A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND IRRIGATION ENGINEERING INSTITUTE OF WATER TECHNOLOGY, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

Abstract

Although there are few pressurized irrigation projects launched in Ethiopia, there is hardly ever any document of research works on the performance evaluation of the executed pressurized irrigation systems. The irrigation system in Kobo-Girana valley is extensively developed into modern drip irrigation using groundwater resources. Therefore, this study was conducted on performance evaluation of Hormat Golina–7 drip irrigation systems. The emitter discharge and soil moisture content were collected directly from three (3) experimental plots but, crops yield data collected from one plots of pieces of land. The hydrological and meteorological data were collected from Sirinka Agricultural Research Center and Kobo Girana Valley Development Program Institute. Performance Evaluation indicators were separately evaluated; such as application efficiency (Ea.), uniformity characteristics like, emission uniformity (EU), emitter flow rate variation due to emitter performance in the field (qvar), coefficient of variation (Cv) and coefficient of uniformity (Uc). The average over all values of the parameters in the scheme were found that Ea. (62.85%), EU (49.28%), Qvar (73.92%), CV (43.80%) and Uc (56.20%), respectively. The outcomes explained that the whole performance level of Hormat Golina – 7 drip irrigation systems is low and poor according to the classification. The previous designed irrigation scheduling and crop water requirement must revised with the existing water availability of the whole scheme in other words the lateral pipes must be changed. In order to improve the efficiency of the scheme, irrigation scheduling has to be made and recommended for the farmers and apply the fertilizer using system fertilizer tanks (fertigation) with skilled man power in the system rather than manual application by hand. Close monitoring should be practiced than completely left the operations for the farmers.