Runoff Harvesting and Storage for Rice Crop at Hamelmalo, Semiarid Region of Eritrea
Affiliation(s)
Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea.
Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea.
ABSTRACT
Rice is staple food in Eritrea but it is not cultivated in the country due to semiarid conditions. However, possibilities exist for growing rice using runoff produced from nonagricultural hilly lands, which occupy >50% - 80% area of all agricultural watersheds in Eritrea. Study was undertaken in 6 ha watershed at Hamelmalo to design and develop waterway for safe harvesting of runoff from 5.5 ha catchment into a pond for facilitating runoff farming of rice in 0.5 ha field at the outlet end receiving recurrent floods. Slope of the catchment ranged from 1% to 6%. The waterway was designed to intercept and carry runoff from two major drains in nonagricultural land together and delivering into a pond made adjacent to rice field. The waterway was about 323 m long with 3 m top width, 1.5 m bottom width and 0.3 - 0.8 m depth from surface. The pond was 60 m long, 9 m wide and 1 m deep with 1.5 m high earthen dam towards rice field using soil excavated from the pond. Embankment on the remaining sides was mango orchard land slopping towards pond. The dam base width was 4 m, top width was 2.5 m and height was 1.5 m from the ground surface. Two spill ways were provided in the dam at ends at the ground level to facilitate release of runoff from the pond for irrigation. Gross capacity of pond was >1000 m3. Combined effect of river water, percolation from pond and wetter rice field raised groundwater table from 3.25 m depth in June to 1.4 m by mid-crop season. This resulted in soil wetness exceeding field capacity below 0.7 m depth and greener crop. Rice yields exceeding 2000 kg·ha-1 were harvested under runoff farming conditions. Soil puddling was more conducive to rice crop than compaction under available soil and water resources.
Rice is staple food in Eritrea but it is not cultivated in the country due to semiarid conditions. However, possibilities exist for growing rice using runoff produced from nonagricultural hilly lands, which occupy >50% - 80% area of all agricultural watersheds in Eritrea. Study was undertaken in 6 ha watershed at Hamelmalo to design and develop waterway for safe harvesting of runoff from 5.5 ha catchment into a pond for facilitating runoff farming of rice in 0.5 ha field at the outlet end receiving recurrent floods. Slope of the catchment ranged from 1% to 6%. The waterway was designed to intercept and carry runoff from two major drains in nonagricultural land together and delivering into a pond made adjacent to rice field. The waterway was about 323 m long with 3 m top width, 1.5 m bottom width and 0.3 - 0.8 m depth from surface. The pond was 60 m long, 9 m wide and 1 m deep with 1.5 m high earthen dam towards rice field using soil excavated from the pond. Embankment on the remaining sides was mango orchard land slopping towards pond. The dam base width was 4 m, top width was 2.5 m and height was 1.5 m from the ground surface. Two spill ways were provided in the dam at ends at the ground level to facilitate release of runoff from the pond for irrigation. Gross capacity of pond was >1000 m3. Combined effect of river water, percolation from pond and wetter rice field raised groundwater table from 3.25 m depth in June to 1.4 m by mid-crop season. This resulted in soil wetness exceeding field capacity below 0.7 m depth and greener crop. Rice yields exceeding 2000 kg·ha-1 were harvested under runoff farming conditions. Soil puddling was more conducive to rice crop than compaction under available soil and water resources.
Cite this paper
Tripathi, R. , Ogbazghi, W. , Amlsom, S. and Measho, S. (2016) Runoff Harvesting and Storage for Rice Crop at Hamelmalo, Semiarid Region of Eritrea. Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering, 5, 1-9. doi: 10.4236/cweee.2016.51001.
Tripathi, R. , Ogbazghi, W. , Amlsom, S. and Measho, S. (2016) Runoff Harvesting and Storage for Rice Crop at Hamelmalo, Semiarid Region of Eritrea. Computational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering, 5, 1-9. doi: 10.4236/cweee.2016.51001.
