Water and Petrol Use Efficiencies of Cabbages and Kales Under Supplemental Irrigation in Kimumu Farm in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Cabbages and Kales grown in Kimumu Scheme in Uasin Gishu County were monitored between November, 2017 and February, 2018 for a period of 90 days. Water was pumped from ponds to the vegetables after transplanting. The amount of petrol, rainfall and water applied together with the yields were measured. The water stress for cabbages during the entire period was 91%. During the head formation stage, the water stress 81%. For kales the water stress started from day 53 to day 90 except for days 55, 60, and 64 after transplanting. The water stress for kales during the entire period was 97%. From mid-season stage, the water stress was 88%. The yield of cabbages and kales were 4.25 tons/ha and 11.8 tons/ha, respectively. The water use efficiencies were 1.4 Kg/ m3 and 3.8 Kg/ m3 for cabbages and kales, respectively. The petrol use efficiencies were 7727 Kg/ m3 and 23 529 Kg/ m3 for cabbages and kales, respectively. The water use efficiency for kales was approximately three times that of cabbages while the petrol efficiency was also around three times. Since kales are more tolerant to water stress, the farmer was advised to grow kales as they perform better in both water and petrol use efficiencies.