Evaluation of irrigation efficiency in selected field crops grown in eastern Wielkopolska, Poland

The paper presents results of a controlled field experiment with sprinkler irrigation of winter oilseed rape (Latin name) cv. Arsenal F1 Linagrain and winter wheat (Latin name) cv. Franz, conducted in the vegetation season of 2016 (dry in terms of the recorded precipitation total) on a family farm in Kobylata, the Kłodawa commune, the Wielkopolskie Province. Water requirement observed as early as April was balanced by sprinkler irrigation in seasonal application rates ranging from 75 mm (rape) to 105 mm (wheat). Sprinkling of winter rape was the factor having a highly significant effect on seed yield volume, on average from 4 plots amounting to 4.1 t·ha-1 and by 17.4% greater than the yield harvested in the non-irrigated plots (control) - of 0.6 t·ha-1. Winter wheat, at the application of sprinkler irrigation, also produced greater yields (by 24%) in comparison to the non-irrigated plots. Mean grain yield of wheat in the irrigated plots was by 1.9 t·ha-1 greater. Advisability of irrigation, apart from higher yielding, may also be indicated by water use efficiency in these crops. Every mm of sprinkled water caused an increase in of rape by 7.9 kg, while in wheat by 17.8 kg.