Effect of Furrow Method and Irrigation Levels on Yield of Wheat and Water Productivity in Oda Bultum District Oromia, Ethiopia

Ethiopian government policies have promoted irrigation expansion particularly for cereal crops as a means to boost agricultural growth, reduce production risk, alleviate rural poverty, and improve food security. The experiment was conducted in Oda Bultum District for two consecutive years to evaluate and determine the optimal irrigation water level and application under furrow irrigation for wheat, and to identify the economic water use efficiency and net benefits of deficit irrigation. Two furrow-irrigation methods (conventional and alternate) and four irrigation levels (55%, 70%, 85%, and 100% of ETc) were used. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated three times. Both physical and chemical soil samples were taken and analyzed. Except for plant height, most wheat agronomic parameters differed significantly between treatments (P < 0.05). The highest grain yield occurred with conventional furrow irrigation at 100% ETc. Although 100% ETc with the conventional method produced the maximum yield, it had lower water productivity and a lower marginal rate of return, and it did not promote irrigation water savings. Therefore, for a balance of yield and water savings, conventional furrow irrigation at 70% ETc is recommended; for drought-prone and water-scarce areas, alternate furrow irrigation at 100% ETc is recommended as an option for small-scale farmers.