Effect of different saline Levels and Irrigation Regimes on agronomic parameters of potatoes crop under the semi-arid environment of Tunisia

In Tunisia, the scarcity of water for irrigation allows the use of low water quality. Deficit irrigation has shown successful results with a large number of crops in various countries. Field experiments, were carried out in Central TunIsia (10.5632°W; 35.9191°N; 19 m a.s.l) on a potatoes crop planted in a sandy loam soil, during the growing season 2015, from January 21 (plantation of tubers) to May 21 (harvesting). Objective of the work, was to assess four different irrigation management on the agronomic parameters of potatoes crop and Water use efficient. The experimental field were laid out in a randomized complete block design consisting of two different irrigation levels and two water qualities. Each plot received the same plant management and was irrigated by a subsurface drip irrigation system (SDI). The first plot irrigated with water characterized by electrical conductivity of 1.0 dS/ m T1 with 100% ET0, T2 with 50% ET0, the second plot was irrigated with water with a water of 4dS/m and was compound by T3 with 100% ET0 and T4 with 50% ET0. This study was aimed to investigate on the effect of salt stress or water stress and the combination salt water stress on some agronomics parameters of potatoes. Statistical analysis evidenced that the degree of salinity has a highly significant positive effect on the plant’s growth, leaf area, tuber yield and volume efficiency, and water use efficiency.