Drip Irrigation System Research Articles

Impact of Irrigation Systems Use in Agriculture Farming in Rwanda: A Case Study of Kagitumba, Nasho and Muyanza Schemes.

Agriculture remains an important economic sector in many developing countries. It is a source of growth and a potential source of investment opportunities for the private sector. Irrigation, therefore, currently plays a less significant role in African agriculture compared to other regions, as Africa’s irrigated cultivated land is much lower than the world average. This research study investigated the impact of irrigation system use in agriculture farming in Rwanda. A multi-stage sampling method was employed, whereby the Nyagatare, Kirehe and Rulindo districts, and three irrigation schemes such as Kagitumba, Nasho and Muyanza were first purposely selected. Finally, a simple random sampling was used to obtain a total sample size of 240 maize farming households, within these three irrigation schemes. The findings indicated that land size was significantly and positively associated with the water pump use. The water pump and sprinkler irrigation system use and farm income were significantly and positively correlated. The water user’s association’s membership and the water pumper drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were significantly and positively correlated. The findings of this research revealed that factors namely family size, education level, fertilizers, irrigation system, farming experience are statistically significant to influence productivity of maize crops at these irrigation schemes. In addition, the results of cost benefit and margin analysis indicated that the Net Farm Income (NFI) per ha at Nasho schme site was largest followed by Kagitumba and Muyanza scheme site was the lowest. However, the benefit cost ratio was the highest (2.3) at Kagitumba site, suggesting that one-dollar of investment at Kagitumba irrigation scheme generates 2.3 dollars of revenue. Some factors in this study were statistically and significant to influence the farmers’ willingness to pay for irrigation water in study areas. After the findings, the researcher suggested that farmers should be encouraged to better use agricultural inputs, high attention should be made on infrastructures in order to sustain and maintain them in long run, farmers should be encouraged to pay for irrigation water, public and private sector should increase investment and expand the drip and sprinkler irrigation system where possible in country.

AquaCrop Model Validation for Simulating Biomass and Water Productivity Under Climate Change for Potatoes

Effective crop development modelling is essential for crop management, water resource planning, assessing climate change's influence on agricultural production, and yield prediction. Validation and simulation of the measured data indicated that AquaCrop software is an effective and reliable program for designing pressurized irrigation systems to increase water application efficiency, system performance and the future prediction. The AquaCrop model was evaluated through a solid-set sprinkler and surface drip irrigation systems at 100%, 80%, and 60% of evapotranspiration (ETo) for the potato crop. The AquaCrop model has shown better performance to simulate potato growth and predicting crop variables under various water systems. The surface drip-irrigation system's at 80% of ETo (48.00, 8.05 ton ha-1) Yield had a substantial impact on the yield of potato and water productivity (WP), matching the yield of potatoes that was irrigated with solid-set sprinklers at 100% of ETo (37.39, 7.19 ton ha-1), with 20% water savings. Attributes of potatoes (canopy cover, biomass, potato crop factor (Kc), and water productivity) were affected by increasing water deficit. The simulated of AquaCrop model was a little higher than observed at 80% of ETo treatment, but still has a similar deviation, and it was slightly lower than seen for 60% of ETo treatment at the mid-season. The AquaCrop model predicted the yield of potatoes and biomass correctly when irrigation is adequate. The results indicated that there may be some changes in AquaCrop model simulation operations over future years based on the climate and irrigation method.

