Water harvesting techniques and supplemental irrigation impact on sorghum production

In general, rain-fed agriculture is practised in many areas in western Sudan. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt appropriate rainwater harvesting and reuse technique(s) by promoting soil and water management research to sustain crop productivity. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a primary stable crop of Sudan. Extensive field experiments were conducted to study the effect of water harvesting techniques (WHTs) and supplemental irrigation (SI) on infiltration rate (IR), soil moisture content (SMC), growth and productivity of sorghum during two rainy seasons (2012 and 2013).

The results showed that the WHTs and SI affected the soil physical properties, growth and productivity parameters of sorghum. The results indicated that the tied-ridging with SI (TRwSI) produced the highest values of accumulative IR, SMC and sorghum productivity (115 mm, 13% and 4000 kg h(-1) , in season 2012, respectively, whereas in season 2013 the values were 145 mm, 10% and 5000 kg h(-1) , for accumulative IR, SMC and sorghum productivity, respectively. Basin with SI (BwSI) ranked second, next to TRwSI in the both seasons.

Hence, water harvesting and SI are expected to play a significant role in terms of sustainable agricultural and socio-economic development in western Sudan and similar areas.