ESTIMATION OF SOIL WETTING PATTERN USING DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES IN CONJUCTION WITH SUPER ABSORBENT POLYMER

Abstract

The design and management of irrigation systems require soil water movement and distribution knowledge. Finding the actual ability of drip irrigation to supply sufficient water uniformly and timely requires optimizing the operational management parameters. The objective of the study was to estimate the water distribution pattern with drip irrigation under different irrigation frequencies, durations and Belsap super absorbent polymer. A factorial experimental design layout of drip irrigation system was set up in Noiwet, Mogotio Sub County, Baringo County. The same quantity of water with three irrigation frequencies were applied once daily, after two days and three days and three durations which were full, half and a third the irrigation time. The total number of treatments were 18 with three replications making a total of 54 experiments. The wetted depths and widths of the soil were measured directly in the field using a ruler immediately after irrigation. ANOVA statistical analysis was carried out to determine the significance of the treatments on the soil wetting pattern of the clay soil. The results from the study revealed that the super absorbent polymer had no effect on the soil wetting pattern while the decrease in the irrigation frequency and increase in irrigation duration led to an enlargement in both the diameter and depth of the soil wetted zone. Information on depths and widths of wetted zone of soil under drip irrigation have a great significance in the design and management of drip irrigation system for delivering required quantity of water and chemicals to plants.