Study of Wetting Pattern on Drip Irrigation

Abstract: There is global consensus on food security challenge and increasing crop production to meet the demand across globe. Population growth, increasing water stress and climate variability, stresses on finding ways of getting more crop to meet our food needs, approach. One solution to this problem is the use of drip irrigation system which improves profitably by increasing crop yield and quality while reducing costs from water, energy, labour, chemical inputs and water runoff. The experiment was conducted in the Gangapada farm, Khordha, Odisha. The actual discharge of the dripper having theoretical capacity 8lph was measured and the result varied in the range of 6.8 - 8.15lph. The wetting pattern also measured by constructing three Bed having size 2.6 × 2 × 1 ft. The average wetting pattern was found of are 43.5, 36.3, 26, 12.0 cm at the depth of 0,10,20,30,40 cm respectively. The moisture content was also measured at different depth to study the variation at different depth using 8lph dripper

Efficacy of two drip irrigation systems for the live fence of Parkinsonia aculeata linnaeus, in the Pantanos de Villa wildlife refuge, Lima, Peru

Efficacy of two drip irrigation systems for the live fence of Parkinsonia aculeata linnaeus, in the Pantanos de Villa wildlife refuge, Lima, Peru

EFFECT OF LENGTHANDDEPTHOF THEDRIPTAPEON WETTING FRONT ADVANCE IN THE ROOT ZONE OF SUNFLOWR USING HYDRUS 2D/3D PROGRAM

A field experiment was carried out during the spring season 2020 at the University of Baghdad to study the effect of the length and depth of the drip tape on wetting advance ofsubsurface drip irrigation system using Hydrus 2D/3D program. The site was planted with sunflower in a clay loam texture. The drip tape was installed at 0.3m below soil surfacein two lengths; 20m and 40m. The experiment was designed according to the arrangement of split plotsdesign and with three replications. The treatments were randomly distributed and planted with sunflower crop. The results showed that the moisture contents of the 20 mlength drip tape was higher compared with the 40 m drip tape length. Also, the length of the tape was superior in some components of the yield if the length of the drip tape exceeded 20 m in the character of the number of seeds in one disc, and the result was a significant superiority.

Prevalence and Characterization of Legionella pneumophila and Related Species from Water-Based Recreational Sites

Abstract Background and Objectives Legionella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria common in soil and aquatic systems and is associated with protists. They have emerged as a pathogenic group due to the increased use and poor maintenance of artificial water environments. This study aims at phenotypic and molecular identification of Legionella in water and swab samples collected from water-based recreational sites. The biofilm-forming ability of Legionella on exposure to various temperatures and iron concentrations was also studied. Methods A total of 60 samples including 30 swab samples and 30 water samples (decorative fountain ponds, swimming pools, garden sprinklers, drip irrigation system) were collected from in and around Mangalore, Karnataka, India. From each source, swab and water samples were collected as per the Indian standard IS: 1622. The collected samples were processed within 4 hours of collection. The samples were subjected to microbiological and chemical estimation followed by filtration through a 0.2 µm membrane filter. Isolation of Legionella from collected samples was performed as per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines 2005. The positive isolates were then checked for biofilm-forming ability at various temperatures (25°C, 35°C, and 45°C) and iron concentration (3 mg/L, 30 mg/L, and 300 mg/L) using crystal violet assay. Results Out of 30, water and swab samples tested, one water sample from a garden sprinkler, swimming pool, and one from both water and swab samples from a decorative fountain showed the presence of Legionella. A biofilm study of Legionella at various temperatures and iron concentrations categorized the bacteria as a moderate biofilm former. Conclusion This study revealed that most of the water and swab samples were found to be negative for Legionella that is quite encouraging and the contamination of water systems in recreational facilities can be reduced by decontamination techniques and proper hygienic practices.

Effect of Different Irrigation Levels and Mulching Methods on Performance of Organically Cultivated and Drip Irrigated Papaya

An experiment was conducted at research field of Deendayal Upadhyay Centre of Excellence for Organic Farming, CCS HAU, Hisar during the year 2021-22 to study the effect of different irrigation levels and mulching methods on performance of organically cultivated and drip irrigated papaya. The experiment comprised of nine treatments three different irrigation levels viz. 50%, 75% and 100% of crop water requirement and three mulching methods. The results showed that the plant height (238 cm), stem girth (45.93 cm), crown diameter (242.67 cm), number of fruits (42.33), yield per plant (53.80 kg) and total yield (134.50 t ha-1) were observed maximum for meeting 100% of crop water requirement with the application of straw mulch and minimum for meeting 50% of crop water requirement without mulch condition. The soil moisture was found maximum for meeting 100% of crop water requirement with the application of plastic mulch minimum for meeting 50 % of crop water requirement without mulch condition. From the results, it is also observed that the irrigation water use efficiency (59.02 kg m-3) was found maximum for meeting 50 % of crop water requirement with straw mulch and minimum (42.64 kg m-3) for meeting 100% of crop water requirement without mulch under drip irrigation system.

