Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 International Journal of Energy and Water Resources https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-020-00069-2 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Improving water efciency and productivity using a condensation irrigation technique S. Arvandi 1  · F. Sharif 2  · A. Shahnazari 3 Received: 13 August 2019 / Accepted: 15 April 2020 © Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2020 Abstract In arid to sub-humid region, water has always been the main factor limiting crop production. The need for water is increas- ing and water availability is a major factor in the development and sustainability of ecosystems. The call to improve the efciency and productivity of water use, development of new technologies for improving water use efciency and availability to ensure future food security, has never been more urgent. Condensation irrigation is a new method that has the potential of increasing water efciency and productivity. In this method, the steam transfers directly to the root zone and sustains the moisture content of the soil. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of the CI1 system in increasing water productivity and evaluating potential of this technology to provide moisture in various soils improved with adding organic matters. After selecting the proper temperature and soil texture, lettuce was planted in selected soil and condensation irrigation applied during growing period. Then the water consumed was measured and compared with water use of lettuce planted in greenhouse and traditional practice. Selected medium texture soil (in combination with 35% organic matter) was designated for cultivating lettuce under controlled conditions, CI application, using coated conducting tube, GH2 and TP3. The results of this study showed that after harvesting and full growth of lettuce in all three conditions, production per 1 m 3 water to grow lettuce in CI, GH and TP was 1250, 333 and 75.5 kg, respectively. Water use efciency was investigated in all treatments and the results showed that with a probability of 99% there is a signifcant diference between diferent irrigation methods, and the highest water use efciency resulted from CI. The consumed water during the growth period in the GH was about four times that of CI, and in TP it was 21 times that of CI, which indicates a signifcant reduction in water use and more productivity in CI. By examining the weight of dry lettuce in all three methods, the results showed that in all samples taken from all methods the biomass was 12.5%. Further research is needed to verify the feasibility and applicability of this method in large scale. Keywords Condensation · Greenhouse · Lettuce · Soil Introduction Water confict is considered as one of the major challenges in agricultural water management. Water is 1 becoming a limiting factor for crop production in much of the world (Bijani and Hayati 2011). Water confict is a term describing a confict between countries, states, or groups over access to water resources (Tulloch 2009; Kameri-Mbote 2007; Wolf et al. 1999). More than 82% of Iran’s territory is located in arid and semi-arid zones and over 90% of available 2 water is used for Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-020-00069-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * S. Arvandi samane.arvandi@gmail.com 1 Water Engineering, Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran 2 Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (AREEO), Tehran, Iran 3 Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran 1 Condensation irrigation. 2 Greenhouse.