Drainage problem in Beles Sugar Project is becoming severe during rainfall season that the effective rainfall was greater than the sugarcane water requirement and higher area coverage of vertisols. To remove this excess rainfall through installations of surface drainage system, this study was conducted to estimate design rainfall in magnitude and recurrence interval based on the recorded maximum rainfall. The independent, homogeneity, and outliers of the recorded data were tested accordingly. Probability of exceedence and return periods for daily maximum rainfall was determined using Kimball’s method. Gumbels method was used to compute design rainfall of different desired return period. The relation between observed and computed data was undertaken using regression function. Thus, recorded rainfall data was independent and homogenous at 5% signifance level. Also there was no value greater than the high outliers (151.3 mm) and no value less than the low outliers (41.0 mm).The lowest maximum rainfall (48.6 mm) had a probability of 96 .9% which likely to occur every one year. The highest maximum rainfall (150.1 mm) had a probability of 3 .1% which likely to occur three times in every 100 years period. Within the same 10 years return period, the computed design rainfall (114.7 mm) was deviate by 0.04 with the observed rainfall (110.3 mm).The average deviation of observed and computed rainfall data from its trend line function were 0.004 and 0.002 respectively. The correlation between observed and computed rainfall of trend line function was 0.98, thus it was highly correlated and the perfect reality. Design rainfall for 10 years return period (110.3 mm) was suggested for estimation of Beles Sugarcane open earth drainage channels. Thus, the Project Engineers and Hydrologists has to considered this study pre-requisite for planning, design and management of hydrological, hydraulic, drainage structures, barrages, dams, spillways, bridges, culverts and so on that have been executed in the Project.
Irrigation is the only solution to improve crop production and productivity thereby contributing towards food security, self-sufficiency and export market. The efficient use of water by irrigation system is becoming increasingly important in arid and semi-arid regions with limited water resources. The Experiment was conducted in Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center with the Regulated Deficit Irrigation and Onion (Allium cepa L.) Yield Response on Water Productivity in Ethiopia during 2017/2018 cropping season. The objective of the experiment was identify the pin point of water stress threshold value of onion under deficit irrigation and investigate the effect of alternate, fixed and conventional furrow irrigation methods on crop yield and water productivity under deficit irrigation. The experimental treatments had three furrow irrigation methods, (alternate furrow irrigation (AFI), fixed furrow irrigation (FFI) and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI)) and two deficit irrigation levels of application, viz., 85 % ETc, and70 % ETc and a control irrigation of 100%ETc. The design of the experimental plot was split plot in RCBD arrangement and replicated three times. The three furrow irrigation methods were arranged as main plots and the deficit levels as sub plots a total of nine (9) treatment combinations. All collected data, were statistically analyzed using SAS 9.1 statistical software. The experimental study result showed that bulb diameter, unmarketable bulb yield and total bulb yield of onion were highly significance difference (p<0.001) both in furrow irrigation methods and irrigation levels. Likewise diameter of onion also gave highest on CFI and 100%ETc irrigation water application level which is 6.69cm and 6.94cm respectively. According to the results obtained, the highest total yield was recorded for the treatment of 100%ETc irrigation water application and AFI of the furrow irrigation method 38947kgha-1 and 35920kgha-1 respectively however, the lowest total bulb yield of 30253kg ha-1 and 29135kg ha-1 were recorded when FFI system was applied and in 70%ETc of water applied. Bulb height of onion was highly significance difference (p<0.001) only on deficit irrigation levels. On the other hand, marketable bulb yield, irrigation water use efficiency and crop water use efficiency were significance difference (P ≤ 0.05) by the interaction of furrow irrigation methods and deficit irrigation levels. The highest average marketable bulb yield of onion was obtained 42219kgha-1 on CFI with the combination of 100%ETc irrigation level in addition to this IWUE and CWUE both are recorded highest result on 70%ETc and AFI furrow irrigation method. Generally, among all irrigation treatments 70%ETc deficit irrigation level applied under AFI method was efficient in conserving significant irrigation water. Therefore, it could be concluded that, AFI can save a substantial amount of water and labor without highly reduction of onion yield and the lowest CWUE and IWUE was gave FFI followed by CFI.
