all more than CFI. And Under the same irrigation water use, AFI can not decrease maize yield. To gain same yield, AFI need less water than CFI, its water saving efficiency is 33.3%.