Evaluation of Irrigation Regime for Onion (Allium Cepa L.), at Arbaminch Zuria District in Snnpr, Ethiopia
This study was conducted for three consecutive years to find an optimum irrigation regime, which allows the maximum yield of onion at Chano-Mille Kebele of Arbaminch Zuria Woreda. The experiment has four levels of irrigation treatments (125%MAD, 100%MAD, 75%MAD and Farmers practice or irrigating with own practice), laid down in Randomized Completed Block Design (RCBD) with four Replications. The highest marketable yield (24.219ton/ha) was obtained from 100% (MAD) where as the lowest marketable yield (17.292ton/ha) was obtained from 75% of MAD. From the result, the highest total yield (28.347 ton/ha) was observed from 100% (MAD), which was significantly different from other treatments. But, statistically, there was no significant differences in total yield among treatments of 125% of MAD (24.026ton/ha), 75% of MAD (20.555ton/ha), and Farmers’ practice (20.703ton/ha). Moreover, the application of irrigation water above MAD and below MAD interval reduced total onion yield in the study area. The highest water use efficiency (5.4092kg m-3) was obtained from treatment of 100% (MAD) while the lowest water use efficiency (3.1029 kg m-3) was observed from Farmer practice. Therefore, the application of irrigation water at 100 %( MAD) was an appropriate irrigation amount and interval to obtain better marketable yield, total yield, and water use efficiency without adversely reducing onion yield in the study area.
