Determining the Optimum Decision Variables and Rescheduling the Irrigation System of Tendaho Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

Abstract

Irrigation scheduling, flow rate and cut-off time are the three field irrigation variables currently affecting irrigation performance of Tendaho Sugar estate (Northeast of Ethiopia). As result, the study was initiated with the objective of improving existing irrigation scheduling and determining significant decision variables (flow rate and cut-off time). The long year’s climatic data were collected and analyzed by CROPWAT8.0 software to calculation of the right amount of water needed for the irrigation of crop fields, and soil samples were collected from representative cane fields to analyze soil characteristics. Parshall flumes were used to measure inflow rates at each field. The results of irrigation scheduling have showed slighter irrigation intervals than existing intervals. Therefore, to improvement of irrigation scheduling have proposed based on soil, crop ages and climatic casus of the area. Besides, the inflow rate and cut-off time of two major soils of study area were proposed to be 5 liters per second and 45 minute for 100 meter length of furrows as best decision variables of the sugar estate. Finally, the author trusts the right combination of these critical variables will help the sugar estate to overcome its existing irrigation problems, and result in better field water application and field conditions.