Effectiveness of alternative furrow irrigation methods on cabbage yield and water productivity in Angacha District, Central Ethiopia Region

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of alternative furrow irrigation methods on the head yield of cabbage and water productivity at Guder Irrigation Scheme in Angacha district Kembata Zone Centeral Ethiopia Region. Three levels of treatment were replicated five times, in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Farmers were used as replication from farmers’ research extension groups. The maximum head yield (52.8t/ha) was obtained from conventional furrow, following the second maximum head yield (49.07t/ha) at alternate furrow irrigation method. The minimum yield (38.112t/ha) was obtained from farmers’ practice of irrigation method. Their yield advantages (26.8%) and (22.3%) were recorded from conventional furrow, and alternate furrow irrigation, respectively. The highest water productivity (22.23kg/m³) was obtained from alternate furrow irrigation, following the second maximum water productivity form conventional furrow irrigation (11.96kg/m³) and minimum water productivity (8.15kg/m³). Farmers obtained a net income of (1,278,300 ETB/ha), (1,190,730 ETB/ha) and (909,903.3ETB/ha) from conventional furrow, alternate furrow, and farmers’ practices, respectively. Highest benefit cost ratio (18.63) was recorded form alternative furrow irrigation method :( 17.83) from every furrow and (14.15) from farmers’ practice. This implies that alternative furrow irrigation saves half of irrigation water when assimilated with conventional furrow and doubles net income on the farm gate. Therefore alternative furrow irrigation method should be recommended as a best agricultural water management technology without limiting fresh head yield of cabbage, and water productivity. The technology should be scaled up in to other irrigation schemes with the same agro ecology.

Key Words: - Alternate Furrow Irrigation, Head Cabbage, Yield, Water Productivity, Farmer Practice, Fertilizer, Guder