The experiment was conducted during 2016 and 2017 cropping season. The study was conducted to evaluate sorghum legume intercropping pattern on selected soil chemical properties and yield of sorghumat Tulo and Chiro district, Western Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia. The treatments were included two legume crops and four planting patterns (single row of Sorghum and double row of haricot bean (1S;2H) in sequence, single row of Sorghum and single row of haricot bean (1S:1H) in sequence, double row of Sorghum and single row of haricot bean (2S:1H) in alternate, double row of Sorghum and double row of Haricot bean (2S:2H) in alternate, single row of Sorghum and double row of cowpea (1S:2C) in sequence, single row of Sorghum and single row of cowpea (1S:1C) in sequence, double row of Sorghum and single row of cowpea (2S:1C) in alternate, double row of Sorghum and double row of cowpea (2S:2C) in alternate, Sole sorghum, Sole haricot bean (Awash-1) and sole cowpea (ILRI11114-accession number) with testing crop sorghum (chiro variety). The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. All necessary agronomic data were collected and analyzed by using Statistical Analysis Software version 9.0. Soil samples were analyzed by standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that maximum sorghum grain yield (37.28qu/ha) obtained from 1S:2L pattern was higher than other planting patterns. Maximum grain yield of haricot bean and cowpea was recorded from1S; 2H and 2S:2L planting patterns respectively. Selected soil chemical properties were improved under intercropping system over sole sorghum. The highest LER (1.36) and the lowest LER (1.19) was recorded in sorghum/haricot bean and sorghum/ cowpea intercropping system. The highest total LER was recorded from single row of sorghum and double row of haricot bean (1S; 2H) in sequence. Highest net income accrued from planting patterns of1S; 2H in sequence. Therefore, based on the finding of the study, planting patterns of single rows of sorghum and double rows of haricot bean in sequence (1S:2H) could be recommended in mid land areas of Western Hararghe Zone and similar agro ecologies.
Drought is a major environmental constraint affecting the growth and production of coffee. Selection of drought tolerant Arabica coffee genotypes an important way to mitigate climate change impacts on coffee production. A Study was conducted at Awada research sub-center in Sidama zone of south Ethiopia(6045’ N, 380 38’E and 1740 m.a.s.l) with the objective to screen drought tolerant Sidamo coffee genotypes. The experiment was conducted during 2011/12 and 2013 under a controlled condition in a rain shelter; it was laid down in a RCBD with three replications. Fourteen Sidamo coffee genotypes were subjected to two watering regimes, water stressed and well watered for 28 days. The genotypes were also evaluated under field condition during 2014 season at Korkie sub-station which is located 20 km south of Awada (6034 N, 38039’E and 1800masl). Results of the experiment indicated that there was high significant difference among the genotypes for extent of wilting, total dry matter, relative leaf water content and leaf retention capacity. C85238 shows high drought stress resistance with 1.58 scale value while c9744 indicated as sensitive to drought stress with 2.99 scale value.c9722 obtained the highest value 11.76 gram in total dry matter, c85237 obtained the highest leaf retention capacity 51.28% and c85257 obtained the maximum relative leaf water content. Significant difference was also observed in root to shoot ratio and stomatal conductance with highest values obtained by c974 and c75227 respectively The field evaluation indicated that plant height, canopy diameter, coffee yield and number of primary branch were significantly influenced at P<0.01 and number of bearing branches and leaf turgid weight were influenced by the genotypes at P<0.05 with c9722 scored maximum value 288.9 cm plant height, 76 NBB, 163.43 cm CD and 11.76 qt/ha coffee yield. There was strong correlation observed between extent of wilting scored at seedling stage and grain yield at field condition of genotypes (r = -0.80). Therefore from all the three year evaluations c979, c974, c85238 c9722, c75277 and c1377 performed better in resisting drought under both field and controlled conditions.
Inconsistent statistical data sets for irrigation areas at the national level can have a major impact on food and water security policies. Remote sensing can solve this problem, but doubts about its reliability hinder its leading role. Integrating statistical data sets and remote sensing-based methods seems desirable and more likely to be recognized by decision makers. Therefore, scientists must understand the basis and limitations of statistical data sets derived from the national level. The irrigated area data collection methods of seven Asian countries were reviewed, namely China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand. The factors that cause data uncertainty and the limitations of data collection methods are emphasized. In addition, an analysis of the distribution of irrigation density was carried out to understand the relationship between the spatial dispersion pattern of the irrigation area and the uncertainty in its statistical records. The survey found that the statistics of irrigation districts are mainly based on information provided by water users and farmer associations, which are self-reported or collected through interviews in surveys and censuses. The main reasons for the discrepancies are lack of resources to frequently list irrigated land, inconsistent data collection methods, unknown whereabouts of small crops, illegal and unregulated water use, and bureaucratic and political restrictions
