H.E. Igbadun, H.F. Mahoo, A.K.P.R. Tarimo, and B.A. Salim (Tanzania)
Simulation model; irrigation scheduling; waterapplication depth; maize crop
This paper presents simulated crop yield and soil water balance responses of irrigated maize to the existing irrigation scheduling practice in Mkoji sub-catchment of the Great Ruaha River in Tanzania. Farmers in the study area are constrained to a fixed frequency irrigation schedule due to the practice of rotational water delivery method in the area. However, the optimum irrigation scheduling strategy for the maize crop is a knowledge gap. A computer-based crop growth cum irrigation scheduling simulation model was used to study crop yield and soil water balance responses associated with the fixed frequency irrigation scheduling for the range of water application depths observed at the farmers’ fields, and the impact of the scheduling on yield, seasonal water applied, evapotranspiration, and deep percolation were evaluated. The study established that the optimum weekly irrigation depth for the maize crop in the study area is between 40 and 45mm. Applying water in excess of 50 mm per week did not add to grain yield and seasonal evapotranspiration but leads to loss of water to deep percolation above the amount of water required by the crop to meet the seasonal crop evapotranspiration.
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