Vol. 9(1), pp. 37-43, January 2021
DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2020.795
Copy�right 2021
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-7874
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/ARJASR/Index.htm
 

Research paper

Irrigation scheduling and water use efficiency for onion production in Kulumsa, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

 

Mehiret Hone*¹, Samuel Lindi², Bakasho Iticha³ and Kassu Tadese^4,

 

*Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 489, Kulumsa, Ethiopia.

Corresponding author's email: mehireth1221@gmail.com

 

Accepted 29 October 2020

Abstract

 

The response of onion to irrigation regime was evaluated at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Arsi zone, Ethiopia, for 3 consecutive years from 2015/16 to 2017/18. Five treatments based on the level of soil moisture depletion (60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of Available Soil Moisture Depletion Level (ASMDL)) were evaluated on yield, yield components, and water productivity of onion. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Results demonstrated that irrigating onion at soil moisture depletion levels from 60 to 140% of the FAO recommendation significantly influenced the biomass yield, but had no significant effect on plant height, bulb diameter, bulb yield, and water productivity of onion. Higher bulb yield, biomass yield, and water productivity of 29,926 kg ha-1, 8,770 kg ha-1 and 5.34 kg m-3, respectively were attained at 80% of ASMDL. The general tendency demonstrated that the bulb yield and water productivity of onion decreased with increasing soil moisture depletion level from 80 to 140% of ASMDL. Irrigating onion at 120% ASMDL provided the highest economic return of 89.23 birr per every unit birr investment on labor for irrigation. Given the enhanced economic return, prolonged irrigation frequency, and non-significant yield and water productivity of onion compared to 80% of ASMDL, irrigating onion at 120% of ASMDL has been recommended for the study area and other areas with similar agro-ecologies for irrigated onion production.

Keywords: Onion bulb yield, irrigation scheduling, onion, soil moisture depletion and water productivity
 

How to cite this article (APA Style): Mehiret, H., Samuel, L., Bakasho, I., Kassu, T. (2021). Irrigation scheduling and water productivity for onion production in Kulumsa, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 9(1): 37-43