Biogas slurry topdressing as replacement of chemical fertilizers reduces leaf senescence of maize by up-regulating tolerance mechanisms

Worldwide physiological research has aimed to decelerate the aging of crop leaves by optimizing fertilization measures to improve crop or biomass yield. Solid organic fertilizers can be combined with chemical fertilizers to delay the aging of crop leaves. Biogas slurry is a liquid organic fertilizer produced by the anaerobic fermentation of livestock and poultry manure and other resources, and it can partially replace chemical fertilizers in field application via drip irrigation systems. However, the impact of biogas slurry topdressing on leaf aging remains unclear. This study investigated treatments with no topdressing (control, CK) and five topdressing patterns of biogas slurry replacing chemical fertilizer (nitrogen) at 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% (100%BS, 75%BS, 50%BS, 25%BS, CF). The effects of different proportions of biogas slurry on leaf senescence rate, photosynthetic pigments, osmotic adjustment substances, antioxidant defense enzymes, and nitrogen metabolism related enzyme activities of maize were analyzed. Subsequently, the mechanisms of biogas slurry topdressing on the leaf senescence rate of maize were explored. The results showed that the mean decreasing rate of relative green leaf area (Vm) treated with biogas slurry decreased by 3.7%–17.1% and the duration of leaf area duration (LAD) increased by 3.7%−17.1% compared with the results for CK. The maximum senescence rate of 100%BS was delayed by 4.4 and 5.6 d compared to the results for CF and CK, respectively. During the senescence of maize leaves, the use of biogas slurry topdressing increased the content of chlorophyll, decreased the water loss and the accumulation rate of malondialdehyde and proline in leaves, and increased the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the later growth and development periods of maize. In addition, biogas slurry topdressing improved the nitrogen transport efficiency of the leaves and ensured continuous and efficient ammonium assimilation. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between leaf senescence and the investigated physiological indices. Cluster analysis showed that the 100%BS treatment exhibited the most prominent effect on leaf senescence. Biogas slurry topdressing as a substitute for chemical fertilizer can be potentially used as an anti-aging regulation measure for crops to decrease the damage induced by senescence.

DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREST NURSERY

In order to use drip irrigation in forest nurseries, the possibility of additional key nodes of the drip irrigation system of the school branch of the nursery was considered in order to improve the quality and efficiency of irrigation, as well as reduce the cost of fertilizers and maintenance of the irrigation system.Improving the drip irrigation system with an additional key unit (tank + fertilizers, nutrient mixtures) will reduce the time and consumption of fertilizers and nutrients for the growth and development of balsamic poplar planting material.

Growth Dynamics and Yield of Cotton-Wheat in Relation to Nutrient Use and Irrigation Regimes under Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation System

Growth Dynamics and Yield of Cotton-Wheat in Relation to Nutrient Use and Irrigation Regimes under Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation System

Performance evaluation of drip irrigation system using two types of irrigation water

Performance evaluation of drip irrigation system using two types of irrigation water

