International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of rootstocks and irrigation levels on grape quality of VITIS  VINIFERA  L. cv. Shiraz

M. Ozden¹*, H. Vardin², M. Simsek³ and M. Karaaslan²

¹Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63040 Sanliurfa, Turkey.

²Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63040 Sanliurfa, Turkey.

³Department of Farm Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63040 Sanliurfa, Turkey.

Accepted 24 February, 2017

Abstract

The influence of two rootstocks (SO₄ and 1103P) on grape quality and berry chemical composition was studied in a factorial experiment, in field grown grapevines of cv. Shiraz (VITIS VINIFERA L.), subjected to five irrigation levels [0% (T1), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (T5) of irrigation depth (IW, mm): Class A pan evaporimeter (CPE)]. Spectrophotometric analyses of total anthocyanins (TA), total phenolics (TP) and total antioxidant activity (AA) in grape extracts were performed. Also, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity, pH, total sugar content, ash, juice yield and color index of red grapes (CIRG) of berry samples were determined. TA, TP, AA, TSS, total sugar content, ash, and CIRG values decreased together with increasing irrigation levels. On the contrary, T4 and T5 irrigation treatments increased total acidity, pH and juice yield of samples compared to the effects of T1, T2 and T3 irrigation treatments for both rootstocks. Moreover, T1 or T2 treatments caused an increase in TA, TP, AA, TSS, total sugar content, ash, and CIRG index values of grape samples in comparison to that of vines irrigated with T3, T4 and T5 levels. Grape quality response to irrigation levels was altered by rootstocks and quality of grapes harvested from vines grafted on SO₄ was higher compared to those from 1103P under all irrigation treatments. Based on the findings, it was suggested that T2 irrigation level might be sufficient to guarantee Shiraz yield potential without significant loss in grape quality under the study conditions. Also, the results make it possible to recommend use of SO₄ rootstock under non-limiting water conditions because of its positive on grape quality parameters, while 1103P might be better choice under water-limiting conditions.

Key words: Vitis vinifera L., irrigation, rootstock, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, antioxidant activity.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of irrigation on consumptive use, water use efficiency and crop coefficient of sesame (SESAMUM INDICUM  L.)

El Naim M. Ahmed¹* and F. Ahmed Mahmoud²

¹Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid, Sudan.

²Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Accepted 07 February, 2017

Abstract

Sesame was grown for two successive seasons (2001/2002 - 2002/2003) at Shambat, Sudan. The aim of the study was to investigate five irrigation water quantities on actual evapotranspiration as compared with estimated evapotranspiration using Penman-Monteith method, modified Penman formula and pan evaporation. Water use efficiency and crop factors were calculated and the best water use efficiency was obtained under irrigation water 650 mm. Under all irrigation treatments, there was a large deviation of pan evaporation, modified Penman and Penman-monteith estimate from actually measured evapotranspiration. Crop coefficients were decreased with decreased water quantities in all treatments. Crop coefficients computed by pan evaporation were under all circumstances, lower than these obtained by modified Penman and Penman- Monteiths methods.

Key words: Water quantities, consumptive use, water use efficiency, crop coefficient, sesame.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 001-016, June, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Performance of pumped irrigation systems and evaluation of energy efficiency: A case study of the Bagarasi and Turkelli systems in Turkey

H. Baki Unal^1*, H. Ibrahim Yilmaz¹, R. Cengiz Akdeniz² and Serkan Boyar³

¹Department of Farm Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir/Turkey.

²Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir/Turkey.

³Department of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260 Isparta/Turkey.

