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Which crops are grown with irrigation in the Tigris-Euphrates basin?

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Map showing the Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, with color shading for elevation, major dams, canals, lakes, and boundaries with neighboring countries. The green areas indicate lower elevations along the river valleys, while higher elevations are shaded in brown and orange. A small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within the Middle East. — Tigris-Euphrates river system The Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network.

In the Tigris-Euphrates basin, irrigation is essential for year-round agriculture, as the rivers' natural flow patterns do not align with the needs of most crops.12

The primary field crops grown with the aid of irrigation in Iraq include:

Grains: Wheat, barley, corn (maize), millet, and sorghum.12
Rice: Cultivated particularly in areas where direct inundation is possible, such as regions below Al-Kūt on the Tigris and around Lake Al-Ḥammār.12
Other Crops: Sugarcane, sugar beets (notably in the Al-ʿAmārah area), tobacco, cotton, oil seeds, and various vegetables.12
Fruits: Date palms have been a staple since ancient times, often grown alongside other fruit trees in modern groves.12

Historically, in northern Syria, minor irrigation has also supported the cultivation of vines, olives, tobacco, fruits, and grains. While irrigation has sustained Mesopotamian agriculture for millennia, it has also led to significant challenges, specifically the salinization of soil due to poor drainage and overirrigation.12