International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Alternative water sources for residential irrigation systems: A case study from Istanbul

Yasin Cagatay Seckin

Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Taskisla 34437, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 00 90 212 293 1300. Fax: 00 90 212 272 0139.

Accepted 09 July, 2017

Abstract

Water is the primary life-giving resource and hence requires careful preservation. Choosing an irrigation system, which uses an alternative water source such as graywater or harvested rainwater will help this preservation. The intent of this study is to compare residential irrigation system designs that draw their water source from graywater, harvested rainwater or municipal water. For realizing this comparison, the following criteria were evaluated: Availability of water, system components, cost and maintenance. In conclusion, this study found that municipal water is still an economically feasible source for residential system in Istanbul, despite the fact that graywater and harvested rainwater are the preferred sources in terms of sustainability.

Key words: Sustainable irrigation, graywater, harvested rainwater.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (12), pp. 001-005, December, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Yield and water use efficiency of (Nigella sativa L.) under different irrigation treatments in a semi arid region in the West of Iran

H. Ghamarnia*, H. Khosravy and S. Sepehri

Department of Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering, College of Agriculture, Razi University, P. O. Box 1158, post code: 6715685438, Kermanshah, Iran.

Accepted 08 September, 2017

Abstract

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a medicinal plant with economic influences, especially in medicine production. The present study investigates the effects of different drip tape and furrow irrigation treatments with normal and deficit irrigations on water use efficiency, various plant parameters and oil content of N. sativa. For this purpose, an experiment with three replications was conducted on a completely randomized block designed. The irrigation treatments consist of three modes of surface drip tape (SDT) irrigation with 50, 75 and 100% evapotranspiration (Et) as well as one mode of surface furrow (SF) irrigation with 100% (Et) requirement of the plant. The highest water use efficiency (1.39 kg/ha/mm) was obtained for drip tape 50% (Et) treatment while the lowest water use efficiency (0.492 kg/ha/mm) was obtained for furrow irrigation treatment 100%(Et). The results showed that seed yield and harvest index was significantly affected by different irrigation treatments (P < 0.01). Additionally, the number of follicles per plant and total yield were also affected by different water treatments (P < 0.05). The results showed, there were no significant effects on plant height, the number of seed per follicle, 1000 seed weight, the number of plants per m² and oil content, based on obtained results, this paper suggests that in different area with prevailing deficit water resources drip tape irrigation 50% (Et) has proven suitable to produce black cumin with high water use efficiency and significant oil content. The results showed that black cumin tolerates water deficiency.

Key words: Nigella sativa, drip tape irrigation, deficit irrigation, water use efficiency.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (11), pp. 001-008, November, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characterizing sites for the design and restoration of Kalacha irrigation scheme, Chalbi district, Kenya: Socio-economic and biophysical considerations

E. M. Muya*, K. Gitau, S. Obanyi, M. Ngutu, S. Kuria, H. Sharfi, D. G. Dub, H. Bulle, D. M. Miano, J. Muriethi, G. Keya, I. V. Sijali, S. Mamo, P. M. Maingi, M. Okoti and Eng. M. J. Omedi and A. Esilaba

¹National Agricultural Laboratories, P. O. Box 14733, Nairobi, Kenya.

²KARI-Marsabit, P. O. Box 147, Marsabit, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 57811, Nairobi, Kenya.

⁴Ministry of Water and Irrigation, P. O. Box 29703, Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 02 August, 2017

Abstract

Site characterization was carried out in Kalacha irrigation scheme for the design and restoration of the scheme. Detailed soil survey was carried at the scale of 1:2,000, through systematic observations, where the soils were described in terms of depth, texture, structure and consistence. Based on these characteristics, four soil units were identified and designated as block A, B, C and D, covering 23, 18, 17 and 42% of the scheme, respectively. In each unit, representative soil profiles were identified, characterized in terms of soil physical and chemical properties, and classified according to FAO-UNESCO system of classification. The soils in block A, B, C and D were classified as Petric Calcisols, Salic Fluvisols, Calcic Solonetz and Calcaric Fluvisols, respectively. The aggregate stability of the topsoils for Block A, B, C, and D was found to be 40, 10, 2 and 4%; while the water uptake capacity was 218, 158, 76 and 86 mm, respectively. The highest level of nutrients was found in Block A, followed by Block B, while block C and D had relatively lower levels. The most limiting factors were found to be high salinity, high sodicity, low aggregate stability and high soil pH, hence low nutrient availability.

