EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF ALTERNATE FURROW IRRIGATION ON YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF POTATO

Abstract

The objective of water management in irrigation is to provide suitable moisture environment to crop to obtain maximum yield with high water use efficiency. The increasing world wide shortage of water resources requires the optimization of irrigation management in order to improve crop water use efficiency. This paper evaluates the effect of partial root zone drying (PRD) on yield and water use efficiency of potato. The analysis was based on Agronomic parameters (plant growth and yield related data) and soil moisture which were collected during four months (January 2007-April 2007) of field work at a place near Adet Agricultural Research Center in Amhara Region. The analysis was performed using statistical software, MSTATC. Appropriate standard errors of the means (SE) and least significant differences (LSDs) at P = 0.01 and P = 0.05 were calculated. The response of each agronomic parameter to three watering levels (100%, 75% and 50% of the required amount) and three furrow water application methods (conventional (CFI), fixed (FFI) and alternate furrow irrigation (AFI)) and the relative moisture status under each treatment has been evaluated. In terms of yield, fruit size and quality, the maximum yield, tuber weight and ,dry matter content were achieved with PRD treated plots. It was found that as compared to the control (i.e. Conventional furrow irrigation with 100% irrigation requirement level), PRD treated potato plots under half (50 % irrigation requirement level) resulted in 23.6 % yield reduction and better soil moisture status. In addition, the WUE showed an increase from 4.15 kg/m^ (for CFI at 100% Irrigation) to 5.44 kg/m^ (for AFI at 50% irrigation level) which are about 31.1% improvement. In this experiment, up to 41.7% saving was practically achieved by adopting Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI).