Use of CROPWAT Model to Predict Water Use in Irrigated Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Production at Kabete, Kenya
View/ Open
Date
2014Author
Karuku, GN
Gachene, CKK
Karanja, N
Cornelis, W
Verplancke, H
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study uses CROPWAT model to predict water use in
rainfed agriculture and simulated irrigation requirement
for tomato production in the Kabete Field Station. The
model predicted increased irrigation requirement for
a tomato crop of 33.1, 28.1 and 36.6 mm of water, in
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd 10-day periods of development
stage, respectively. The crop evapotranspiration (ETc)
requirements by tomato crop were predicted as 456.5 mm
for the short rainy season while actual evapotranspiration
(ETa) was 232.1 mm for the short rains giving a yield
response factor of 0.49. The model suggested an
addition of 253.7 mm of irrigation water in order to
realize optimal tomato yields as the crop experienced an
irrigation deficiency of 48.8%. The moisture deficit at
harvest was 63.6 mm of water which resulted in total
yield reduction of 51.3%. In relation to actual yields
calculated, the mean potential optimal tomato yields
in the study area were 23.3 Mg/ha with proper soil
management and adequate water supply. The suggested
supply system was at 10 days irrigation interval/stage
where the soils were irrigated just below or above field
capacity. Rainfall losses and irrigation requirements
would be reduced to 41.9 and 267.7 mm, with minimum
water deficit at harvest of 15.5 mm and an irrigation
efficiency of 100%. At this point, ETa would equal ETm
and optimal tomato yield would be obtained with yield
losses predicted at 0.1%. Yield gap analysis revealed that
radiation, sunshine and temperature are favourable for
crop production, but the heavy dependence on rainfall
makes the area very vulnerable to drought.
URI
https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/gmoe/publications/use-cropwat-model-predict-water-use-irrigated-tomato-lycopersicon-esculentum-pro-0http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/154711
Citation
Karuku GN, Gachene CKK, Karanja N, Cornelis W, Verplancke H. "Use of CROPWAT Model to Predict Water Use in Irrigated Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Production at Kabete, Kenya." E. Afr. agric. For. J.. 2014;80(3):175-183.Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
CROPWAT Model ,Irrigated TomatoRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
The following license files are associated with this item: