Performance Evaluation of Bamboo(Bambusa vulgaris, Schrad)-pipe and medi-emitter in a gravity flow drip irrigation system.

Abstract

The use of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris, Schrad) in gravity – flow drip irrigation was evaluated at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria with leaf amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) as test crop. System involved the use of bamboo as the conveyance structure and medical infusion sets as dripper to deliver water to the field at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 drops of water/minutes. The variation in discharge ranged from 6.35 to 10.21 percent as the flow rate decreases from 30 to 10 drops of water/minute. The corresponding manufacturer’s coefficient of variation ranged from 2.31 to 3.35 percent as the flow rate decreases. Statistical Uniformity Coefficient and Distribution Uniformity varied between 97.21 and 98.33 percent and 96.06 and 97.69 percent respectively as the flow rate increases. There was an increase in plant height on average of 4.85, 12.53, 32.43 and 42.58cm one, two, three and four weeks after sowing while an optimum yield of 4.13Kg/m2 was recorded from 15drops of water/minute. This is a new dimension in affordable drip irrigation technology and an avenue to exploit local and cheap materials whose propagation should be emphasized.