Yield and water productivity of rice grown under different irrigation methods

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate the suitability of subsurface and surface drip irrigation methods in rice farming. The field studies were carried out in split plots in randomized blocks trial design, with three repetitions during 2019 and 2020 in Thrace Region/Türkiye. Irrigation methods, surface drip (DI), subsurface drip (SDI) and conventional flooding (CF) were the main treatments; however, water amounts (I1: Class A-pan evaporation rate × 1.00, I2: Class A-pan evaporation rate × 1.25, I3: Class A-pan evaporation rate × 1.50) were designed as sub-treatments of the study. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that, the rice grain yield was significantly (P < 0.01) affected by the amount of the irrigation water. According to the results; while two different drip irrigation methods did not make a difference to yield and yield components, the difference between drip irrigation and CF was significant (P < 0.01). While the grain yields reached 10.3 and 8.70 t/ha under conditions of CF control during 2019 and 2020, the highest yield values obtained from plots with drip irrigation system and the highest Class A-pan evaporation rate x pan coefficient of 1.50 were 8.10 and 6.90 t/ha during the same two study years, respectively. However, much more effective use of water was observed under conditions of drip system application providing approximately 60–70% water saving v. 20–25% yield loss. In addition, economic analysis results indicated a higher relative profit rate of 1.66 in the case of drip irrigation than 1.41 under CF application.

Effect of Irrigation with Treated Wastewater on Squash Yields, Soil Chemical and Microbial Properties

n this study, the effects of irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) on soil chemical, microbiological, and yield of squash were investigated. Squash seedlings (Cucurbita pepo) were irrigated using conventional irrigation water (CIW), treated wastewater (TWW), and blended irrigation water (BIW). The drip irrigation system was used to irrigate Squash with CIW, TWW, and BIW. The concentration of all chemical and microbial irrigation water characteristics was falling within the limits of Jordanian standards (JS893/2021), except for turbidity and boron. Pathogens indicators such as Salmonella, and Helminth eggs were not found in TWW. TWW-irrigated plots had significant differences in electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Total coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) contents increased significantly within TWW-irrigated plots. Squash’s fresh yield weight irrigated with TWW showed no significant difference compared with CIW. TWW and BIW treatments had a tendency toward lower fruit numbers than CIW. E. coli was not significantly different on the surface of squash fruits, while Total coliform increased significantly for fruits within the TWW-irrigated plots.

Mechanism Analysis of the Influence of Structural Parameters on the Hydraulic Performance of the Novel Y-Shaped Emitter

As a key component of a drip irrigation system, the performance of drip irrigation emitters is determined by the flow channel structures and parameters. In this paper, a novel Y-shaped labyrinth-channel emitter was proposed, and the influence of the hydraulic performance was researched under different waist-arc angles (α) and ratios of crown height to chord length (a:b). The flow characteristics and energy dissipation mechanisms of water in the emitter were analyzed by using fluid dynamics software. The analysis showed that, keeping the ratio of crown height to chord length unchanged and with an increase in the waist-arc angle from 90° to 180°, the pressure-drop ratio before and after the water flow through the vortex area increased, and the hydraulic performance of the emitter was improved, specifically: the design flow could be reduced by 6.02–26.7%, and the slope of the curve could be reduced by 9.83–28.1%. The smaller the ratio of crown height to chord length, the weaker the influence of waist-arc angle was on the design flow and hydraulic performance. Keeping the waist-arc angle unchanged, there was a decrease in the ratio of crown height to chord length from 6:30 to 1:30, the vortex strength inside the emitter channel increased, and the hydraulic performance was improved: the design flow could be reduced by 7.56–23.5%, and the slope of the curve could be reduced by 5.43–20.5%. The bigger the waist-arc angle, the weaker the influence of the ratio of crown height to chord length was on the design flow and the hydraulic performance, even to the point of having no effect. When the Y-shaped emitter was close to the pressure-flow curve slope of the commonly-used triangular-channel emitter, the hydraulic performance of the two was similar, and the former could increase the channel width by 25%, as compared to the latter, or shorten the channel length by 44.3%. The results showed that the Y-shaped emitter had better hydraulic performance compared with the triangular-flow-channel emitter commonly used today. Therefore, the Y-shaped emitter has broad application prospects in water-saving irrigation.

