International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of regulated irrigation water temperature on hydroponics production of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

S. Nxawe, C. P. Laubscher and P. A. Ndakidemi^*

Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town Campus, Keizersgracht, P. O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

Accepted 19 November, 2015

Abstract

The effects of different temperature regimes of irrigation water on the growth rate of Spinacia oleracea L. were determined in the greenhouse for 8 weeks. The spinach seedlings were irrigated with water heated to various temperatures (24, 26 and 28°C) via pumps connected to 4 sets of water tanks each maintained at the experimental temperatures using Dolphin aquarium heaters. Unheated water from the tap supplied from the fourth tank served as control. All the plants were supplied with a mixture of Ocean HYDROGRO and Ocean HORTICAL nutrient solutions containing all essential elements. After 8 weeks of growth, results showed that leaf length (mm), leaf number and total fresh and dry weights (g per plant) was higher in plants grown at elevated temperatures compared with the control plants with optimum growth being recorded at 28°C. These results suggest that controlled production of spinach during winter seasons is possible by irrigation with heated water in a greenhouse.

Key words: Growth rate, root weights, shoots weights, leaf length, leaf number.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interaction effects of deficit irrigation and row spacing on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth, seed yield and oil yield

Seyed Abdolreza Kazemeini*, Mohsen Edalat and Avat Shekoofa

Crop Production and Plant Breeding Department, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

Accepted 29 September, 2015

Abstract

Productivity of sunflower is strongly regulated by the availability of water. In order to study the influence of deficit irrigation (I₁:100% FC, I₂ and I₃: 75 and 50% FC during stem elongation period, respectively; I₄ and I₅: 75 and 50% FC at flowering stages) and two row spacings (45 - 50 and 75 cm) on growth, yield and oil yield of sunflower, an experiment was conducted using a split plot design with three replications in the 2007 - 2008. Results indicated that Maximum (374.67 gm^-2) and minimum (198.5 gm^-2) grain yield was obtained from I₁ and I₃ treatments. Compared to I₁, grain yield was reduced significantly under deficit irrigation treatments (I₂, I₃ and I₅). Interaction effects of row spacing and deficit irrigation indicated that the highest seed yield (458.0 gm^-2) and oil percentage (31.66%) was obtained from I₁ and 75 cm row spacing. Reduction of grain yield due to deficit irrigation (I₄) was not significant (374.6 vs. 340.1 gm^-2), compared to full irrigation. Therefore, we confirm that irrigation levels significantly affected seed yield and oil percentage. Our results indicated that deficit irrigation, during the critical growth period should be avoided.

Key words: Sunflower, deficit irrigation, seed yield, oil yield, row spacing.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Irrigation agriculture: An option for achieving the millennium development goals in Nigeria

E. O. Oriola

Department of Geography, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. E-mail [email protected].

Accepted 12 September, 2015

Abstract

This paper reports the prospect of irrigation agriculture in transforming the dream of attaining the Millennium Development Goals to reality in Nigeria. Efforts of government at revitalizing agriculture before and after 2000 were highlighted. It identifies the poor attitude of Nigerian government towards productive agricultural system and the continuous importation of consumer goods that could otherwise be produced in the country as a reason why an average Nigerian farmer is wallowing in abject poverty. The irregular and erratic rainfall distribution over the country was observed as a mitigating factor against efficient agriculture system in Nigerian and irrigation was examined and conceptualized as an option for efficient agricultural system in Nigeria. Since there is a strong link between the MDGs and agriculture, a Millennium Development Goal attainment model was presented. It is opined that attaining high and sustainable food production through responsiveness of private sector and other stakeholders in irrigation will lead to higher income for farmers, such that they now have access to basic needs including farm inputs and pay other costs. At this level, hunger will vanish and attaining the MDGs will be easier and our dream will come true.

Key words: Agriculture, access, irrigation, food crisis, stakeholders, basic needs.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of fruit and oil characteristics of olive (Olea europaea L. cv. ‘Gemlik’) in different irrigation and fertilization regimes

Celil Toplu¹*, Derya Önder², Sermet Önder² and Ercan Yıldız¹

¹Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mustafa Kemal 31034, Hatay, Turkey.

²Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mustafa Kemal, 31034, Hatay, Turkey.

Accepted 09 October, 2015

Abstract

We evaluated plant growth, fruit and oil characteristics of olive (Olea europaea L. cv. ‘Gemlik’) grown on different fertilization and irrigation treatments. Irrigation regimes included rainfed-control (T₀), two treatments with 50% (T₅₀) of the full irrigation treatment (T₁₀₀) which received 100% class-A pan evaporation. Four fertilization treatments included unfertilized-control (F₀), traditional fertilization (F₁) and application of P and K during different growing stages (F ₂ - F₃). Experiments were conducted in each of three years considered as repeated units in a repeated measurement design. Fruit and total oil yields of olive increased about three times in highest irrigation and fertilization combination compared to rainfed and unfertilized treatments. The fruit and oil yield increased from 11.46 and 2.78 kg/tree (T₀F₀) to 30.07 and 7.12 kg/tree (T₁₀₀F ₃), respectively. Mean fruit weight (from 2.87 to up to 4.24 g) and pulp stone ratio (from 3.68 to up to 5.60) also increased with additional water as P and K applied during flowering and endocarp hardening stages, respectively. Fertilization treatments had little effect on fatty acid compositions while additional irrigation resulted in increased palmitic and linoleic acid and decreased oleic acid content. Monounsaturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio was also decreased with irrigation supplements.

Key words: Olea europaea L., fertigation, fruit yield and quality.

International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of the roles of irrigation farming in the millennium development goals

Dauda, T. O.^1*_, Asiribo O. E.², Akinbode, S. O.³, Saka, J. O.¹ and Salahu, B. F.¹

¹Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (Obafemi Awolowo University), P. M. B. 5029, Moor Plantation, Ibadan., Nigeria.

²Statistics Department, University of Agriculture, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, P. M. B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 September, 2015

Abstract

Irrigation farming has increased in Nigeria in the recent times. The possible reason for this is the increased awareness from the Fadama project jointly funded by World Bank, Federal Government and State Governments. This work was carried out to assess the income generating potential of irrigation farming which may reduce poverty and hunger and directly achieve an important aspect of the Millennium Development Goals. The study which was conducted between October 2005 and April 2006 covered towns and villages within the South Western region of Nigeria using data collected from a sample of four hundreds and fifty Fadama (irrigation) farmers. Structured questionnaires were administered to irrigation farmers in selected towns of two randomly selected Local Governments of two selected states (Oyo and Ogun States). The result of the study showed that irrigation farming is a profitable venture. Farmers realized an average net income (profit) of N109, 750 from irrigation farming for the period. Furthermore, irrigation farming was found to be capable of alleviating poverty among farming households because they were able to live above US $1/day/person which is the threshold for poverty level. Hence irrigation farming can be used to achieve the MDG of reducing poverty and hunger. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression showed that farm size, years of irrigation experience, seed, labour and fertilizer were found to have significant effects on profit realized from irrigation farming. Major crops grown are vegetables (such as Okra, Chocorus olitorus, Telferia spp and Amaranthus).

Key words: Irrigation, farming, millennium development goal, poverty, Fadama.

Key words: Apple, Braeburn, irrigation, lipids, sugars.