Evaluation of Furrow Irrigation Systems on Onion Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Melokoza Woreda, Southern Ethioipia

摘要

This experiment was conducted for the last two years to evaluate the effect of furrow irrigation systems on onion yield and water use efficiency in Melokoza woreda. Specifically to evaluate the effect of alternative, fixed and farmer practice irrigation system and identify the furrow irrigation type which allow achieving optimum onion yield and water use efficiency. The experiment had four level of treatments (alternative, fixed farmer practice and 50% of alternative irrigation system) and which were arranged in RCBD with four replications. Different data were collected and analyzed using SAS software in probability of 5% confidence level. The experiment result shown that alternative furrow irrigation system has highest yield and water use efficiency. The total yield obtained from alternative furrow irrigation was 25.4 t/ ha and the minimum yield obtained from 50% of ETc with alternative furrow irrigation, which was 17.8 t/ha. The water use efficiency of alternative furrow irrigation was 3.3 kg/m3 and fixed furrow irrigation had relatively highest water use efficiency than farmer practice, which were 2.6 kg/m3. The lowest water use efficiency was obtained from farmers practice. From this experiment the result of alternative furrow irrigation is better in yield and water use efficiency in areas where there is water scarcity and laborer expensiveness.