A new irrigation method using underground drippers has brought about a 30 percent
reduction in spoilage of melons in the arid Negev highlands of Israel,
while utilizing some 20 percent less water.
 
 These results were achieved as the result of a two-year research
project conducted by scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural, Food
and Environmental Quality Sciences of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem in Rehovot, in cooperation with researchers from the Negev
Highlands Regional Council.
 Melons are an important export crop for farmers in the Negev
highlands, however a substantial proportion of the produce was
unsuitable for sale abroad because of rotting and spotted outer
surfaces.
 The researchers, under the leadership of Prof. Uzi Kafkafi of the
Hebrew University’s Department of Field Crops, Vegetables and
Genetics, found that the spoilage could be traced to the fact that
irrigation drip pipes used to water the melons were being laid on the
ground surface.
 The researchers tried a new approach, in which the pipes were set
some 40-50 centimeters below the surface. The results were surprising
in their beneficial influence. The fruit thus grown did not spoil en
route to  destinations abroad, in contrast to the 30 percent spoilage rate
that occurred previously. Additionally, it was found that there was a
20 percent saving in the amount of water required, due to lowered
evaporation resulting from the underground irrigation.
  As a result of the experiments, carried out on a small scale, the
farmers of the Negev highlands are now using this new method of
irrigation extensively. Plans are also under way to utilize the method
for hothouse growing of tomatoes and peppers.