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Evaluating furrow irrigation techniques and grass mulch on irrigated onion using statistical tools and Hydrus-1D, North Western Ethiopia

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify most effective irrigation water management technique to improve yield and water productivity of onion. A combination of 3 furrow irrigation techniques, including every furrow irrigation (EFI), alternate furrow irrigation (AFI), and fixed furrow irrigation (FFI) and 2 mulch levels (grass mulch and non-mulch), was used in a factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. The effects of irrigation techniques and mulch on yield, yield components, water productivity, and water balance were investigated. SAS software was used for statistical analysis to investigate effects of treatments on yield and yield components. Hydrus1-D was used to simulate the soil water balance. The main and interaction effects of irrigation techniques and mulch were significant on yield, yield components, and irrigation water productivity (IWP) and on the soil water content. The maximum onion bulb yield of 29 ton/ha was recorded at EFI with mulch. The second highest bulb yield was found by AFI and FFI under mulch which was statically similar to the EFI without mulch. The minimum bulb yield of 20 ton/ha was obtained under FFI without mulch. The maximum IWP was found at AFI with mulch which was higher by 43.6% than EFI without mulch. AFI with mulch is recommended for optimum yield at maximum IWP and save water to cultivate additional land during dry season when available water is limited and land is idle. In the conditions where water availability is not limited, irrigation application should be done by EFI with mulch to maximize yield.

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All the data and information generated from this study and provided by the authors in this submission can be openly available after being accepted and published by the journal rules. Available data in this submission include; data that support the findings of this study and derived from public domain sources (reference list), findings of this study including figures and tables.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (BiT) Soil Laboratory experts. We are also thankful to Amhara design and supervision works soil laboratory officials and experts, Ethiopia.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) in Collaboration with Bahir Dar University, Institute of Technology (BiT) and Assosa University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agriculture and Natural Resource College, Assosa University, Asosa, Ethiopia

    Fetlework Tilahun & Mastewal Mekuriaw

  2. Civil & Water Res. Eng. Faculty, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Abebech Abera & Hilary Inyang

  3. Blue Nile Water Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Abebech Abera

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  1. Fetlework Tilahun
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  2. Abebech Abera
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  3. Hilary Inyang
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Correspondence to Abebech Abera.

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Tilahun, F., Abera, A., Inyang, H. et al. Evaluating furrow irrigation techniques and grass mulch on irrigated onion using statistical tools and Hydrus-1D, North Western Ethiopia. Arab J Geosci 16, 77 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-11161-8

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