FLAX RETTING USING SPRINKLER SYSTEM

This study was undertaken to examine sprinkler retting as an eco-friendly method compared with water (traditional) retting. For this purpose an experiment under open field conditions was carried out in fiber crops research department, Gemmiza Research Station, Gharbeiah Governorate, middle of the Nile Delta, Egypt during autumn season of 2017. The microsprinkler irrigation system was applied with four levels operating pressure head namely; 5 m (P1), 7.5 m (P2), 10 m (P3) and 12.5 m (P4) and two operating times namely; 1.5 h/day (T1) and 3 h/day (T2). Main results cleared out that, increasing operating pressure head increased water application uniformity, sprinkler retting decreased total applied water compared with water (traditional) retting, The lowest total applied water was 8.33m3/ton straw obtained at T2P4 treatment, while The highest one was 13.3m3/ton straw obtained at T2P1 treatment and total applied water for water retting was 10.45 m3/ton straw. Traditional/water retting produced highest fiber percentage, 16.4%; while the highest fiber percentage under sprinkler retting was 15.5% obtained at T2P4 treatment, traditional/water retting produced highest fiber length (87.5cm), while T2P2 treatment produced highest fiber fineness (273). The highestwater productivity was 18.6 kg/m3 obtained at T2P4.