International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the program of transfer of irrigation in the Kahramanmaras Irrigation Scheme

Cagatay Tanriverdi* and Hasan Degirmenci

Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, 46100, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

Accepted 04 March, 2018

Abstract

In this study, the program of management transfer of the Kahramanmaras Irrigation Scheme was evaluated. The result of effects on water use and agricultural effectiveness were determined using appropriate performance indicators and the opinions of farmers. According to the results, the transfer process was not profitable for farmers; on the other hand, governmental expenditures were decreased. Farmers had insufficient knowledge of the transfer of irrigation management. Farmers did not understand the transfer of management, which indicates that one of the major aims of the transfer program - farmer participation - failed. Thus, the transfer program had no effect on indicators of water use efficiency such as sufficiency, equality, and irrigation time; it had negative effects on maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage channels.

Key words: Irrigation, irrigation management, irrigation system performance, water use efficiency.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Input–output energy usage for two groups of alfalfa farms with different systems of irrigation

Hassan Ghasemi Mobtaker, Asadollah Akram, Alireza Keyhani and Ali Mohammadi*

Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

Accepted 14 April, 2018

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of input-output energy used in two irrigation systems in baled alfalfa hay production in Hamedan province, Iran, from efficiency of energy consumption point of view. Data were collected from 80 alfalfa farms in August and September 2009. The sample volume was determined by random sampling method. The population investigated was divided in two gropes based on the irrigation system of farms as traditional irrigation system (Group I) and modern irrigation system (Group II). Total energy used in whole production life of alfalfa was 821615.19 MJ/ha in Group I and 723254.38 MJ/ha in Group II. The average inputs energy consumption was maximum for electricity in both gropes of farms. Investigation of energy indices in two gropes of farms showed using of water and energy is in better condition in Group II. In order to reduction of water and electricity consumption, it is suggested that the traditional irrigation systems replaced by modern irrigation systems that have high efficiency.

Key words: Alfalfa, input-output energy, irrigation systems, Iran.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Deficit irrigation practices as alternative means of improving water use efficiencies in irrigated agriculture: Case study of maize crop at Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Mekonen Ayana

Arba Minch University, Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, P.O. Box 21, Ethiopia. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 251-(0) 468810775, 251-(0) 916831052. Fax: 251-(0) 468810279.

Accepted 09 September, 2018

Abstract

Deficit irrigation is becoming an important strategy to reduce agricultural water use in arid and semi-arid regions. A field experiment was conducted in 2007 to examine the effect of deficit irrigation on the yield performance of maize crop under Arba Minch (Ethiopia) condition. Based on four phonological growth stages (establishment, vegetative, flowering and grain-filling stages) of maize, the crop was subjected to water deficit during one, two or three growth stages. The highest yield obtained was 5.933 tons/ha and the lowest was 3.467 tons/ha. Treatments that were water stressed during single growth stages such as first and second as well as consecutively during two stages, that is, first and second growth stages produced yields that are not significantly different from the yield achieved under fully irrigated treatment. Compared to the maximum yield, 29 to 42% lower yields were registered under treatments that were subjected to water deficit during three growth stages. Not only frequency of water deficit periods but also its timing was found to have effect on the final yield. Treatments which were stressed during two growth stages had 2.2 (0011) to 38.5% (1010) yield reduction compared to the maximum yield. The highest yield reduction was observed under the treatment which was irrigated only during the fourth growth stage (0001), followed by treatment irrigated during first and third growth stages (1010) and then treatments irrigated only during second stage (0100) . This shows that prolonged deficit over three growing stages will have more yield reduction impacts. Plots stressed during third and fourth growth stages were found to produce lower yields indicating the severe effects of water stress during flowering (tasseling and silking) and early grain-filling stages on yield. The comparison of water savings achieved under different treatments that had no significant differences in yield level from full irrigated plot (1111I) ranged from 18.2% (treatments 0111 and 1011) to 36.4% (0011). This indicates that water deficit during first and second growth stages had no significant effect on the grain yield of corn and it is worthwhile to save irrigation water under this condition. The water use efficiency increased with decreasing water supply and increasing yield level. Irrigation water use efficiency increased with decreasing water supply and related yield which may not be desirable from farmers’ perspective.

Key words: Deficit irrigation, Ethiopia, growth stage, maize, water use efficiency.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 5 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of organic matter amendment on soil water holding capacity change for irrigation water saving: Case study in Sahelian environment of Africa

Jan-Mou Leu¹, Seydou Traore^2,3, Yu- Min Wang^4* and Chun-E. Kan⁵

¹Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan.

²Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.

³Department of Irrigation Development and Planning (DADI), Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic and Fisheries Resources, Burkina Faso.

⁴Department of Civil Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.

⁵Chi-Seng Water Management Research and Development Foundation, Taiwan.

Accepted 22 July, 2018

Abstract

The present study uses a computer simulation model to evaluate the improvement of soil water holding capacity through the application of different dosages of organic matter to three types of soil, namely sandy clay loam, sandy loam and sand under Sahelien condition. Additionally, a model for irrigation scheduling is tested for three selected crops (maize, bean and rice) in Ouagadougou region located in Burkina Faso, Sub-Saharan Africa. On the basis of the observed data conditions, the irrigation depths are numerically computed during the growing stages. The computed results are shown to be 5 times of irrigation for both maize and bean and 12 times of irrigation for rice. Rice crop presents high water depth and times of irrigation due to its high water requirement. The employed model provides a convenient tool to the extension agents for manually exploring the irrigation schedule in Burkina Faso. As the content of the soil organic matter increases to 4 tons, the soil holding capacity including permanent wilting point, field capacity, saturation and saturated hydraulic conductivity are improved for all types of soil in Ouagadougou. Thus, the organic matter application is recommended for enhancing the soil holding capacity in low rainfall area.

Key wordS: Irrigation scheduling, soil holding capacity, organic matter, Sub-Saharan Africa.