International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-009, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Photosynthetic, chlorophyll fluorescence and growth changes in hot pepper under deficit irrigation and partial root zone drying

Shao Guang-cheng^1,2*, Guo Rui-qi^1,2, Liu Na³, Yu Shuang-en^1,2 and Xing Weng-gang^1,2

¹Key Laboratory of Efficient Irrigation-Drainage and Agricultural Soil-Water Environment in Southern China, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210098, P. R. China.

²College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, P. R. China.

³School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, P. R. China.

Accepted 12 May, 2020

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that the spatial distribution of water within the root zone, as well as total soil water status, determines plant physiological and agronomic responses. To examine the response of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and growth of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to deficit irrigation (DI50, 50% of the control) and partial root-zone drying (PRD, with half of the root system exposed to soil drying and the other half watered with 50% irrigation water of the control), two water deficit treatments were imposed on greenhouse grown hot pepper during the growing period in 2006. Control plants received irrigation to both halves of the root system when soil water content was < 80% of field capacity. Both PRD and DI50 treatments decreased total dry mass by 33 to 44%, shoot biomass by 31 to 44% compared to the control. These treatments increased root-shoot ratio by 35 to 44% in relation to the control, with significant differences between PRD, DI50 and the control. Deficit irrigation led to a relative leaf water content of about 77.91 to 92.71%. Two water deficit treatments reduced photosynthetic rate (P_n) slightly and transpiration rate (Tr) significantly, thus improving leaf water use efficiency (WUE_L, defined as the ratio of P_n to Tr) by 24 to 26%. During water stress, a down-regulation of PSII activity was observed along with some impairment of photochemical activity, as revealed by decreases in the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm). Although Fv/Fm did not significantly differ between the deficit treatments and the control, Fv/Fm of PRD plants was higher than that of DI50 plants. The mean values of Fv, Fm, qP at four stages decreased and Fo and qN increased in the soil drought environment. Development of non-radiative energy dissipation mechanisms was evidenced during stress by increases in non-photochemical quenching and decreases in efficiency of excitation capture by open centers.

Key words: Photochemical parameters, relative leaf water content, DI50, partial root-zone drying (PRD).

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of small-scale irrigation on the income of rural farm households: The case of Laelay Maichew District, Central Tigray, Ethiopia

Kinfe Asayehegn¹*, Chilot Yirga² and Sundara Rajan³

¹Institute of Environment, Gender and Development Studies, Awassa College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

²Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Ethiopia.

³Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Harapmaya University, Ethiopia.

Accepted 23 March, 2020

Abstract

Agricultural intensification is presumed to be a necessary pre-condition for the development of the agricultural sector in Ethiopia. To this end, various government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), among others, initiated small-scale irrigation schemes throughout the country including the Tigray region. Despite these efforts, however, smallholder farmers particularly in the study area are found to be reluctant to participate in small-scale irrigation schemes. This study therefore, assessed the factors that affect smallholder farmers’ participation in small-scale irrigation of the study area. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to first select peasant associations and then sample respondents. Descriptive statistics and binary probit estimation were used to estimate the determinants of small-scale irrigation participation. The analysis revealed that income, gender, access to market information and health condition of households were found to be important determinants for participating in small scale irrigation schemes. Hence, improving rural farm households’ access to market information and health services, are likely to improve participation in irrigation schemes thereby improving of small holder farmers income.

Key words: Ethiopia, income, irrigation, rural farm households, small-scale.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of 14 winter bread wheat genotypes in normal irrigation and stress conditions after anthesis stage

Vahid Mollasadeghi¹, Yaser Momeni Gizilasheg^2*, Rogaye Hazrati Hazejan³ and Hadi Mazhabi²

¹Young Researchers Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.

²Department of agronomy and plant breeding, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

³Student of plant protection of Urumia University, Urumia Iran.

