Improving Agricultural Water Productivity with Alternate Furrow Irrigation in Semi-Arid Conditions of Northern Ethiopia
Journal Title: Asian Research Journal of Agriculture - Year 2017, Vol 7, Issue 1
Abstract
The major production constraint in arid and semi-arid areas is scarcity of irrigation water. Thus, improving the management of irrigation water is very crucial to reduce water losses and thereby enhance water use efficiency. Hence, this research was conducted to evaluate the effect of Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI) on yield, water use efficiency and economic return of Onion at Hamedo irrigation scheme as compared to Conventional Furrow Irrigation (CFI), at different levels of water application (100, 80 and 60% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)). Results indicated that AFI maintained almost similar bulb yield but with up to 50% reduction in irrigation amount when compared to CFI. The maximum marketable bulb yield obtained at 100% ETc with CFI was 22.9 ton/ha which is not statistically significant with that of obtained under AFI (20.8 ton/ha). However, the WUE of onion under AFI at 100% ETc was higher (7.12 kg/m3) than that of CFI at 100% ETc (3.9 kg/m3). Moreover, the amount of water saved by AFI, at both levels of water (80 and 60% ETc), was also much higher (293.8 - 413.1mm) than even that of 60% ETc under CFI (238.4mm). Overall, under limited water resources, AFI can reduce the costs associated with labor and pumping to the field. Therefore, it can be recommended that AFI is a practical technique to improve agricultural water productivity for irrigated crops in the study area and other similar agro ecologies.
Authors and Affiliations
Teferi Gebremedhin
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP338069
- DOI 10.9734/ARJA/2017/35328
- Views 109
- Downloads 0
Comparative Estimation of the Costs and Returns of Integrated Fish-Based Farming Systems in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria
The present study was conducted to know the costs and returns of three integrated fish-based farming (IFF) systems in Kaduna metropolis of Nigeria during 2015 to 2016 farming season. Primary data were collected through t...
Optimization of Storage Conditions of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) Bagged Pics Containing Biopesticide (Lippia multiflora) Leaves by Factorial Design in Cote d’Ivoire
This study aims to optimize storage conditions of two cowpea varieties grains in PICS bags containing leaves of Lippia multiflora. It was to assess, through a full factorial design, the effect of three factors (variety,...
Genetic Parameters of Bodyweight and Egg Traits in the Domestic Pigeon
Seven hundred and twenty squabs raised from 180 couples of domestic pigeon were used to study the heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of body and egg traits. Body weight at hatch, 1- week, 2...
Food Security Status of Artisanal Fishers and Concerns of Bycatch in Nigeria
There have been concerns about the part of the catch that is not the primary target of the fishing effort of artisanal fishers along their household food security status. This aimed the study to examine bycatch occurrenc...
Evaluation of Fungal Flora and Aflotoxins from the Ground Nuts Collected from Various Regions of Warangal District
Aims: The aim of the current study is to screen about twenty three ground nut samples for the identification and detection of mycotoxin-producing fungi and type of mycotoxin. Study Design: The present investigation was d...