IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v11y2021i5p383-d541955.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Soil and Irrigation Water Management: Farmer’s Practice, Insight, and Major Constraints in Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Desale Kidane Asmamaw

    (Department of Environment, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
    Department of Natural Resource Management and Blue Nile Water Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar ET 251, Ethiopia)

  • Pieter Janssens

    (Department of Environment, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
    Soil Service of Belgium, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium)

  • Mekete Dessie

    (Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar ET 251, Ethiopia)

  • Seifu A. Tilahun

    (Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar ET 251, Ethiopia)

  • Enyew Adgo

    (Department of Natural Resource Management, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar ET 251, Ethiopia)

  • Jan Nyssen

    (Department of Geography, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Kristine Walraevens

    (Laboratory for Applied Geology and Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Derbew Fentie

    (Department of Natural Resource Management, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar ET 251, Ethiopia)

  • Wim M. Cornelis

    (Department of Environment, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

Abstract

This study assessed farmers’ soil and irrigation water management practices, perceptions, and major constraints at Koga, a large-scale irrigation scheme in Ethiopia. Key informant interviews, structured and semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field visits were used for data collection. Soil samples were collected for the assessment of soil properties and a comparison with the respondents’ perception of soil-related constraints. A total of 385 respondents were involved in the questionnaire. All of the respondents had a good perception of soil acidity and its management strategies. Respondents’ perception was in line with the mean soil pH, soil texture, infiltration rate, exchangeable acidity, and soil organic carbon obtained from lab analysis and field tests. Soil acidity, unwise use of water, water scarcity, and lack of market linkages hampered the performance of the Koga irrigation scheme. Yet, respondents had a low awareness of irrigation water management. Farmers never used irrigation scheduling, but apply the same amount of water regardless of the crop type. As a result, low yield and water use efficiency were reported. To reduce soil acidity, an adequate lime supply for farmers with hands-on training on how to apply it would be desirable. Farmers should be aware of how to design effective irrigation scheduling and adopt water-saving management strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Desale Kidane Asmamaw & Pieter Janssens & Mekete Dessie & Seifu A. Tilahun & Enyew Adgo & Jan Nyssen & Kristine Walraevens & Derbew Fentie & Wim M. Cornelis, 2021. "Soil and Irrigation Water Management: Farmer’s Practice, Insight, and Major Constraints in Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:5:p:383-:d:541955
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/5/383/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/5/383/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hagos, Fitsum & Makombe, Godswill & Namara, Regassa & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2008. "Importance of irrigated agriculture to the Ethiopian economy: capturing the direct net benefits of irrigation," IWMI Conference Proceedings 246409, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Godswill, M. & Namara, Regassa & Hagos, Fitsum & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Ayana, M. & Awulachew Bossio, Deborah, 2011. "A comparative analysis of the technical efficiency of rain-fed and smallholder irrigation in Ethiopia," IWMI Working Papers H044123, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Geerts, Sam & Raes, Dirk, 2009. "Deficit irrigation as an on-farm strategy to maximize crop water productivity in dry areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(9), pages 1275-1284, September.
    4. de Fraiture, Charlotte & Wichelns, Dennis, 2010. "Satisfying future water demands for agriculture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 502-511, April.
    5. Xie, Hua & You, Liangzhi & Dile, Yihun T. & Worqlul, Abeyou W. & Bizimana, Jean-Claude & Srinivasan, Raghavan & Richardson, James W. & Gerik, Thomas & Clark, Neville, 2021. "Mapping development potential of dry-season small-scale irrigation in Sub-Saharan African countries under joint biophysical and economic constraints - An agent-based modeling approach with an applicat," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    6. Martina Flörke & Christof Schneider & Robert I. McDonald, 2018. "Water competition between cities and agriculture driven by climate change and urban growth," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 51-58, January.
    7. Erkossa, Teklu & Williams, Timothy O. & Laekemariam, F., 2018. "Integrated soil, water and agronomic management effects on crop productivity and selected soil properties in Western Ethiopia," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 6(4):305-31.
    8. Brown, Peter D. & Cochrane, Thomas A. & Krom, Thomas D., 2010. "Optimal on-farm irrigation scheduling with a seasonal water limit using simulated annealing," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(6), pages 892-900, June.
    9. Descheemaeker, Katrien & Amede, Tilahun & Haileslassie, Amare, 2010. "Improving water productivity in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(5), pages 579-586, May.
    10. Yohannes, Degol Fissahaye & Ritsema, C.J. & Solomon, H. & Froebrich, J. & van Dam, J.C., 2017. "Irrigation water management: Farmers’ practices, perceptions and adaptations at Gumselassa irrigation scheme, North Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 16-28.
    11. Dereje Mengistie & Desale Kidane, 2016. "Assessment of the Impact of Small-Scale Irrigation on Household Livelihood Improvement at Gubalafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Beyene, Abebech & Cornelis, Wim & Verhoest, Niko E.C. & Tilahun, Seifu & Alamirew, Tena & Adgo, Enyew & De Pue, Jan & Nyssen, Jan, 2018. "Estimating the actual evapotranspiration and deep percolation in irrigated soils of a tropical floodplain, northwest Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 42-56.
