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Rainwater harvesting for supplemental irrigation of onions in the southern dry lands of Ethiopia

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  • Assefa, Shibeshi
  • Biazin, Birhanu
  • Muluneh, Alemayehu
  • Yimer, Fantaw
  • Haileslassie, Amare

Abstract

Agricultural water scarcity is a major limiting factor for crop production in dry land regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite notable efforts of developing macro-catchment rainwater harvesting (RWH) techniques, few studies have evaluated the performance of RWH for deficit supplemental irrigation of crops. We examine the agro-meteorological risks such as late onset, early cessation, overall low rainfall amounts and long dry spells during the growing season and evaluate the potential of macro-catchment RWH for supplemental irrigation of onion in the southern dry lands of Ethiopia. Field experiments were undertaken during 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the effects of 50% ETc, 75% ETc and 100% ETc irrigation levels on yield and water productivity of onion during dry and wet seasons. The harvestable yield and water productivity of onion under 75% ETc irrigation were not significantly lower than that under 100% ETc irrigation during both the dry and wet seasons. Thus, deficit supplemental irrigation of onion at 75% ETc can be implemented with macro-catchment RWH to reduce the risks of crop failure and significant yield declines in dryland areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Assefa, Shibeshi & Biazin, Birhanu & Muluneh, Alemayehu & Yimer, Fantaw & Haileslassie, Amare, 2016. "Rainwater harvesting for supplemental irrigation of onions in the southern dry lands of Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 325-334.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:178:y:2016:i:c:p:325-334
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.10.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Mebratu Negera & Zeleke Agide Dejen & Dagmawi Melaku & Desalegn Tegegne & Muluken Elias Adamseged & Amare Haileslassie, 2025. "Agricultural Productivity of Solar Pump and Water Harvesting Irrigation Technologies and Their Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Income and Food Security: Evidence from Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-32, February.
    3. Agossou Gadedjisso-Tossou & Tamara Avellán & Niels Schütze, 2019. "An Economic-Based Evaluation of Maize Production under Deficit and Supplemental Irrigation for Smallholder Farmers in Northern Togo, West Africa," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-11, November.

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