scholarly journals Feasibility study of gravity drip irrigation for small scale farmers

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-187
Author(s):  
Abhishek Mishra ◽  
Arpan Sherring
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Distribution Uniformity ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Set Up

Gravity fed drip irrigation techniques have been used in the small agricultural production as an advanced water saving irrigation method in recent times. However advantageous this method, there are still some difficulties in projecting the efficiency of such systems. Most especially, feasibility study of gravity drip irrigation for small scale farmers is very important in order to set up an efficient irrigation system. This study is focused to test the feasibility of the drip irrigation the experiment was run and Uniformity co-efficient and Distribution uniformity. In the study, the discharge of emitters at 1.0 m and 0.5 m emitter spacing and 1.0 m lateral spacing and for four irrigation durations (15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes) was measured. The results clearly indicates that the selected emitters of 4 LPH rated discharge and 2.0 kg/cm2 pressure when used under gravity drip irrigation and at about 0.5-0.8 kg/cm2 pressure, discharges between 1.8-2.5 LPH. 6. The gravity drip irrigation can meet the water requirement of vegetable crops with acceptable UC and DU and can be a better solution for small scale farmers of the region in order to save the scarce fresh water resources.

scholarly journals Designing an irrigation system using photovoltaic energy by considering crop type in Fergana Valley

2021 ◽  
Vol 304 ◽  
pp. 01004
Author(s):  
Şakir Kuzey ◽  
Cihat Şeker ◽  
Mohamed Elweddad ◽  
M. Tahir Güneşer
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
The People ◽  
Agricultural Water Resources ◽  
Set Up

Today, the importance of energy cost and efficiency is gradually increase. The decrease in drinking water and agricultural water resources, increases the interest in drip irrigation systems in agricultural irrigation. Environmentally friendly photovoltaic drip irrigation systems (PVDIS) are the appropriate solution in regions where there is no electricity distribution network, where it is far away, or where power cuts are frequently. This study is carried out in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. Regional climate data obtained from Climwat 2.0 software are processed in Cropwat 8.0 software. Crops that are both the source of livelihood of the people of the region and that can be used in this study have been determined. Annual and daily water needs are analyzed so that these crops are irrigated every seven days. A system is designed by taking the data of the crop with the highest water requirement as a reference. The drip irrigation system is set up in a PVsyst 7.1.7 simulation environment to pump 114.24 m3 of water daily from a 5-meter-deep river with a 1.8 kW photovoltaic system. The efficiency of the system is 58.7% and the efficiency of the pump is 34.5%. Crop water need is met at the rate of 98.87%. It is predicted that the designed and analyzed PVDIS will provide efficiency in energy and water resources.

scholarly journals Potential and Actual Water Savings through Improved Irrigation Scheduling in Small-Scale Vegetable Production

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Studer ◽  
Simon Spoehel
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Appropriate irrigation scheduling for efficient water use is often a challenge for small-scale farmers using drip irrigation. In a trial with 12 farmers in Sébaco, Nicaragua, two tools to facilitate irrigation scheduling were tested: the Water Chart (a table indicating required irrigation doses) and tensiometers. The study aimed at evaluating if and to what extent simple tools can reduce irrigation water use and improve water productivity in drip-irrigated vegetable (beetroot; Beta vulgaris L.) production compared with the farmers’ usual practice. Irrigation water use was substantially reduced (around 20%) when farmers irrigated according to the tools. However, farmers did not fully adhere to the tool guidance, probably because they feared that their crop would not get sufficient water. Thus they still over-irrigated their crop: between 38% and 88% more water than recommended was used during the treatment period, resulting in 91% to 139% higher water use than required over the entire growing cycle. Water productivity of beetroot production was, therefore, much lower (around 3 kg/m3) than what can be achieved under comparable conditions, although yields were decent. Differences in crop yield and water productivity among treatments were not significant. The simplified Water Chart was not sufficiently understandable to farmers (and technicians), whereas tensiometers were better perceived, although they do not provide any indication on how much water to apply. We conclude that innovations such as drip irrigation or improved irrigation scheduling have to be appropriately introduced, e.g., by taking sufficient time to co-produce a common understanding about the technologies and their possible usefulness, and by ensuring adequate follow-up support.

scholarly journals Effect of Pulse Drip Irrigation Duration on Water Distribution Uniformity

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2276
Author(s):  
David Lozano ◽  
Natividad Ruiz ◽  
Rafael Baeza ◽  
Juana I. Contreras ◽  
Pedro Gavilán
Keyword(s):  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Schedule ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Irrigation Performance ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Distribution Uniformity

Developing an appropriate irrigation schedule is essential in order to save water while at the same time maintaining high crop yields. The standard procedures of the field evaluation of distribution uniformity do not take into account the effects of the filling and emptying phases of the irrigation system. We hypothesized that, in sloping sandy soils, when short drip irrigation pulses are applied it is important to take into account the total water applied from the beginning of irrigation until the emptying of the irrigation system. To compute distribution uniformity, we sought to characterize the filling, stable pressure, and emptying phases of a standard strawberry irrigation system. We found that the shorter the time of the irrigation pulse, the worse the distribution uniformity and the potential application efficiency or zero deficit are. This effect occurs because as the volume of water applied during filling and emptying phases increases, the values of the irrigation performance indicators decrease. Including filling and emptying phases as causes of non-uniformity has practical implications for the management of drip irrigation systems in sloping sandy soils.

