scholarly journals Effect of on-farm water management practices and irrigation water source on soil quality in Central Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1481-1495
Author(s):  
Wendemeneh Demelash ◽  
Ayana Mekonen ◽  
Singh Partap ◽  
Haileslassie Amare
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1549-1558
Author(s):  
Daran R. Rudnick ◽  
Matt Stockton ◽  
Saleh Taghvaeian ◽  
Jason Warren ◽  
Michael D. Dukes ◽  
...  

HIGHLIGHTSUniversity extension has been playing a larger role, serving a larger number of irrigated farms.Extension programs in irrigation water management (IWM) have been transitioning away from lectures and field tours as the primary means of knowledge transfer.New IWM programs focus on experiential learning, development of practitioner networks, and industry participation.Abstract. Promotion and adoption of irrigation water management (IWM) technology, tools, and best management practices are important as water availability concerns are addressed. Traditional extension programs have relied on lecture presentations, field tours, fact sheets, and on-station demonstrations to promote IWM practices and tools. However, these platforms tend not to provide the experience and opportunity for growers to identify and become comfortable with innovative solutions, such as new technology. To address these challenges and to appeal to an ever-changing client base, innovative and locally relevant extension and outreach programs have been devised to engage and educate growers. This article describes some of these programs that extend beyond previous traditional programs to connect growers with IWM. Keywords: Demonstrations, Experiential learning, Grower competition, Outreach, Practitioner networks.


Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Carson Roberts ◽  
Drew M. Gholson ◽  
Nicolas Quintana-Ashwell ◽  
Gurpreet Kaur ◽  
Gurbir Singh ◽  
...  

The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) is being depleted, and practices that improve water stewardship have been developed to reduce drawdown. This study assesses how Mississippi Delta producers changed their perceptions of these practices over time. The analysis employs data from two surveys carried-out in 2012 and 2014 of all Mississippi permittees who held an agricultural well permit drawing from the MRVAA. Focusing on water-saving practices, this study found that producer perception of the usability of flowmeters improved over time. About 80% and 90% more producers growing corn and soybeans, respectively, felt that computerized hole selection was highly efficient. In 2014, 38% of corn and 35% of soybean producers believed that shortened furrow length was a highly efficient practice—up from 21% in corn and 24% in soybean producers in 2012. Approval of irrigation automation, moisture probes, and other irrigation technology rose from 75%of producers in 2012 to 88% by 2014. Favorability toward water-saving practices increased overall between the survey years.


cftm ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 180100 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Spencer ◽  
L. J. Krutz ◽  
L. L. Falconer ◽  
W. B. Henry ◽  
C. G. Henry ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Rahel Deribe Bekele ◽  
Alisher Mirzabaev ◽  
Dawit Mekonnen

Using a household and plot-level survey conducted in 2016/17 in ten districts of Ethiopia, this study explores whether there is a difference in farmers’ adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices between their rainfed and irrigated plots. The paper also investigates the varying influence of different types of irrigation water management systems and associated irrigation technologies on the adoption of SLM practices in irrigated plots. Our findings show only a small difference in the average number of SLM practices between rainfed and irrigated plots, even though significant differences are observed between many of the practices applied individually among these plots. The econometric estimation shows that the role of the combined effect of irrigation water management system and irrigation technology on adoption of SLM practices is quite varied and very significant. The evidence highlights that farmers adopt more SLM practices in their plots with pump irrigation compared to those plots where gravity irrigation is applied. This finding implies that pump irrigation systems enhance complementarities with SLM practices. Furthermore, the results indicate that the type of irrigation water management and the technology applied could play an important role in restoring degraded lands and maintaining soil fertility, even when farmers’ adoption of irrigation were not explicitly triggered by concerns for soil health.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwar A. Adem ◽  
Gashaw G. Addis ◽  
Dessalew W. Aynalem ◽  
Seifu A. Tilahun ◽  
Wolde Mekuria ◽  
...  

Volcanic highlands supply water to 40% of the world’s population. Soil degradation threatens this water supply. Studies on geohydrology that affect the effectiveness of land and water management (LWM) practices in reducing soil degradations are limited. To aid in the effectiveness of LWM practices, we conducted a field experiment in the Gomit watershed in the semihumid Ethiopian Highlands on the interaction of hydrogeology and LWM practices. We found that in a watershed with strongly faulted tertiary basalt, 30% of the rainfall was drained through faults to another basin. Consequently, the discharge at the outlet was less than half of that of other watersheds with quaternary basalts. Despite the high sediment concentration, i.e., around 15 g L−1, in the Gomit watershed, the sediment yield of less than 4 Mg ha−1 a−1 was below average for the agricultural watershed in Ethiopia because of the low runoff response. While some faults facilitated drainage, others acted as a barrier. Groundwater stored behind the barriers was used as a municipal potable water source. Since the effectiveness of LWM practices depends on the amount of erosion that can be prevented, considerations of country-wide prioritizing of investments in land and water management practices should include the geology of the watersheds.


Author(s):  
Mwadini Khatib ◽  
Joy Obando ◽  
Shadrack Murimi

Kiladeda River in Pangani Basin, Tanzania plays a vital role of providing water for agricultural activities of the sub-catchment. However, it is experiencing a problem of inequitable distribution of irrigation water among farmers. Cross-sectional data was collected from farmers both in upstream and downstream using questionnaires, while river discharge measurements were conducted in referenced spot gauging stations. WEAP model was used to analyze water demand and allocation among farmers. Furrow irrigation (94%) and plastic buckets (6%) were the main irrigation water management practices. The model results revealed a water shortage of 46.4% of the total irrigation water required. The annual irrigation water demand and unmet demand were 13.93mm3 and 7.47mm3, respectively, and are both expected to increase twice in 2020. This high water demand for irrigation could be the main cause of excessive water abstraction. A partnering approach is recommended to improve irrigation water management, reviewing of laws, regulations, and water rights.


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