Accepted 09 January, 2017

Abstract

The sustainability (SAI and AIR), cost (MBR, PCR, ECR and CPA) and energy consumption (SEC and RAI) performance of Bagarasi pumping irrigation system (BPIS) and Turkelli pumping irrigation system (TPIS) pumped irrigation systems were determined according to these 8 indicators. Also, the potential energy saving and repayment period on investment for replacing the standard electric motors with high efficiency motors was determined. Calculated values of SIA for BPIS (445.9%) and TPIS (36.7%) were below the ideal. Calculated actual values of AIR for BPIS (13.7 ha km^-1) and TPIS (15.4 ha km^-1) were lower than indicator values calculated according to the system’s projected values. These indicators showed that the system was not sustainable with regard to irrigated area and infrastructure. MBR values for BPIS (7.3%) and TPIS (6.2%) were lower than the ideal. ECR value of BPIS (27.5%) was lower than that for TPIS (55.5%). The value of PCR for BPIS (61.3%) was higher than that for TPIS (34.3%). Calculated CPA values for both TPIS (178 $ha^-1) and BPIS (513 $ha^-1) were higher than the indicator values calculated according to the system’s projected values. Cost indicators showed that in both systems maintenance work was inadequate, energy expenditure was higher than other forms of expenditure and that the unit price of irrigation water was high. SECa and SECi values were 0.051 kWhm^-and 0.020 kWhm^-3 respectively for BPIS and 0.105 kWhm^-3 and 0.029 kWhm^-3 for TPIS. RAI values for BPIS (39.80%) were higher than that for TPISs (27.53%). In addition, RAI values for the year after a compensation system was installed for BPIS did not exceed the projected limit. These indicators show that the use of energy in TPIS was relatively good compared to BPIS. The use of high efficiency motors secured a 10.87 - 13.89% energy saving in the systems. The repayment period for the motors was less than 2 years. To improve system performance, efficiency in the transmission and use of water must be improved and high efficiency motors must be used to power the pumps. Also, if energy monitoring and control systems are installed which operate remotely and in real time, these will increase the efficiency of energy use.

Key words: Performance, irrigation, water pumping, energy efficiency, Bagarasi, Turkelli.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of inter-row spacing and plant population on weed dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yield at Zanyokwe irrigation scheme, Eastern Cape, South Africa

M. Fanadzo, C. Chiduza* and P. N. S. Mnkeni

Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Accepted 02 January, 2017

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of inter-row spacing (45 and 90 cm) and plant population (40000 and 60000 plants ha^-1) on weed biomass and the yield of both green and grain materials of maize plants. The experiment was set up as 2 × 2 factorial in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Plant population had no significant effects and interaction among factors was not significant on weed biomass. Narrow rows of 45 cm reduced weed biomass by 58%. Growing maize at 40000 plants ha^-1 resulted in similar green cob weight regardless of inter-row spacing. Cob length decreased with increase in plant population and with wider rows. Similar grain yield was obtained regardless of inter-row spacing when maize was grown at 40000 plants ha^-1, but at 60000 plants ha^-1, 45 cm rows resulted in 11% higher grain yield than 90 cm rows. Increasing plant population from 40000 to 60000 plants ha^-1 resulted in a 30% grain yield increase. The study demonstrated that growers could obtain higher green and/or grain yield by increasing plant population from the current practice of 40000 to 60000 plants ha^-1 and through use of narrow rows.

Key words: Row spacing, plant population, weed density, weed biomass, maize yield.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative performance of direct seeding and transplanting green maize under farmer management in small scale irrigation: A case study of Zanyokwe, Eastern Cape, South Africa

M. Fanadzo, C. Chiduza* and P. N. S. Mnkeni

Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Accepted 08 July, 2016

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted at Zanyokwe irrigation scheme (ZIS) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (SA) to evaluate comparative performance of direct seeded and transplanted green maize under farmer management. Results indicated that the mean labour requirements for establishment were 212 h ha^-1 with transplanting and 1.9 h ha^-1 with direct seeding. Crop stand significantly increased from 48 to 97% when maize was transplanted rather than directly seeded. Variable costs were R5 462 and R1 896 ha^-1 for transplanted and directly seeded maize, respectively. The corresponding net benefits were R15 005 and R6 232 ha^-1, respectively. All farmers were in favour of transplanting, citing bigger cobs, early maturity and the absence of bird damage with transplanted maize, and this was supported by results of statistical analysis. A follow-up survey conducted during the subsequent summer growing season indicated that of the six farmers, only one continued with transplanting. The results suggest that although transplanting might be a better alternative to direct seeding for the study area, the technology is unlikely to succeed unless the labour intensiveness of manual transplanting can be solved.

Key words: Direct seeding, transplanting, farmer management, crop stand, green maize, economics, adoption.