Effect of irrigation regimes on yield and water use efficiencies of potato

Abstract

<span class="fontstyle0">Poor irrigation water management is one of the major factors limiting crop production in<br />Ethiopia. This study was, therefore, conducted at three different locations in the southeastern<br />Ethiopia for 2 consecutive years to investigate the effects of different irrigation depths and<br />intervals with furrow irrigation system on tuber yield, biomass yield and water use efficiency of<br />potato. The treatments consisted of four irrigation regimes. Three of them were determined<br />using FAO-Cropwat 4 Windows 4.3 computer model based on maximum irrigation efficiency<br />and minimum yield loss. The fourth treatment was farmers' practices for each location.<br />The irrigation treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with 3 replications.<br />Results showed that irrigation regimes determined using FAO-Cropwat 4 Windows 4.3<br />computer model gave superior tuber and biomass yields and water use efficiencies of potato<br />compared to farmers' practices at all locations. Higher values of crop and water productivity<br />were obtained when scheduled at application of 20 mm irrigation water every 6 days, 15 mm<br />irrigation water every 7 days and 15 mm irrigation water every 9 days for Sheled, Golja and<br />Lemu areas, respectively. It could be conclude that farmers were over irrigating their farms<br />without equivalent returns. The water saved through optimized irrigation can be used more<br />profitably to irrigate supplemental lands, thus achieving a more efficient and rational use of land<br />and water resources.</span>