Integrating micro-flood irrigation with in-field rainwater harvesting
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Date
2012-02
Authors
Mavimbela, Sabelo Sicelo Wesley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The mam aim of the study was to integrate micro-flood irrigation (MFI) with in-field
rainwater harvesting (IRWH). The MFI is a short furrow irrigation system that relies on small
inflow rates to mitigate the effect of dry spells in crop fields. The IRWH is an in situ based
rainwater harvesting technique that harvests rainfall in the form of runoff between crop rows
and then concentrates it in the basin area. Given the increased rainfall variability and
evaporation (Ev) in the semi arid areas of the central Free State Province of South Africa, the
merging of these two technologies is hypothesized to be able to stabilize soil water storage
during rainfall and dry spell periods in areas with access to limited irrigation water.
The developments in the study were divided into three phases. The first phase dealt with
characterization of pedological and hydraulic properties of the soils earmarked for IRWH at
the University of the Free State, 20 Km, south of Bloemfontein. These soils were represented
by the Tukulu, Sepane and Swartland soil types with the first two forms also referred as
Cutanic Luvisols and the latter as Cutanic Cambisols of the Reference Soil Group. These
soils were similar only in the orthic A- horizon. The Tukulu had developed structure only in
the prismatic C-horizon and for the Sepane it was in the pedocutanic B- and prismatic Chorizons.
The Swartland had a cambic structure in the pedocutanic B-horizon. Corresponding
hydraulic properties, soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and hydraulic conductivity for
saturated (Ks) and unsaturated conditions (K-8) were determined using in situ and laboratory
procedures for internal drainage (ID) and evaporation (Ev) conditions. Parametric models
were used to describe SWCC and to predict K-8 relationships. Model descriptions of SWCC
were satisfactory. Predictions of K-8 were only accurate at near saturation, but HYDRUS-ID
optimization program had better predictions. Matric suction gradients corresponding to the
draining soil profile were found to fall within the matric suction range of 0 to -10 kPa.
Drainage rate of 0.001 mm hour" corresponded to drainage upper limit (DUL) and deep
drainage (DD) losses proportional to 1 % of annual rainfall over the fallow period. The
Tukulu, Sepane and Swartland soil types had respectively total DD losses of 21, 20 and 52
mm and evaporation losses of 43, 51 and 70 mm. The Ks corresponding to the C-horizons of
these soils was 9.6, 1 and 77 mm hour". During ID and Ev the K-8 functions especially for
horizons with a clay content range of 26 to 48 % dropped by several orders of magnitudes,
while SWC changed with a narrow margin. At the evaporating surface matric suction of
magni tude greater than -1500 kPa were approximated.
The second phase compared four inflow rates (20,40, 80 and 160 L min-I) based on surface
and subsurface irrigation characteristics carried out on the Tukulu soil due its low DD and Ev
losses. A single irrigation on a 90 m closed ended furrow and measurements taken at every
10 m furrow distance for advance and opportunity times, stream flow depth, and SWC before
and after the irrigation. Infiltrated depths predictions from HYDRUS-2D software were
satisfactory from all inflow rates. Distribution uniformity (DU) was higher (≥ 0.89) at 30 m
furrow distance from all inflow rates and the smaller inflow rate much easier to handle.
Vertical redistribution was characterized at each of the 10 m furrow distance covered with a 2
m x 2 m polythene sheet to prevent Ev. Over the 455 hours of redistribution agreement
between measured and predicted SWC from HYDRUS-2D software varied with depth and
furrow length. Low vertical redistribution (Vz) from all inflow rates was attributed to the
restrictive prismatic C-horizon. Higher rates of Vz were observed within the 0-600 mm
profile domain for the small inflow rates and at 0-850 mm for the large inflow rates.
The last phase dealt with the integration of MFI with IRWH, carried out on a 3 x 3 split plot
factorial with four blocks in a complete randomized design experiment. Each plot had five 30
m long furrows and a pair of neutron access tubes installed in each plot at the centre of the
basin and runoff area. The main treatments were runoff strip width (RSW; 1 m, 2 m and 3 m)
and water regime (WR): dryland (DL), supplemental (SPI) and full irrigation (FI). No till and
basin tillage was used to prepare the RSW and the 1 m standard basin area (BA). The BA was
further smoothed with a ridger for uniform distribution of the advance stream flow. A 120
day maturing maize variety was used. A record of rainfall and SWC was kept. The 40 L min-I
inflow rate for 15 minutes irrigation times on a fixed schedule for full and supplemental
irrigation, provided by the BEW AB+ irrigation software was used. A soil water balance
(SWB) procedure was developed to evaluate the effect of the RSW and WR treatments on the
gains and losses in soil water storage. Evapo-transpiration (ET) was partitioned into Ev and
transpiration (T) by a ~-parameter based on plant canopy area. Findings showed that SWB
components were affected by the main effect from the RSW and WR. The 1 m RSW had the
total biomass and grain yields that were respectively 21 % and 45 % higher than the 2 m
RSW, and 35 % and 89 % higher than the 3 m RSW. Total biomass and grain yields from full
and supplemental irrigation were 200 % and 76 % higher than the DL. Though tested for a
single season the combination of 1 m RSW and full irrigation produced optimum crop yields
and WUE for the newly merged MFI-IRWH water management system and is ready to be
used by small scale farmers who have access to irrigation water.
Description
Keywords
Water harvesting, Rainwater, Irrigation, Thesis (Ph.D. (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development and Extension --University of the Free State, 2012