Determination Of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling And Water Productivity Of Wheat (Triticumaestevum L.) At Melkassa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Irrigation Practice Is One of the Measures for Increasing Crop Production for Ethiopia Whose Major Economic Development Is Dependent On Agricultural Production. The Country Has Experienced With Severe Drought Occurrences for the Last Four Decades Even Though Amount Of Water Resource From Precipitation, Surface And Sub-Surface Exist In Its Periphery. To Enhance This Challenges Optimization of Irrigation Scheduling Is the Ways for Maximizing Wheat Yield and Water Productivity. The Study Was Conducted At Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre of Ethiopia, To Determine the Optimal Irrigation Scheduling and Water Productivity of Wheat (Triticumaestevum L.). The Experiment Was Arranged In a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) With Three Replications. Five Level of Irrigation Scheduling Were Arranged For the Study Based On Their Level of Soil Moisture Depletion (35%, 45%, 55%, 65% And 75% of Allowable Soil Moisture Depletion Level (ASMDL). Data Were Statistically Analyzed Using Analysis Of Variance Techniques Appropriate To Randomized Complete Block Design with the Help of SAS Software. The Study Result Revealed That, the Variation of Soil Moisture Depletion Level From 35% To 75% of the FAO Recommendation Has Effect on Plant Heights, Hectoliter Weight, Total Kernel Weight and Harvesting Index. Also Grain Yield, Above Ground Biological Yield and Water Productivity of Wheat Had Statistically Significant Difference At (P<0.05) Level. Maximum Wheat Grain Yield Of 4845 Kg/Ha Was Obtained At 35% ASMDL. It Was Statistically Similar With Control Treatment and the Minimum Grain Yield Of 3,667kg/Ha Recorded At 75% ASMDL And This Result Was Different From All Other Treatments. The Maximum above Ground Biological Yield of 10,455kg/Ha Was Obtained At 35% ASMDL. The Minimum above Ground Biological Yield of 8,451kg/Ha Was Recorded At 75% ASMDL. Maximum Water Productivity of 1.19kg/M3 Was Obtained At 35% ASMDL Which Was Statistically Similar With Control Treatment and the Minimum Water Productivity of 0.9kg/M3Was Recorded At 75% ASMDL. Since The Result Obtained At 35% ASMDL was not significantly different from the Control Treatment (55%ASMDL).This Control Treatment Has Recorded Longer Irrigation Interval When Compared To 35% ASMDL. Therefore, Irrigation Scheme Could Be Used FAO 33 ASMDL Recommendation for Wheat Production at the Study Area and In Similar Agro-Ecology and Soil Type, Which Minimizes Irrigation Frequency And Save Lab our Consumption.