References
[1] MOA (Ministry of Agriculture) (2005) Area and Production by Zoba from 1992-2005. MOA, Asmara, Eritrea. [2] Tripathi, R.P. and Ogbazghi, W. (2010) Development and Management of a Hilly Watershed in Hamelmalo Agricultural College farm, as a Demonstration Site for Farmers and a Study Site for Students. Final Technical Report of the Project Financed by Eastern and Southern Africa Partnership Programme (ESAAP), Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea, 59 p. [3] Tripathi, R.P., Ogbazghi, W., Amlesom, S. and Araia, W. (2014) Optimizing Tillage and Rain Water Conservation in the Soils of Hamelmalo Region of Eritrea for Arresting Soil Degradation and Achieving Sustainable High Crop Yields. Final Technical Report of the Project Financed by GEF/SGP, UNDP, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea, 112 p. [4] Temesgen, M., Rockstrom J., Savenije, H.H.C., Hoogmoed, W.B. and Alemu, D. (2008) Determination of Tillage Frequency among Smallholder Farmers in Two Semiarid Areas in Ethiopia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 33, 183-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2007.04.012 [5] FAO (2005) Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture World Food Programme. Special report FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Eritrea. FAO, Rome. [6] Elwell, H.A. and Stocking, M.A. (1988) Loss of Soil Nutrients by Sheet Erosion Is a Major Hidden Farming Cost. The Zimbabwe Science News, 22, 79-82. [7] Tesfai, M. (2001) Soil and Water Management in Spate Iirrigation Systems in Eritrea. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation, Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands, 211 p. [8] Ashouri, M. (2012) The Effect of Water Saving Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Rice Production in Paddy Fields of Iran. International Journal of Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, 2, 56-59.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7763/IJBBB.2012.V2.70 [9] Goto, A., Nishimaki, R., Suzuki, S., Watanabe, F. and Takahashi, S. (2012) Terrace Development Applied as a Water Harvesting Technology for Stable NERICA Production in Uganda. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 22, 243-246. [10] Abu, S.T. and Malgwi, W.B. (2012) Effects of Irrigation Regime and Frequency on Soil Physical Quality, Water Use Efficiency, Water Productivity and Economic Returns of Paddy Rice. ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 7, 86-99. [11] Tripathi, R.P., Kushwaha, H.S. and Mishra, R.K. (1986) Irrigation Requirement of Rice under Shallow Water Table Conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 12, 127-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774(86)90011-9 [12] Bajpai, R.K. and Tripathi, R.P. (2000) Evaluation of Non-Puddling under Shallow Water Tables and Alternative Tillage Methods on Soil and Crop Parameters in a Rice-Wheat System in Uttar Pradesh. Soil and Tillage Research, 55, 99-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00111-2 [13] Tripathi, R.P., Kushwaha, H.S. and Agrawal, A. (1987) A Simple Non-Weighing LysimeterInstallation with Rain Shelter. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 41, 275-288.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1923(87)90084-0 [14] Tesfamichael, F. (2007) Integrated Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen on Wheat Productivity under Shallow Water Table Condition in Eritrea. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 91 p. [15] Tesfai, M. and Stroosnijder, L. (2000) The Eritrean Spate Irrigation System. Agricultural Water Management, 48, 512-560. [16] Amlesom, S. (2005) Review of Irrigation Development in Eritrea. In: Mehari, T. and Ghebru, B., Eds., Irrigation Development in Eritrea: Potentials and Constraints, Proceedings of the Workshop of the Association of Eritreans in Agricultural Sciences (AEAS) and the Sustainable Land Management Programme (SLM), Eritrea, 14-15 August 2003, 5-11. [17] Abraham, K., Dawit, F., Kibrom, B., Natsnet, O. and Selemawit, W. (2014) Effect of Puddling on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice. Senior Research Project, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 40 p. [18] Asmelash, M., Filmon, D., Amanuel, G., Selam, E. and Natsnet, K. (2014) Effect of Compaction on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice. Senior Reseach Project, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 50 p. [19] ASAE (American Society of Agricultural Engineers) (1989) Design, Layout, Construction and Maintenance of Terrace Systems. ASAE Standard S268.3, St. Joseph, MI.