scholarly journals The timing of agricultural production in hazard-prone areas to prevent losses at peak-risk periods: A case of Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandri Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Residual Moisture ◽  
Resilient Communities ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Hazard-prone areas in southern Africa experience many natural hazards, which include cyclones, floods and droughts. The severe climatic conditions of southern Africa have an especially large impact on the agricultural practices of small-scale farmers. These hazards should be mitigated to ensure more resilient communities and food security. This study mainly focuses on the timing of agricultural production in hazard-prone areas to prevent losses at peak-risk periods by adapting the agricultural cycle. This study focuses on the agricultural activities of small-scale farmers in Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique. A literature review is presented, and a mixed-method research design were followed to determine the timing of production followed by these small-scale farmers and its impact on production and food security. Although this study found that the small-scale farmers generally plant with the first rains, it is recommended by literature that early planting should be practised to ensure optimal production. It is also recommended that small-scale farmers should implement watermanagement techniques for dry periods, and when farmers practice late planting, the use of residual-moisture retention should be utilised as a mitigation measure. This will in effect ensure that the communities are less vulnerable during peak-risk periods by improving or ensuring food security. Therefore, adapting the planting and production time in these hazardprone areas at peak-risk periods could limit losses and increase communities’ resilience.

scholarly journals Converting from Seepage Irrigation to Plasticulture for Vegetable Production: A Case Study

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles E. Barrett ◽  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Lucas G. Paranhos ◽  
Mark W. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Seepage Irrigation ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Tail Water

This article is intended to provide information to producers and Extension agents that are interested in using drip irrigation for vegetable production. Cabbage production in Florida is dominated by the use of seepage or sub-irrigation. This system has traditionally been used because it is inexpensive to maintain and simple to use. Seepage irrigation works by damming tail water ditches, pumping water into open furrows, and effectively raising the water table to a depth accessible to the crop root system (For more information see EDIS Publication #HS1217). This type of irrigation practice is almost completely unique to Florida and is possible due to the persistence of a shallow, impermeable layer in the soil profile. This system can require vast quantities of water to be pumped from the aquifer in low-rainfall years. Plasticulture, or the use of drip irrigation and plastic mulch, has been proposed as an alternative production method for cabbage production in Florida. An on-farm demonstration was set up to provide a platform for collaboration between researchers, growers, and Extension professionals. The demonstration was located on Greene’s Farms in Bunnell, FL. The goal of the demonstration was to grow high-density cabbage populations using plasticulture side by side with seepage on a commercial farm. Fertilizer and irrigation management was closely matched between systems. The plasticulture system was designed to provide a small-scale installation of this technology for learning and commercial adaptation purposes. This small-scale system has great potential for encouraging adoption of this type of system with low risk to the grower. This article illustrates an innovative approach for converting from seepage irrigation to plasticulture and points out some options and challenges for growers considering a plasticulture system. 

scholarly journals Pollinator-attracting Companion Plantings Increase Crop Yield of Cucumbers and Habanero Peppers

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-169
Author(s):  
John E. Montoya ◽  
Michael A. Arnold ◽  
Juliana Rangel ◽  
Larry R. Stein ◽  
Marco A. Palma
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Multiple Cropping ◽  
Borago Officinalis ◽  
Habanero Pepper ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Companion Plants

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) growers have observed increased crop yield by placing bees in close proximity to these vegetable crops. However, adding managed bees typically may not be feasible for small-scale farmers or homeowners. Limited studies have demonstrated the potential of pollinator-attracting plants to be used as a lure to enhance the visitation of pollinators to adjacent food crops. This study evaluated the potential of adding pollinator-attracting plants in close proximity to cucumber and habanero plants to improve yields by either establishing permanent perennial companion plantings adjacent to the crops or interplanting annual companion plants within the row anew with each crop. The perennial treatment group consisted of Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene, Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC., Salvia farinacea Benth. ‘Henry Duelberg’, and Eysenhardtia texana Scheele. The annual treatment group consisted of Cosmos bipinnatus Cav., Zinnia ×marylandica D.M. Spooner, Stimart, & T. Boyle, Borago officinalis L., and Ocimum basilicum L. Multiple cropping cycles were initiated using both spring and fall seasons, and yield was assessed for three successive cropping cycles. Fruit quality was unaffected by pollinator-attracting companion plantings; however total and marketable yields were impacted. Cucumber yields were significantly (P < 0.05) greater during fall harvests with annual companion plantings and with the second fall harvest in perennial companion plant plots. Perennial companion plots initially yielded less than control plots or annual companion plots due to the space allocated to the companion plantings and the fewer pollinators initially attracted to the plots compared with the annual companion plantings. When the perennial plots became more established, they resulted in similar yields as the annual companion planting plots. Although habanero yields were increased by annual companion plantings in spring and fall, cucumbers were unaffected by companion plantings in spring. This suggests a potential seasonality for the efficacy of some pollinator-attracting companion plantings for a given crop that could offer an opportunity to tailor companion plantings to attract specific pollinators at different times of the year.

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