Modelling of Runoff Water Harvesting, Storage and Irrigation for Dry Season Bean Production
Abstract
226 words
Productivity of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an
important component of farming systems in smallholder
agriculture of sub-Saharan Africa, remained stagnant or even
declined over the years, because of major problems such as
drought. The present study aims at modeling runoff rainwater,
seasonal storage of harvested water in an open surface reservoir
and determination of water-bean productivity in drought prone
sub Saharan Africa, using Ukwe Area in Malawi as a case
study site. Rational technique based on discharge attributes of
seasonal rainfall and catchment area will be used to develop a
stored water prediction model. This in turn will be compared
with irrigation volume requirement model component as the
season progresses. A relationship between applied water and
bean water productivity is being established. The yield model
simulating component uses input data of evaporation (mm),
temperature (
0
C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (Km/day),
Saturation deficit (kPa), and Solar radiation (MJM-
2
day-1
) on
daily basis, and soil types and bulk density of the soil (g/cm3
),
crop leaf area (m2
/kg), maximum daily root depth (mm), grain
number and grain weight (g) on a weekly basis. Preliminary
results have revealed that runoff water, long term open surface
storage and water-bean productivity can be modeled usingclimate factors, catchment attributes, reservoir characteristics,
and field and crop parameters. Measured and estimated runoff
showed correlation of over 90%.
Subjects
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