Joint Scientific Cooperation Between Kirkuk University and Selçuk University in Supervising PhD Dissertations

In line with the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Presidency of Kirkuk University to promote international collaboration and exchange expertise, Professor Dr. Hussein Dhahir Tahir from the Department of Soil and Water Resources at the College of Agriculture, Kirkuk University, along with Associate Professor Dr. Mohammed Şahin from the College of Agriculture at Selçuk University, jointly supervised a PhD dissertation for the student Mohammed Diaa Al-Haq Mahmoud Mohammed. The research was conducted at the Agricultural Research and Experiment Station affiliated with the College of Agriculture at Kirkuk University.

The supervising professor explained that the PhD dissertation, which was discussed via a video conference, focused on studying the impact of different irrigation applications on the productivity and water use efficiency of drip-irrigated maize under the climatic conditions of Kirkuk, Iraq.

He further stated that the study aimed to identify optimal water-saving strategies without reducing maize yield by evaluating different irrigation intervals and drip irrigation applications with varying lateral spacing. The goal was to explore the feasibility of implementing drip irrigation systems for maize cultivation in Kirkuk. The research also aimed to demonstrate to local farmers that by adopting this method, they could achieve higher crop yields per unit area while using less water compared to traditional irrigation techniques, thereby promoting efficient water management and the sustainable use of available water resources.