Effect of irrigation management and hydrophobic layer application in reducing green space water consumption (Gazanya plant)

In this study reduction in water consumption was evaluated in green space using hydrophobic layer and subsurface irrigation system for ornamental plants Gazanya in Shahrekord University. The experiment was done in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. The treatments included surface irrigation (SI), subsurface irrigation (SSI), subsurface irrigation including hydrophobic layer with thickness of 5 mm (SSILH5) and subsurface irrigation including hydrophobic layer with thickness of 10 mm (SSILH10). During the growing season, factors such as amount of water consumption, leaf length, number of flowers, plant width, flower, peduncle and leaf area were measured. Analysis of variance results due to water consumption showed a significant difference between the treatments in a level of 1%. Maximum and minimum volumes of water consumption were respectively related to surface irrigation treatment (SI) with 656.8 mm and the surface hydrophobic layer one with the thickness of 10 mm (SSILH10) in which the value was 359.3 m. Water consumption reductions in SSI, SSILH5 and SSILH10 treatments comparing to SI were 17.4%, 32.7% and 45.3%, respectively. Analysis of variance results related to plant parameters showed a significant difference between the treatments. The hydrophobic layer treatment with 5 mm thickness had the highest yield.