Optimization of Water Management for Green Pepper Production in a Water-Limiting Tropical Savanna Agroecological Zone Based on Crop Water Productivity

This study aimed to determine the optimum levels of irrigation regime and irrigation schedule based on crop water productivity for the sustainable production of green pepper in a water-limiting tropical savannah agroecological zone. The study was conducted at the Hydro Farm of MotorKing Company Limited in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region, Ghana. The experimental design was a 2 × 3 factorial experiment laid out in a randomized complete block and replicated five times. Irrigation schedule at two levels (one-time daily application and split daily application at 60% morning and 40% evening) and irrigation regime at three levels (100% ETc, 80% ETc, and 60% ETc) were the factors. The “Yolo Wonder” variety of green pepper was the test crop. The crop was planted at a planting distance of 0.3 m within rows and 0.5 m between rows. Treatments were applied using a drip irrigation system. Crop water requirements (ETc) of green pepper were estimated using the CROPWAT model. Crop yield and water applied under each treatment were determined. Crop yield was measured at harvest as the total weight of fruits per hectare. Crop water productivity was determined under each treatment as crop yield per unit of water consumed. Data analysis was done in Genstat (12th edition). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s multiple range test at 5% level of significance were employed to separate differences in treatment means. The results suggest that both irrigation regime and irrigation schedule have significant influence on the yield and crop water productivity of green pepper. Irrigating at 60% ETc and split irrigation (60% morning and 40% evening) gave significantly higher yields and crop water productivity compared to the other levels of the factors. This study demonstrated that irrigation schedule and irrigation regime are important factors to consider in the optimization of water management for green pepper; however, further research is needed to identify the optimal levels of these factors and the most effective irrigation strategies for the crop in different environments.

Water and Carbon Footprints of Biomass Production Assets: Drip and Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

Studies on the environmental footprints of agricultural production have strong links with 4 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) established by the United Nations. Irrigation systems are essential tools for increasing agricultural yields, particularly in arid regions. However, the production and assembly of these systems can have significant environmental impacts, including excessive water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Although studies have approached biomass production, few of them have provided data about asset depreciation, such as irrigation systems, machinery, etc. Trying to fill this gap, this study aimed at determining the water and carbon footprints of two commonly used irrigation systems: center pivot and drip. Several variables, including the irrigated area, pump power, filter type, system flow, and pipe length, were analyzed to determine the carbon and water footprints of each component of the irrigation systems. The results reveal that the materials used for pipes and filters had the most significant impact on the water and carbon footprints, with galvanized steel pipes and sand filters having the highest footprints. Additionally, the irrigated area affected the center pivot and drip systems differently, with the depreciation of the irrigation systems being a significant variable for both water and carbon footprints. These results can support the development of sustainable irrigation practices that reduce environmental impacts while enhancing agricultural yields. Decision-makers can use this information to establish a life-cycle database and evaluate the impact of irrigation systems on water and carbon footprints.

Influence of microclimate control on the growth of asparagus under greenhouse in tropical climates.

High temperatures have become common in cities in Taiwan, and this phenomenon has spread to surrounding agricultural areas. Tainan, a city located in a tropical climate zone with agriculture as its primary development industry, is one of the cities considerably affected by the high temperature. High temperatures can reduce crop yields and even cause plant death, especially for vulnerable high-value crops, which are severely to microclimate conditions. Asparagus is a high-value crop that has long been cultivated in the Jiangjun District of Tainan. Recently, asparagus has been planted in greenhouses to protect against pests and natural disasters. However, the greenhouses can overheat. To identify the optimal growth environment for asparagus, this study applies vertical monitoring to record the temperature in the greenhouse and the soil moisture content of a control (canal irrigation) and an experimental (drip irrigation) group. When the surface layer of the soil exceeds 33°C, the tender stems of asparagus bloom readily, reducing its commercial value. Therefore, drip irrigation was conducted with cool water (26°C) to reduce soil temperature in summer and warm water (28°C) to increase soil temperature in winter. The study also recorded the growth of asparagus using daily yields measured by farmers during weighing and packing to understand the benefits of controlling the greenhouse microclimate. This study reports a correlation of 0.85 between asparagus yield and temperature and a correlation of 0.86 between asparagus yield and soil moisture content. The use of a drip irrigation system with a water temperature adjustment function not only saves up to 50% of water but also resulted in an average yield increase of 10% through maintaining stable soil moisture content and temperature. Therefore, the findings of this study can be applied to asparagus yields affected by high temperature and can solve the problems of poor quality in summer and low yield in winter.

