OPTIMUM IRRIGATION SCHEDULES FOR TOMATO PRODUCTION UNDER FADAMA CONDITIONS IN THE GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
OPTIMUM IRRIGATION SCHEDULES FOR TOMATO PRODUCTION UNDER FADAMA CONDITIONS IN THE GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
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Date
2014-12
Authors
ABUBAKAR, Sunusi,
Amin.
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Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the optimum irrigation schedules for tomato
production under fadama conditions in Guinea Savannah region. The experiment consisted
of five (5) levels of soil moisture replacement (100%, 80%, 60%, 50% and 40%) and three
(3) levels of irrigation interval (3 days, 5 days and 7 days). The treatments were replicated
three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Water applied to each basin was
measured using cutthroat flume. The soil moisture depletion was monitored using a
gypsum block (watermark sensor). The crop was harvested at maturity and the weight of
the product measured to determine the yield in tons per hectare. The yield obtained ranged
from 10.90t/ha to 28.22t/ha. The least yield was obtained from the treatment with 40%
replacement and 7 day irrigation interval, while the highest yield was obtained from the
treatment with 60% replacement and 5 day irrigation interval. The highest crop water use
efficiency (CWUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were 68.33 kg/ha-mm and
54.60kg/ha-mm at 60% level of replacement. The least CWUE and IWUE were
35.58kg/ha-mm and 28.23kg/ha-mm both at 100% replacement. An economic analysis
employed to determine the optimum irrigation schedule revealed that the optimum
irrigation intervals for 100%, 80%, 60%, 50% and 40% replacements were respectively
10days, 10days, 11days, 12 days and 19days. The optimum irrigation amount for the
season were 759mm, 633mm, 450mm, 405mm and 315mm for 100%, 80%, 60%, 50% and
40% replacements, respectively. It is concluded that irrigation that replaces 60% of
moisture depleted every 5 days gives better results in terms of yield and water use
efficiencies. However for maximum economic return, the optimum irrigation schedules
observed in this study could be used,
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
MASTERS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING,
Keywords
OPTIMUM,, IRRIGATION,, SCHEDULES,, TOMATO,, PRODUCTION,, UNDER,, FADAMA,, CONDITIONS,, GUINEA,, SAVANNAH REGION,, NIGERIA.