Demonstration and Participatory Evaluation of Different Furrow Irrigation under Tomato Production at Sayo District, Kellem Wollega Zone, Western Oromia

Alternate, conventional and fixed furrow irrigation systems are the three furrow irrigation systems demonstrated and participatory evaluated at Sayo District of Western Oromia on the basis of water use efficiency without a significant tradeoff in yield under Tomato production. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications for one season was used. "Farmers Research Extension Group" had selected alternate furrow irrigation system by setting their observations as the easiness of a system to use by irrigators, can save more water, time and labor. In this study, yield obtained from alternate and conventional furrow irrigation methods show insignificant difference while the alternate furrow method used lesser water input. Time and labor reduced by half under deficits and suits working conditions as technique permits irrigator to move towards the next irrigable area. The substantial amount of water saved under alternate furrow irrigation demonstrates that crop water use efficiency was increased by using the system which may result in substantial benefits, under limited water and labor conditions, improved flexibility in irrigation water management are also expected to be achieved using alternate furrow irrigation. The water thus saved may be used to irrigate additional area that would provide additional crop production. Based on this study, alternate furrow irrigation system appears to be a promising option for water conservation and labor saving without negligible trade-off in yield. Keywords: Alternate furrow irrigation system, yield, Water-Use-Efficiency DOI: 10.7176/CER/14-1-01 Publication date: February 28th 202