ABSTRACT
Due to the scarcity of water in Nigeria, there is a need for an irrigation system that conserves water for efficient crop production.
In the course of this research work, a drip irrigation system was constructed and tested with the sole aim of using cheaply available materials to determine the variation in emitter discharge at different heads and also, the coefficient of uniformity of the system.
A test was carried out by determining the volume of water discharged by each of the emitters along the lateral and afterwards, comparing the discharge by each of the emitters to one another thus, determining the variation in the emitter discharges with respect to heads.
The result of this test showed that when the reservoir was filled with water, the head in the reservoir was 0.42 m and the total head was (1.4 + 0.42 = 1.82 m). At this head, the emitter discharge for the first emitter on the first lateral was 6.50 mm/s. when the reservoir was half-filled; the total head in the reservoir was (1.4 + 0.21 =1.61 m).
At this head, the emitter discharge for the same emitter was 6.19 mm/s and when the water level in the reservoir was near empty, the total head was (1.4 + 0.07 = 1.47 m).
INTRODUCTION
Background of Study
Drip irrigation technology was originally developed for agriculture as a technique to improve the efficiency of water delivered to plants, especially in environments where water supplies are limited.
According to (Adeogun et al., 2012). This technique involves delivering that amount of water the plant actually needs into the root zone and relies on horizontal as well as vertical movement through the soil to disperse the water.
Nigeria has a relatively short history and experience with formal drip irrigation schemes. Modern irrigation development in Nigeria dates back to 1973.
Many of the irrigation schemes since then have not been successfully operated mainly due to very high imported technology and inputs.
For an irrigation scheme to succeed, however, it is essential that the components of the scheme be suitably conceived, phased, designed, constructed, operated, maintained, and managed (Musa, 2001).
Irrigation developments have been costly and past experiences show that investments have not paid off as expected (World Bank, 1995).
Musa, (2001) also outlined Nigeria’s estimated physical potential for irrigation in the order of 3 – 14 million ha which is over 10 times more than the 100,300 ha of land currently under formal irrigation.
REFERENCES
Adeogun, E. O., A. O. Ogunlela., I. E. Ahaneku. (2012) Performance evaluation of a developed drip irrigation system: Department of Land and Water Management Engineering.National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Kwara State. Nigeria. P. M. B. 1525, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Irr. Sci. 22: 150 – 162
Alam, M., Trooien, T.P., Lamm, F.R., and Rogers, D.H. (2002) Filtration and maintenance subsurface drip irrigation systems. Publication No: MF-2361. Kansas State University.
Alderlieste, M.C. and J.G. Langeveld (2005). “Wastewater Planning in Djenné, Mali. A Pilot Project for the Local Infiltration of Domestic Wastewater,” Water Science & Technology.
Alejandro, P., and Eduardo, P. (2001) Managing water with high concentration of sediments for drip irrigation purposes. Proc. 2nd Int’l Symp. Preferential flow, water movemnt and chemical transport in the environment. Eds. Bosch, D.D., and King, K.W. ASAE publication, Pp: 290-292.
Amali, S., Rolston, D.E., Fulton, A.E., Hanson, B.R., Phene, C.J., and Oster, J.D. (1997) Soil water variability under subsurface drip and furrow irrigation. Irri. Sci. 17(4): 151-155.
Assouline, S. (2002) The effects of microdrip and conventional drip irrigation on water distribution and uptake. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66: 1630-1636.
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