A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique

Abstract This study assesses the agronomic and economic advantages of replacing traditional flood irrigation with drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation in water-scarce Upper Egypt. Confronting severe water shortages and inefficient conventional practices, we conducted a three-year comparative fi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohamed A. Ashour, Yasser M. Ali, Ahmed E. Hasan, Tarek S. Abu-Zaid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Water Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-025-02554-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238524590555136
author Mohamed A. Ashour
Yasser M. Ali
Ahmed E. Hasan
Tarek S. Abu-Zaid
author_facet Mohamed A. Ashour
Yasser M. Ali
Ahmed E. Hasan
Tarek S. Abu-Zaid
author_sort Mohamed A. Ashour
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study assesses the agronomic and economic advantages of replacing traditional flood irrigation with drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation in water-scarce Upper Egypt. Confronting severe water shortages and inefficient conventional practices, we conducted a three-year comparative field study assessing crop yields and water use efficiency. The results reveal that drip irrigation improves water-use efficiency by 44% and increases sugarcane yields by 22% relative to flood irrigation, while also elevating net profits by 50%. Drip irrigation demonstrated an average efficiency of 85–90%, compared to 50–60% for flood irrigation. These findings underscore the dual benefits of drip irrigation in addressing water scarcity and enhancing agricultural productivity. The study provides compelling empirical evidence supporting drip irrigation as a sustainable solution for arid regions. To ensure long-term water resource sustainability and food security, we urge policymakers and agricultural stakeholders to prioritize large-scale adoption of drip irrigation systems through targeted investments and policy interventions.
format Article
id doaj-art-30433f578dff4bebaae6f509c4ccd08c
institution Kabale University
issn 2190-5487
2190-5495
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Applied Water Science
spelling doaj-art-30433f578dff4bebaae6f509c4ccd08c2025-08-20T04:01:35ZengSpringerOpenApplied Water Science2190-54872190-54952025-07-0115812110.1007/s13201-025-02554-7A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation techniqueMohamed A. Ashour0Yasser M. Ali1Ahmed E. Hasan2Tarek S. Abu-Zaid3Faculty of Engineering, Assiut UniversityNational Water Research CenterNational Water Research CenterFaculty of Engineering, Assiut UniversityAbstract This study assesses the agronomic and economic advantages of replacing traditional flood irrigation with drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation in water-scarce Upper Egypt. Confronting severe water shortages and inefficient conventional practices, we conducted a three-year comparative field study assessing crop yields and water use efficiency. The results reveal that drip irrigation improves water-use efficiency by 44% and increases sugarcane yields by 22% relative to flood irrigation, while also elevating net profits by 50%. Drip irrigation demonstrated an average efficiency of 85–90%, compared to 50–60% for flood irrigation. These findings underscore the dual benefits of drip irrigation in addressing water scarcity and enhancing agricultural productivity. The study provides compelling empirical evidence supporting drip irrigation as a sustainable solution for arid regions. To ensure long-term water resource sustainability and food security, we urge policymakers and agricultural stakeholders to prioritize large-scale adoption of drip irrigation systems through targeted investments and policy interventions.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-025-02554-7Drip irrigationFlood irrigationSugarcane cultivationUpper Egypt
spellingShingle Mohamed A. Ashour
Yasser M. Ali
Ahmed E. Hasan
Tarek S. Abu-Zaid
A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
Applied Water Science
Drip irrigation
Flood irrigation
Sugarcane cultivation
Upper Egypt
title A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
title_full A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
title_fullStr A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
title_full_unstemmed A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
title_short A field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper Egypt with drip irrigation technique
title_sort field study on replacing traditional flood irrigation of sugarcane crop in upper egypt with drip irrigation technique
topic Drip irrigation
Flood irrigation
Sugarcane cultivation
Upper Egypt
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-025-02554-7
work_keys_str_mv AT mohamedaashour afieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT yassermali afieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT ahmedehasan afieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT tareksabuzaid afieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT mohamedaashour fieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT yassermali fieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT ahmedehasan fieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique
AT tareksabuzaid fieldstudyonreplacingtraditionalfloodirrigationofsugarcanecropinupperegyptwithdripirrigationtechnique