A comparison of furrow, surface drip, and subsurface drip irrigation on lettuce yield and applied water

Furrow, surface drip, and subsurface drip irrigation methods were compared on a farm in the Salinas Valley of California. The overall performance showed similar lettuce yields for the furrow and subsurface drip methods, but a smaller yield for the surface drip method. Applied water of the drip methods ranged between 43 and 74% of that of the furrow method. Spatial variability of plant mass along transects in each plot showed different patterns of variability between the furrow and the drip transects. Variability in the plant mass of the furrow transect appeared unrelated to variability in both soil texture and soil water content. Variability in plant mass appeared related to the variability in emitter discharge rates along the drip lateral. Less variability in plant mass and yield occurred for the drip plots than for the furrow plot.