Key words: Irrigation layout and design, soil quality, irrigation blocks.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Drought stress mitigation using supplemental irrigation in rainfed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties in Kermanshah, Iran

Keyvan Shamsi^1*, Soheil Kobraee¹ and Reza Haghparast²

¹Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, P. O. Box 671 55 1774, Baghe nai street, Kermanshah, Iran.

²Dry land Agriculture Research Sub - Institute,Kermanshah,Iran

Accepted 14 August, 2017

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in 2007 to investigate the effects of different irrigation regimes, and chickpea cultivars on chickpea production in the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Iran. The experimental design was split-plot with three replications. Supplemental irrigation at three levels, that is, control treatment (without irrigation) (I₀), one time irrigation at 50% flowering stage (I₁) and one time irrigation at pod-filling stage(I ₂), was allocated to main plots and the varieties ILC-482 (V₁), Hashem (V₂) and Arman (V₃) were allotted to sub plots. A significant difference was observed between irrigation treatments in terms of grain yield, plant height, number of axillary branches, distance to the first pod from soil surface, number of grain per plant, number of pod per plant, biological yield, harvest index and 100-grain weight. Such differences were also observed between testing varieties in terms of all traits rather than 100-grain weight. Grain yield was significantly higher for Arman than that of Hashem which was significantly higher than that of ILC-482. Of course, there was no significant difference between Hashem and ILC-482 in terms of grain yield. Arman had the highest values of the number of grain per plant and the highest pod per plant pertained to Arman and Hashem, respectively. High rate of grain yield in irrigation treatment at pod-filling stage was associated with yield components, especially with the number of pod per plant and 100-grain weight. Grain yield was positively correlated with number of pod per plant (r = 0.654^**), number of grain per plant (r = 0.902^**) and 100-grain weight (r = 0.707^**). This research showed that pod-filling is the most sensitive stage to drought stress, and under water limitation conditions, we can considerably increase grain yield at this stage by one time irrigation, especially for Arman cultivar.

Key words: Chickpea, supplemental irrigation, drought stress, grain yield, yield components.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impacts of Zimbabwe European Union micro-project programme (Zim/Eu MPP) in funding smallholder irrigation projects on food security and income levels

K. Nhundu¹, C. Gwata² and A. Mushunje³*

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

³Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, P. O. Box X1314, South Africa.

Accepted 21 April, 2017

Abstract

At least 70% of smallholders live in the semi-arid regions IV and V where rainfall is erratic and soils in these regions are derived from granite and generally shallow, light textured and of low fertility. As a result, farmers cannot produce adequate grain to meet their annual household requirements by dry land farming. The Zimbabwe/EU Micro-projects Programme has funded smallholder irrigation projects since 1982 to improve the food security in these marginal areas. In an effort to assess the impacts of the ZIM/EU MPP funded irrigation schemes and justify further investments in smallholder irrigation projects, a case study based on a comparative analysis between irrigators and non-irrigators was done at Mopane Irrigation Scheme. Preliminary results indicated irrigators were more food secure than non-irrigators. Using the Gross Margin Analysis, irrigators were found to be better performers with increased incomes than non-irrigators. A regression analysis to examine factors affecting food security level revealed that household size, off-farm income, draught power to be significant at the 5% confidence interval. The study concluded that irrigators were more food secure and better performers than non-irrigators. The ZIM/EU MPP should continue to invest more resources in smallholder irrigation schemes. The study recommends that governments, public and private institutions and non-governmental organisations are recommended to work together defining and implementing comprehensive strategies for smallholder irrigation development, especially in the smallholder communal areas so as to ensure increased food security, income and employment to the rural population.

Key words: Smallholder, household, food security, income, irrigators, non-irrigators, ZIM/EU MPP.