Engenharia de Sistemas de Irrigação e Drenagem

Evaluation of Alternate and Conventional Furrow Irrigation Method on Yield of Onion and Water Use Efficiency in Humbo Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tamirneh Kifle*

Water resources were subjected to ever-increasing supply constraints due to extensive agricultural water demand for irrigated lands. Therefore, it is important to develop water-water-saving irrigation strategies to solve the problem. This experiment was conducted for three years to evaluate the effect of furrow irrigation systems on onion yield and water use efficiency at Humbo Woreda. The experiment had six treatments [Appling 100% crop water requirement with Alternate, 100% crop water requirement with Conventional, 75% crop water requirement with Alternate, 75% crop water requirement with Conventional, 50% crop water requirement with Alternate, and 50% crop water requirement with Conventional furrow irrigation] that were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Yield and yield component data were collected and analyzed using Statistical Analysis System at the probability of a 5% confidence level. The experiment result showed that increasing deficit irrigation level significantly affects the yield of onion. Maximum onion yields were obtained under 100% crop water requirement with Alternate, 100% crop water requirement with Conventional, and 75% crop water requirement with Conventional furrow irrigation method without statistical difference. 50% crop water requirement with conventional furrow irrigation and 100% crop water requirement with alternative furrow irrigation were gives maximum water use efficiency of 6.56kg/m3 and 6.11kg/m3 respectively. But 50% crop water requirement with conventional furrow irrigation significantly reduces the yield. Therefore, 100% crop water requirement with Alternative Furrow Irrigation systems is recommended in water scarcity areas to increase water use efficiency without yield reduction.