[1] MOA (Ministry of Agriculture) (2005) Area and Production by Zoba from 1992-2005. MOA, Asmara, Eritrea. [2] Tripathi, R.P. and Ogbazghi, W. (2010) Development and Management of a Hilly Watershed in Hamelmalo Agricultural College farm, as a Demonstration Site for Farmers and a Study Site for Students. Final Technical Report of the Project Financed by Eastern and Southern Africa Partnership Programme (ESAAP), Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea, 59 p. [3] Tripathi, R.P., Ogbazghi, W., Amlesom, S. and Araia, W. (2014) Optimizing Tillage and Rain Water Conservation in the Soils of Hamelmalo Region of Eritrea for Arresting Soil Degradation and Achieving Sustainable High Crop Yields. Final Technical Report of the Project Financed by GEF/SGP, UNDP, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea, 112 p. [4] Temesgen, M., Rockstrom J., Savenije, H.H.C., Hoogmoed, W.B. and Alemu, D. (2008) Determination of Tillage Frequency among Smallholder Farmers in Two Semiarid Areas in Ethiopia. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 33, 183-191.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2007.04.012 [5] FAO (2005) Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture World Food Programme. Special report FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Eritrea. FAO, Rome. [6] Elwell, H.A. and Stocking, M.A. (1988) Loss of Soil Nutrients by Sheet Erosion Is a Major Hidden Farming Cost. The Zimbabwe Science News, 22, 79-82. [7] Tesfai, M. (2001) Soil and Water Management in Spate Iirrigation Systems in Eritrea. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation, Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands, 211 p. [8] Ashouri, M. (2012) The Effect of Water Saving Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Rice Production in Paddy Fields of Iran. International Journal of Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, 2, 56-59.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7763/IJBBB.2012.V2.70 [9] Goto, A., Nishimaki, R., Suzuki, S., Watanabe, F. and Takahashi, S. (2012) Terrace Development Applied as a Water Harvesting Technology for Stable NERICA Production in Uganda. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 22, 243-246. [10] Abu, S.T. and Malgwi, W.B. (2012) Effects of Irrigation Regime and Frequency on Soil Physical Quality, Water Use Efficiency, Water Productivity and Economic Returns of Paddy Rice. ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 7, 86-99. [11] Tripathi, R.P., Kushwaha, H.S. and Mishra, R.K. (1986) Irrigation Requirement of Rice under Shallow Water Table Conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 12, 127-136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774(86)90011-9 [12] Bajpai, R.K. and Tripathi, R.P. (2000) Evaluation of Non-Puddling under Shallow Water Tables and Alternative Tillage Methods on Soil and Crop Parameters in a Rice-Wheat System in Uttar Pradesh. Soil and Tillage Research, 55, 99-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00111-2 [13] Tripathi, R.P., Kushwaha, H.S. and Agrawal, A. (1987) A Simple Non-Weighing LysimeterInstallation with Rain Shelter. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 41, 275-288.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1923(87)90084-0 [14] Tesfamichael, F. (2007) Integrated Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen on Wheat Productivity under Shallow Water Table Condition in Eritrea. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 91 p. [15] Tesfai, M. and Stroosnijder, L. (2000) The Eritrean Spate Irrigation System. Agricultural Water Management, 48, 512-560. [16] Amlesom, S. (2005) Review of Irrigation Development in Eritrea. In: Mehari, T. and Ghebru, B., Eds., Irrigation Development in Eritrea: Potentials and Constraints, Proceedings of the Workshop of the Association of Eritreans in Agricultural Sciences (AEAS) and the Sustainable Land Management Programme (SLM), Eritrea, 14-15 August 2003, 5-11. [17] Abraham, K., Dawit, F., Kibrom, B., Natsnet, O. and Selemawit, W. (2014) Effect of Puddling on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice. Senior Research Project, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 40 p. [18] Asmelash, M., Filmon, D., Amanuel, G., Selam, E. and Natsnet, K. (2014) Effect of Compaction on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice. Senior Reseach Project, Department of Land Resources and Environment, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea, 50 p. [19] ASAE (American Society of Agricultural Engineers) (1989) Design, Layout, Construction and Maintenance of Terrace Systems. ASAE Standard S268.3, St. Joseph, MI.