International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Volume (2014), 7 pages. © International Scholars Journals                           

Full Length Research Paper

A study on the consequences of irrigation and nitrogen levels on bulb yield, nitrogen uptake and water use efficiency of shallot (Allium cepa var. ascalonicum Baker)

Jamal K. Fura

Wolayta sodo Agricultural College, Ethiopia.

Corresponding Author. E-mail : [email protected]

Accepted 03 May, 2014

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Bahirdar, Northwest Ethiopia, during the dry season of 2009 to evaluate the effects of irrigation levels and nitrogen (N) rates fertilizer on bulb yield, N uptake and water use efficiency (WUE) of shallot. The treatments comprised of three irrigation levels (120, 100, and 50% ET_c) and four N rates (0, 59, 105 and 151 kg N ha^-1) which were laid out in a split-plot design using irrigation levels as a main plot and N levels as a subplot with three replications. Data on plant height, number of leaves, WUE, N uptake, bulb number, average bulb diameter, marketable and unmarketable bulb yields were collected and analyzed. The result showed that irrigation and N levels significantly affected all these parameters. The interaction of irrigation and N also highly significantly affected all these parameters except the number of bulbs and N uptake of shallot. The regression equations (TMBY = 5.67 + 0.022Irr + 0.02N and TBY = 3.12 + 0.02109 Irr + 0.0158 N) revealed that an increase in the amount of irrigation by 1 mm can increase marketable and total bulb yield by about 0.022 and 0.0209 t ha^-1, respectively and an increase in N by 1 kg ha ^{- 1} can increase the marketable and total bulb yields by 0.022 and 0.0158 t ha^-1, respectively. Application of water at 120% ET_c and fertilized with either 105 or 151 kg N ha^-1 was the best for maximum marketable (11.64 and 12.03 t ha^-1) and total bulb yields (12.91 and 13.3 t ha^-1). From WUE point of view, application of water at 100% ET_c and fertilized with 151 kg N ha^-1 could be the best practice. However, the yield at this interaction level is significantly lower than the maximum yields. The highest total N uptake (37.18 kg ha^-1) was obtained at 151 kg N ha^-1.

Key words: Irrigation, nitrogen, North-western Ethiopia, bulb, yield, shallot, marketable.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Volume (2014), 9 pages. © International Scholars Journals                           

Full Length Research Paper

Proportional operation review of irrigation schemes in Kastamonu area located in northern Turkey

Emmanuel B. Eichie and Alban O. Gary

Konya Food and Agricultural University, Turkey.

Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 13 March, 2014

Abstract

Performance analysis of six irrigation schemes in Kastamonu area located in northern Turkey were assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. Performance indicators used for the analysis included relative water supply, financial performance as cost recovery ratio, maintenance expenditure to revenue ratio, operational cost per unit area, total cost per personnel employed on water delivery, revenue collection performance and service area per personnel. Additionally, production performance of the schemes were evaluated in terms of output per unit command area, output per unit irrigated area, output per unit irrigation supply and output per unit consumed-water. The results of the analysis indicated that all irrigation schemes except Asar had enough performance for the relative water supply ratios. Furthermore, cost recovery ratio and revenue collection performance was not satisfactory. On the other hand, maintenance expenditure to revenue, operational cost per unit area, total cost per person employed on water delivery and service area per personnel had performed well in most of schemes during the study years. Output per unit command area, output per unit irrigated area, output per unit irrigation supply and output per unit consumed-water were performed well for all schemes in the investigation year.