    13. Cain, Philip & Anwar, Muhammad & Rowlinson, Peter, 2007. "Assessing the critical factors affecting the viability of small-scale dairy farms in the Punjab region of Pakistan to inform agricultural extension programmes," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 320-330, May.
    14. Ariel Dinar & Jyothsna Mody, 2004. "Irrigation water management policies: Allocation and pricing principles and implementation experience," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 28(2), pages 112-122, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wuletawu Abera & Yonas Getaneh & Yodit Balcha & Tewodros Assefa & Chalachew A. Mulatu & Girma Yimer Ebrahim & Megersa Tesfaye & Meseret Dawit & Wubneh Belete Abebe & Meron Teferi Taye, 2024. "Framing water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) nexus interactions in the Tana-Beles Sub-basin of Ethiopia," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-24, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Asmamaw, Desale Kidane & Janssens, Pieter & Dessie, Mekete & Tilahun, Seifu A. & Adgo, Enyew & Nyssen, Jan & Walraevens, Kristine & Assaye, Habtamu & Yenehun, Alemu & Nigate, Fenta & Cornelis, Wim M., 2023. "Effect of deficit irrigation and soil fertility management on wheat production and water productivity in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    2. Eric Njuki & Boris E. Bravo-Ureta, 2019. "Examining irrigation productivity in U.S. agriculture using a single-factor approach," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 125-136, June.
    3. Foster, T. & Brozović, N., 2018. "Simulating Crop-Water Production Functions Using Crop Growth Models to Support Water Policy Assessments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 9-21.
    4. Hanan Tadele Dessalegn & Alex Bolding & Charlotte de Fraiture & Mekonen Ayana, 2021. "Livestock and Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme Interactions as a Key Source for Sedimentation during the Irrigation Season: Four Case Studies from South-West Shoa, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Lebeta, Temesgen Hirko, 2017. "Participation In And Impact Of Small-Scale Irrigation Practice On Household Income: The Case Of Abay Chomen District Of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia," Research Theses 276456, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    6. Žiga Malek & Peter H. Verburg, 2018. "Adaptation of land management in the Mediterranean under scenarios of irrigation water use and availability," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 821-837, August.
    7. Kudzai Mugejo & Bongani Ncube & Crispen Mutsvangwa, 2022. "Infrastructure Performance and Irrigation Water Governance in Genadendal, Western Cape, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Zhang, Xiying & Qin, Wenli & Chen, Suying & Shao, Liwei & Sun, Hongyong, 2017. "Responses of yield and WUE of winter wheat to water stress during the past three decades—A case study in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 47-54.
    9. Pardo, J.J. & Sánchez-Virosta, A. & Léllis, B.C. & Domínguez, A. & Martínez-Romero, A., 2022. "Physiological basis to assess barley response to optimized regulated deficit irrigation for limited volumes of water (ORDIL)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    10. Descheemaeker, K. & Bunting, S. W. & Bindraban, P. & Muthuri, C. & Molden, D. & Beveridge, M. & van Brakel, Martin & Herrero, M. & Clement, Floriane & Boelee, Eline & Jarvis, D. I., 2013. "Increasing water productivity in Agriculture," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    11. Mekonen Ayana Gebul, 2021. "Trend, Status, and Challenges of Irrigation Development in Ethiopia—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.
    12. Zewdie Habte Shikur, 2020. "Agricultural policies, agricultural production and rural households’ welfare in Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Sebastian Kloss & Raji Pushpalatha & Kefasi Kamoyo & Niels Schütze, 2012. "Evaluation of Crop Models for Simulating and Optimizing Deficit Irrigation Systems in Arid and Semi-arid Countries Under Climate Variability," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(4), pages 997-1014, March.
    14. Amina Abdelkadir Mohammedshum & Chris M. Mannaerts & Ben H. P. Maathuis & Daniel Teka, 2023. "Integrating Socioeconomic Biophysical and Institutional Factors for Evaluating Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes in Northern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    15. Ambachew, Sissay & Alamirew, Tena & Melese, Assefa, 2014. "Performance of mungbean under deficit irrigation application in the semi-arid highlands of Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 68-74.
    16. James Mahan & Paxton Payton, 2018. "Design and Implementation of a Rainfed Matrix for Cotton," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-22, December.
    17. Komlan Koudahe & Aleksey Y. Sheshukov & Jonathan Aguilar & Koffi Djaman, 2021. "Irrigation-Water Management and Productivity of Cotton: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    18. Tapsuwan, Sorada & Peña-Arancibia, Jorge L. & Lazarow, Neil & Albisetti, Melisa & Zheng, Hongxing & Rojas, Rodrigo & Torres-Alferez, Vianney & Chiew, Francis H.S. & Hopkins, Richard & Penton, David J., 2022. "A benefit cost analysis of strategic and operational management options for water management in hyper-arid southern Peru," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    19. Stepanovic, Strahinja & Rudnick, Daran & Kruger, Greg, 2021. "Impact of maize hybrid selection on water productivity under deficit irrigation in semiarid western Nebraska," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    20. Singh, Sukhbir & Angadi, Sangamesh V. & Grover, Kulbhushan K. & Hilaire, Rolston St. & Begna, Sultan, 2016. "Effect of growth stage based irrigation on soil water extraction and water use efficiency of spring safflower cultivars," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 432-439.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:5:p:383-:d:541955. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.