3.3. Water use efficiency (WUE) and yield
The present study shows the effects of drip irrigation and plastic mulch on crop water requirement and WUE. The results of the study indicated that DI + TM treatment markedly decreased the amounts of applied water in the order DI + TM ≤ DI + BM < DI < SI and increased WUE in the order DI + TM > DI + BM > DI > SI. The highest WUE (0.262 t ha−1 mm−1) was obtained for the DI + TM treatment because this treatment consumed about 64% and 16% less water than the SI and DI treatments respectively, and produced comparatively higher yield.