Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia
Small-scale irrigation in Ethiopia is a key strategy to improve and sustain the food production system. Besides the use of surface water for irrigation, it is essential to unlock the groundwater potential. It is equally important to use soil management and water-saving systems to overcome the declin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/1/17 |
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| author | Tewodros T. Assefa Temesgen F. Adametie Abdu Y. Yimam Sisay A. Belay Yonas M. Degu Solomon T. Hailemeskel Seifu A. Tilahun Manuel R. Reyes P. V. Vara Prasad |
| author_facet | Tewodros T. Assefa Temesgen F. Adametie Abdu Y. Yimam Sisay A. Belay Yonas M. Degu Solomon T. Hailemeskel Seifu A. Tilahun Manuel R. Reyes P. V. Vara Prasad |
| author_sort | Tewodros T. Assefa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small-scale irrigation in Ethiopia is a key strategy to improve and sustain the food production system. Besides the use of surface water for irrigation, it is essential to unlock the groundwater potential. It is equally important to use soil management and water-saving systems to overcome the declining soil fertility and the temporal water scarcity in the region. In this study, the solar MajiPump was introduced to enable dry season crop production in Ethiopia using shallow groundwater sources. The capacity of the MajiPumps (MP400 and MP200) was tested for the discharge head and discharge using three types of solar panels (150 W and 200 W rigid, and 200 W flexible). Besides, drip irrigation and conservation agriculture (CA) farming systems were evaluated in terms of water productivity and crop yield in comparison to the farmers’ practice (overhead irrigation and tilled farming system). Results indicated that the maximum discharge head capacity of the MajiPumps was 18 m, 14 m, 10 m when using MP400 with 200 W rigid, MP400 with 200 W flexible, and MP200 with 150 W rigid solar panels, respectively. The corresponding MajiPump flow rates ranged from 7.8 L/min to 24.6 L/min, 3 L/min to 25 L/min, and 3.6 L/min to 22.2 L/min, respectively. Compared to farmer’s practice, water productivity was significantly improved under the CA farming and the drip irrigation systems for both irrigated vegetables (garlic, onion, cabbage, potato) and rainfed maize production. The water productivity of garlic, cabbage, potato, and maize was increased by 256%, 43%, 53%, and 9%, respectively, under CA as compared to conventional tillage (CT) even under overhead irrigation. Thus, farmers can obtain a significant water-saving benefit from CA regardless of water application systems. However, water and crop productivity could be further improved in the combined use of MajiPump with CA and drip irrigation (i.e., 38% and 33% water productivity and 43% and 36% crop productivity improvements were observed for potato and onion, respectively). Similarly, compared to CT, the use of CA significantly increased garlic, cabbage, potato, and maize yield by 170%, 42%, 43%, and 15%, respectively under the MajiPump water-lifting system. Overall, the solar-powered drip irrigation and CA farming system were found to be efficient to expand small-scale irrigation and improve productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:49:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b48e130d2eb447fbd5a238b735adb20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:49:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b48e130d2eb447fbd5a238b735adb202023-11-21T02:15:21ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-12-011111710.3390/agronomy11010017Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in EthiopiaTewodros T. Assefa0Temesgen F. Adametie1Abdu Y. Yimam2Sisay A. Belay3Yonas M. Degu4Solomon T. Hailemeskel5Seifu A. Tilahun6Manuel R. Reyes7P. V. Vara Prasad8Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage, Pawe Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Pawe 25, EthiopiaFaculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaFaculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaFaculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaFaculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaFaculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, EthiopiaSustainable Intensification Innovation Lab and Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USASustainable Intensification Innovation Lab and Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USASmall-scale irrigation in Ethiopia is a key strategy to improve and sustain the food production system. Besides the use of surface water for irrigation, it is essential to unlock the groundwater potential. It is equally important to use soil management and water-saving systems to overcome the declining soil fertility and the temporal water scarcity in the region. In this study, the solar MajiPump was introduced to enable dry season crop production in Ethiopia using shallow groundwater sources. The capacity of the MajiPumps (MP400 and MP200) was tested for the discharge head and discharge using three types of solar panels (150 W and 200 W rigid, and 200 W flexible). Besides, drip irrigation and conservation agriculture (CA) farming systems were evaluated in terms of water productivity and crop yield in comparison to the farmers’ practice (overhead irrigation and tilled farming system). Results indicated that the maximum discharge head capacity of the MajiPumps was 18 m, 14 m, 10 m when using MP400 with 200 W rigid, MP400 with 200 W flexible, and MP200 with 150 W rigid solar panels, respectively. The corresponding MajiPump flow rates ranged from 7.8 L/min to 24.6 L/min, 3 L/min to 25 L/min, and 3.6 L/min to 22.2 L/min, respectively. Compared to farmer’s practice, water productivity was significantly improved under the CA farming and the drip irrigation systems for both irrigated vegetables (garlic, onion, cabbage, potato) and rainfed maize production. The water productivity of garlic, cabbage, potato, and maize was increased by 256%, 43%, 53%, and 9%, respectively, under CA as compared to conventional tillage (CT) even under overhead irrigation. Thus, farmers can obtain a significant water-saving benefit from CA regardless of water application systems. However, water and crop productivity could be further improved in the combined use of MajiPump with CA and drip irrigation (i.e., 38% and 33% water productivity and 43% and 36% crop productivity improvements were observed for potato and onion, respectively). Similarly, compared to CT, the use of CA significantly increased garlic, cabbage, potato, and maize yield by 170%, 42%, 43%, and 15%, respectively under the MajiPump water-lifting system. Overall, the solar-powered drip irrigation and CA farming system were found to be efficient to expand small-scale irrigation and improve productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/1/17solar MajiPumpwater and crop productivitysmall-scale irrigationconservation agricultureEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Tewodros T. Assefa Temesgen F. Adametie Abdu Y. Yimam Sisay A. Belay Yonas M. Degu Solomon T. Hailemeskel Seifu A. Tilahun Manuel R. Reyes P. V. Vara Prasad Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia Agronomy solar MajiPump water and crop productivity small-scale irrigation conservation agriculture Ethiopia |
| title | Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Evaluating Irrigation and Farming Systems with Solar MajiPump in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | evaluating irrigation and farming systems with solar majipump in ethiopia |
| topic | solar MajiPump water and crop productivity small-scale irrigation conservation agriculture Ethiopia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/1/17 |
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