Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published July 2021 | Volume 9, Issue 7. pp. 176-181.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v9i7.20.179

 

Performance evaluation of small scale irrigation technologies for improved management at Mukono ZARDI

 



 

 

Teddy Kizza1*

Monica Muyinda1

Fred Tabalamule2

 

Email Author

 

1. NARO, Mukono ZARDI, Mukono, Uganda.

2. SLM Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Entebbe Uganda.







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Citation: Kizza T, Muyinda M, Tabalamule F (2021). Performance evaluation of small scale irrigation technologies for improved management at Mukono ZARDI. J. Agric. Crop Res. 9(7):176-181. doi: 10.33495/jacr_v9i7.20.179.

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 Abstract 


Poor performance of irrigation systems can lead to substantial losses both of water and crop yields. It may also reduce the water economic index and overall sustainability. Already installed systems should be audited for performance to identify and rectify management and design gaps. Four irrigation technologies; Gun sprinkler, LF2400 sprinklers, 8mm surface drip (SDI) and 0.109” Drip buttons at 60 cm spacing, were evaluated for performance against water application efficiency, irrigation uniformity and capital cost of equipment per unit area in the open fields at Mukono ZARDI Research Station. Crop response to application uniformity and rate were evaluated using tomatoes under drip and green bean under sprinkler irrigation. Soil moisture content was used to surmise application uniformity. Cost of equipment was obtained through a request for quotations (RFQ) from suppliers. The gun sprinkler had a higher coefficient of uniformity at 77% compared to LF2400 sprinklers (64%), but their overall performance was limited by the low water application efficiency estimated at 35.98%. A reduction in productivity of green beans equivalent to 5.159 kg/m2 was recorded attributable to low moisture levels on 1.4% of the planted field area under the LF2400 sprinklers. Technology cost was related to the irrigated land size by different functional equations.

Keywords  Cost   irrigation technology   uniformity   water application   yield  

 

 

Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.or(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

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