Accepted 11 April, 2020

Abstract

In order to evaluate wheat genotypes in terms of tolerance to drought stress after anthesis stage, some experiments were conducted using 14 winter bread wheat genotypes in a randomized complete block design with three replications in normal irrigation and drought stress conditions at the research stations of Ardabil, Bilesavar and Namin in the 2009 to 2010 cropping years. Evaluation of genotypes for drought tolerance was performed by indices including stress tolerance index (STI), stress sensitivity (SSI), tolerance (TOL), mean proficiency (MP), the geometric mean (GMP) and the mean rating (mean R), and also by the earlier mentioned indices for all the genotypes and relevant biplot drawing. The results of the combined variance analysis of grain yield showed that the effect of location was meaningful under normal irrigation conditions; this was obtained under drought stress conditions. The interaction of genotype with location in normal irrigation conditions was meaningful in a probability level of 5, while it was not meaningful under drought stress. The effect of genotypes was not meaningful under normal irrigation conditions, while it is significant under drought stress. Considering indices correlation with yields of two normal and stress conditions, indices MP and STI were identified as the best indices. Using biplot graphic method, comparison of indices amounts and mean rating of indices for each genotype observation of placing position of genotypes in the biplot of genotypes 6, 10, 7 and 13 were identified as tolerant genotypes. However, genotype 14 was identified as the most sensitive genotype to end drought stress.

Key words: Bread wheat, drought stress, grain yield, drought tolerance and drought sensitive indices, biplot.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-016, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A comparative analysis on irrigation governance in Ethiopia and China

Belachew Desta Hambebo and Prof. Liu Hui

¹School of Economics, Hunan Agricultural University, China.

Accepted 01 April, 2020

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the effective governance of irrigation, and to make strong linkage between China and Ethiopia with irrigation systems governing. The paper clarifies the irrigation governance services into four, including the comparison of farmland water conservancy policies service, examination of farmland water conservancy construction service, analysis of farmland water conservancy management and protection systems service and facilitation of farmers participation in the overall activities service. Then, based on the status analysis of irrigation governance services in China and Ethiopia and data collected from the relevant sources, we highlighted the similarities and differences of irrigation governance. Systematically, the actual services of irrigation governance if effected at the end will ensure food security, especially at the global level of population growth. In this sense, irrigation has been taken as the warmly implemented tool to stabilize the growing population with food security demand. It needs a good governance system to support irrigation schemes and institutions associated with agriculture. Based on empirical findings from research and national statistics institutions, the study examines the status of irrigation governance in both nations. Our study addressed and compared the irrigation and entire farmland water conservancy policies, examine the efficiency of a farmland water conservancy construction with cooperative management and protection strategies and ensure active participation of farmers. The findings of this study can address the problem-oriented and solution-based which will play a significant role in effective improvement in irrigation schemes and upgrade capacity of governance.

Keywords: Irrigation, Governance, Analysis, Ethiopia, China.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of irrigation water productivity in water scarcity context in the Bama rice farming plain, Burkina Faso

Bama Nati Aïssata Delphine^1*, Kaboré P. Eric², Kima Aimé Severin¹

¹Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles,  Département de Production Végétale,  INERA, 04 BP 8645 Ouagadougou 04, Burkina Faso.

²Université Nazi Boni, Institut Du Développement Rural, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Accepted 26 March, 2020

Abstract

Nowadays, due to rain variability with a groundwater decrease, water resource became scarce in the main irrigated plains in Burkina Faso. Thus, rice is gradually being replaced by other crops which have low water need principally in Bama irrigated plain during off-season. This study aimed to analyze the efficiency of current irrigation practices during dry season rice farming in Bama plain. Hence, fifteen peasant crop-production practices in their plot of 0.5 ha during 2018 off-season from February to June have been followed. The irrigation water supplied was much lower than rice water requirements, average 61% of ETR. In addition, 28.8% of the yield has been determined by quantity of water applied with average water productivity of 0.8kg.m³.

Keywords:  water productivity; water scarcity; rice farming plain; off-season, yield.