Research Article
Comparative Analysis of Furrow Irrigation Systems for Garlic Cultivation in Central Ethiopia, Tiyo Distinct
Abu Dedo Ilmi*
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
1-7
Received:
20 March 2025
Accepted:
7 April 2025
Published:
28 April 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.reports.20250501.11
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Abstract: This study presents a comparative evaluation of three furrow irrigation systems—Conventional Furrow Irrigation (CFI), Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI), and Fixed Furrow Irrigation (FFI)—for garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivation in the Tiyo District of Central Ethiopia. The objective was to assess their impact on garlic growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic viability under water-limited conditions. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Each system was tested under four irrigation levels based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 100%, 85%, 70%, and 55%. the results revealed that while CFI produced the highest yield (9.86 q/ha), AFI achieved a comparable yield (8.27 q/ha) with only 50% of the water used in CFI (246.3 mm vs. 492.5 mm), resulting in superior WUE values—58.77 kg/mm for crop water use efficiency (CWUE) and 44.07 kg/mm for irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). FFI, on the other hand, underperformed across most parameters due to uneven water distribution. Economically, AFI recorded the highest benefit-cost ratio (BCR = 1.79) and demonstrated the potential to save 28,567 m³/ha of water, which could be used to expand irrigation to an additional 15.12 hectares. the findings highlight AFI as a water-saving and economically viable alternative for garlic production in semi-arid regions. The study recommends the adoption of AFI as a sustainable irrigation strategy to enhance water productivity, reduce operational costs, and support agricultural resilience in water-scarce areas.
Abstract: This study presents a comparative evaluation of three furrow irrigation systems—Conventional Furrow Irrigation (CFI), Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI), and Fixed Furrow Irrigation (FFI)—for garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivation in the Tiyo District of Central Ethiopia. The objective was to assess their impact on garlic growth, yield, water use ef...
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