Effect of Different Soil Wetting Patterns on Water Availability to Watermelon Crop and its Productivity

Authors

  • Hellen Sang Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115, Egerton, Kenya
  • Romulus Okwany Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115, Egerton, Kenya
  • Raphael Wambua Department of Agricultural and biosystems Engineering, South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), P.O. Box 170 – 90200 Kitui, Kenya

Keywords:

Soil wetted patterns, frequency, duration, super absorbent polymer, water productivity

Abstract

Farmers try to adapt to climate change in semi-arid areas by practicing improved agricultural production. However there is a limitation on practices that promote adaptation to climate change in the semi-arid areas. The information on depths and widths of wetted zone of soil under drip application of water have a great significance in the design and management of drip irrigation system for delivering required quantity of water and chemicals to plants. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of different soil wetted patterns from the different frequencies and durations of irrigation application and use of soil super absorbent polymer on the water productivity of watermelon crop. Baringo County soil is mostly clay with frequent droughts and the rains are inconsistent, hence the need for sensitization on improved technologies so as to adopt to climate change. Different plots were laid with different irrigation frequencies and durations, daily for 4.5, 2.25 and 1.5 hours, after two days for 9, 4.5 and 3 hours and after three days for 13.5  ,6.75 and 4.5 hours. Super absorbent polymer was added to the half of the experimental plots. Watermelon crop was planted to maturity on the experimental plots in order to determine the water productivity from the different soil wetting patterns. Water productivity was computed based on the total yield of watermelon crop and quantity of water used for the different wetting patterns. The soil from the study area was classified as clay and the use of the super absorbent polymer did not improve on the water melon crop water productivity. Results from the study revealed that the highest water productivity of 18.2 kg/m3 was at irrigation frequency of two days and 9 hrs irrigation duration on the soil without the super absorbent polymer and the lowest of 9.78 kg/m3 at irrigation frequency of 3 days and 13.5 hrs irrigation duration on the soil with the super absorbent polymer. These findings can be adopted by the farmers in proper design of a drip irrigation system for growing of watermelon crop in clay soil with similar climatic conditions in order to improve on its water productivity.

References

. Bwambale, E., F.K. Abagale, and G.K. Anornu, Smart irrigation monitoring and control strategies for improving water use efficiency in precision agriculture: A review. Agricultural Water Management, 2022. 260: p. 107324.

. Yang, P., et al., Review on Drip Irrigation: Impact on Crop Yield, Quality, and Water Productivity in China. Water, 2023. 15(9): p. 1733.

. Alshallash, K.S., et al., Drip Irrigation and Compost Applications Improved the Growth, Productivity, and Water Use Efficiency of Some Varieties of Bread Wheat. Agronomy, 2022. 13(1): p. 139.

. Abebe, F., et al., The influences on farmers' planned and actual farm adaptation decisions: Evidence from small-scale irrigation schemes in South-Eastern Africa. Ecological Economics, 2022. 202: p. 107594.

. Odwori, E.O. and J.W. Wakhungu, Analysis of Rainfall Variability and Trends Over Nzoia River Basin, Kenya. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 2021. 21(4): p. 26-52.

. Recha, J.W., et al., Changing rainfall patterns and farmers’ adaptation through soil water management practices in semi-arid eastern Kenya. Arid Land Research and Management, 2016. 30(3): p. 229-238.

. Lilian, I., O. Geraldine, and O. Onyekachi A, Assessing the Impacts of Climate Variability on Livelihood Assets in Marigat and Mogotio Sub-County, Baringo County, Kenya. Asian Journal of Geographical Research, 2018. 1(1): p. 1-14.

. Adedeji, M., C. A O, and M. Isikwue, PREDICTION OF SOIL WETTING PATTERN FOR THREE SOIL TYPES UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION. EPH-International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, 2018. 4(2): p. 16-25.

. Nyaegah, J.O. and S. Waithaka, INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION WATER SUPPLY ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN LARE WARD IN NJORO SUB-COUNTY, NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA. International Journal of Business Management and Processes (ISSN 2616-3209), 2018. 4(2): p. 10-10.

. Darko, R.O., et al., Irrigation, a productive tool for food security–a review. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil & Plant Science, 2016. 66(3): p. 191-206.

. Akoko, G., T. Kato, and L.H. Tu, Evaluation of irrigation water resources availability and climate change impacts—A case study of Mwea irrigation scheme, Kenya. Water, 2020. 12(9): p. 2330.

. Yang, J., et al., Genetic relationship and pedigree of Chinese watermelon varieties based on diversity of perfect SNPs. Horticultural Plant Journal, 2022. 8(4): p. 489-498.

. Ezenwa, L., et al., Climate variability and its effects on gender and coping strategies in Baringo County, Kenya. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 2018. 22(5): p. 699-706.

. Kumari, N. and C. Mohan, Basics of clay minerals and their characteristic properties. Clay Clay Miner, 2021. 24(1).

. Zhang, X., et al., Horizontal and vertical variation of soil clay content and its controlling factors in China. Science of The Total Environment, 2023. 864: p. 161141.

. Hama-Aziz, Z.Q., R.A. Mustafa, and H.A. Neima, Water productivity of mulched and drip irrigated watermelon in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 2023.

. Gordin, L.C., et al., Irrigation scheduling techniques and irrigation frequency on capsicum growth and yield. Dyna, 2019. 86(211): p. 42-48.

. Assefa, S., Y. Kedir, and T. Alamirew, Effects of slopes, furrow lengths and Inflow rates on irrigation performances and yield of sugarcane plantation at metehara, Ethiopia. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, 2017. 6(179): p. 2.

. NUT, N., et al., Effects of Drip Irrigation Frequency on Growth and Yield of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) under Net-house’s Conditions. International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development, 2019. 10(1): p. 146-152.

. Okasha, A.M., et al., Effects of irrigation method and water flow rate on irrigation performance, soil salinity, yield, and water productivity of cauliflower. Agriculture, 2022. 12(8): p. 1164.

Downloads

Published

2024-07-13

How to Cite

Hellen Sang, Romulus Okwany, & Raphael Wambua. (2024). Effect of Different Soil Wetting Patterns on Water Availability to Watermelon Crop and its Productivity. International Journal of Applied Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends, 21(1), 47–62. Retrieved from https://ijascfrtjournal.isrra.org/index.php/Applied_Sciences_Journal/article/view/1438

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Applied Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors who submit papers with this journal agree to the following terms.