Assessing combined effects of biochar concentrations and different fertilizer applications on physicochemical properties of a sandy loamy soil

Biochar application in the soil is a major strategy for modifying or improving its physicochemical properties, while soil fertility can be boosted by fertilizer application. The process of soil amendment was explored to investigate the impact of combined biochar and fertilizer treatments on soil properties and yield of New Rice for Africa (NERICA 2) upland rice variety. A Randomized Complete Block Design experiment was conducted using three different fertilizer types, three different biochar concentrations, and two sets of control each, with zero biochar and zero fertilizer. The biochar levels were 0 t/ha, 5 t/ha, 10 t/ha, and 15 t/ha, while the fertilizer types were zero fertilizer, liquid organic fertilizer (LOF), solid fertilizer (NPK), and farmyard poultry manure (PM). A drip irrigation system with the completed layout captured the entire set-up, while soil properties were measured before soil treatment, post-season 1, and post-season 2. A significant increase in particle density from 3 3 3 3 2.51 g/cm3 to 2.56 g/cm3 was recorded while bulk density decreased from 1.42 g/cm3 to 1.41 g/cm3 , and soil textural classification remained relatively unchanged. Organic carbon, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation increased from their respective pre-treatment values. Also, soil pH improved significantly from 6.38 to 6.37. There was a better improvement in soil properties, which resulted in increased paddy rice yield with an average value of 6.36 t/ha obtained using NPK with a biochar concentration of 15 t/ha (NPKB15) treatment. This is an equivalent of approximately 400% increase in yield compared to the zero fertilizer and zero biochar (FOBO) treatment yield of 1.14 t/ha. NPK fertilizer at a biochar concentration of 15 t/ha, gave the best result in the soil's physical and chemical properties and is recommended for rice production.

Optimizing Organic Carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus) Yield and Quality Using Fish Emulsions, Cyanobacterial Fertilizer, and Seaweed Extracts

Liquid fertilizers are often used in the middle of the growing season in an attempt to enhance organic carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus) yield and quality, although their effect on plant performance is unproven. The impact of liquid organic fertilizers and foliar seaweed applications on carrot yield and quality characteristics were evaluated on certified organic land at the Colorado State University Horticulture Field Research Center in Fort Collins, CO, USA, in 2014 and 2015. Hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer and cyanobacterial fertilizer (cyano-fertilizer) treatments were applied through a drip irrigation system at prescribed N rates about every 10 days throughout the growing season. Each treatment, including the unfertilized control, was repeated with the addition of concentrated organic seaweed extract, containing phytohormones, applied foliarly at the manufacturer’s recommended rates. The cyano-fertilizer treatment resulted in longer carrots in 2014 and the highest carrot yield in both years, with it consistently yielding equal to or greater than either hydrolyzed or non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer. The foliar seaweed applications had no effect on carrot yield in either year. The cyano-fertilizer performed comparably to the other fertilizers, suggesting that cyano-fertilizer could be a viable alternative to organic liquid fish fertilizers.

Design of a Mobile Application Used for Monitoring the Drip Irrigation System in Coffee Crop Using CDIO Methodology

This article will develop the design and integration of an automated drip irrigation system prototype for a coffee crop of Robusta species (Coffea Canephora) with CDIO methodology. It will be implemented using Open Source elements, with an ESP32 processing card, a mobile application developed in Android Studio for monitoring conditions in real-time, including ON/OFF irrigation control, a Water Solenoid Valve that will allow irrigation and sensors for humidity and temperature.
 
 Received: 18 February 2023 / Accepted: 21 April 2023 / Published: 5 May 2023