Key words: Comparative analysis, irrigation performance, performance indicators, irrigation schemes.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Volume (2014), 8 pages. © International Scholars Journals                           

Full Length Research Paper

Soil humidity circulation blueprint in Amaranthus cruentus field under drip irrigation scheme

Bayonle Amos and Jude Kayode

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 20 June, 2014

Abstract

The status, availability and distribution of moisture distribution within a crop’s root zone depths affect the yield and growth of crops. An experiment was carried out to determine the influence of three drip irrigation regimes on pattern of moisture distribution within the soil profile of Amaranthus cruentus field. Irrigations were carried out at 50 KPa (Low stress), 60 KPa (Medium stress) and 70 KPa (Severe stress) levels. The pattern of soil water extraction differed significantly among treatments (P<0.05). A. cruentus extracts water for its use depending on available moisture within depths of the root zone. The surface soil at 0.1 and 0.2 m depths, rapidly losses moisture at the peak of the dry season in treatment 70 KPa (severely stressed level). Soil hydraulic charge was high (-80.6 and -70.9 KPa) at crop emergence in the root zone of A. cruentus during the dry season experiment of 2005 and 2006 respectively. It however reduced to as low as -5.7 KPa at crop maturity (71 – 76 DOY) due to occasional rain showers experienced around the period of crop maturity. Relationship between soil hydraulic charge and soil moisture storage gave r² = 0.82 and standard deviation ± 1.19 at P < 0.05. The findings from this research may be useful at determining the appropriate moisture stress level at which irrigation is best carried out in vegetable field for optimum yield.

Keyword: Irrigation, moisture deficit, hydraulic charge, moisture storage, root zone.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Volume (2014), 10 pages. © International Scholars Journals                           

Full Length Research Paper

Built-in rice-fish agricultural activity as a business: The case of Golinga irrigation system of small-scale farmers

Koffi Samuel¹*, Ajapong Chy Okeke and Stephen J. Hunt

University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Bunso, East Akim Municipal, Eastern Region, Ghana.

*Corresponding author. E- mail: [email protected].

Accepted 1 June, 2014

Abstract

The purpose of the Golinga Rice-fish farming project was to improve the capacities of members of a Farmer Based Organization (FBO) to carry out environmentally friendly, sustainable rural farming business using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques at the Golinga Irrigation Project (GIP) in northern Ghana. The project assisted small scale peasant farmers at GIP to integrate fish farming into their rice cultivation. The FBO members acquired critical IPM skills from the project demonstration farms which they applied to their own rice plots and thus improved rice productivity from mean yields of 3.5 to 4.6 - 5.8 t/ha in the project area. The project evolved a strategy for managing the FBO’s two fish ponds which was based on low-input and self-reliance of the farmers. Mean fish yield from the two ponds was 2300 kg/ha which was generally higher than reported yields (500 to 1000 kg/ha) obtained from similar low-input fish ponds in the country. The arrangement helped to maximize water use efficiency and contributed to a drastic reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides at GIP. The FBO members improved their capacities in integrated farming rice and fish and enhanced their incomes from sales of both commodities.

Key words: Rice-fish farming, integrated pest management (IPM), Golinga, Oreochromis niloticus (L), Katanga rice, value- chain.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Volume (2014), 11 pages. © International Scholars Journals                           

Full Length Research Paper

Dearth of irrigation planning for potato production in North Gondar, Ethiopia

Kelem M. Meta

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Wolayta sodo Agricultural College, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 4 April, 2013

Abstract

Scarcity of water is the most severe constraint for development of agriculture in arid and semi-arid areas. Under this condition, irrigation management has to be improved while still achieving high yield. This study was conducted in North Gondar zone in 2010/2011 to investigate deficit irrigation scheduling on potato yield and yield components. Nine treatment combination: Irrigation frequency based on Cropwat model output, two modified irrigation frequency and two deficit irrigations of 25 and 50% were laid out with three replications in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in factorial combinations. It was found that irrigation scheduling significantly affected yield and some yield components. The highest marketable tuber yields was obtained from 0% deficit irrigation and frequency of F1-2 days (T9) which was 26.33 t ha^-1, whereas 25% deficit irrigation with F1-2 days frequency (T8) gave 25.68 t ha^-1. The lowest marketable yield was 3.4 t ha^-1 from T4. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) were obtained from T7 and T8 which were 6.61 and 5.59 kg mm^-1, respectively. Therefore, applying 75% of full irrigation depth throughout the whole growing season with frequency based on Cropwat model scheduling -2 days resulted better potato yield and saved significant depth of water which improved WUE.

Key words: Potato, deficit irrigation scheduling, water use efficiency, water saving.