Evaluation of Stage-wise Deficit Furrow Irrigation: on Maize Production at Koga Irrigation Scheme, Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia

Efficient irrigation management has an imperative role in managing water. Deficit irrigation water application is among the most effective water management solutions. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the performance of stage-wise deficit irrigation application on irrigation efficiencies. The field experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The result showed that level of stage-wise deficit irrigation water application had a significant (P<0.05) impact on performance indices except distribution uniformity. The highest physical water productivity and economic water productivity were obtained when 50% deficit applied during 2nd and 3rd growth stages. In conclusion, this study showed that much water is saved when the crop is stressed by 50% during 2nd and 3rd growth stages. The selection of stage-wise deficit irrigation application treatments was very much restricted to taking two consecutive growth stages. Therefore, future work with more resource needs to be designed by considering every stage with different deficit levels for comprehensive irrigation water management recommendations.