Decision Support System for Runoff Water Harvesting and Irrigation

Simple item page
dc.creatorSinga, Darwin Dodoma
dc.creatorTumbo, Siza Donald
dc.creatorFatael, Mahoo Henry
dc.creatorFilbert, Rwehumbiza
dc.creatorMaxon, Lowole
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-04T06:24:35Z
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-05T07:42:21Z
dc.date.available2023-08-04T06:24:35Z
dc.date.created2023-08-04T06:24:35Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractDespite the prevailing versatility of agro-hydrological Decision Support Systems (DSS) in the agricultural sector, a number of associated deficiencies do exist. The deficiencies are due to lack of synchronization of runoff affecting rainfall, catchment factors, reservoir capacity and irrigation field area in the face of recurring droughts and dry spells in several areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study focused on designing and validating a Decision Support System, by adding water reservoir and irrigation sub-routines to an Agro-hydrological Nedbor Afstromnings Model (NAM) to assist in screening best-bet options for either crop field area or reservoir size using a case study of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) at Ukwe Area in Malawi. Microsoft excel spreadsheet (MS excel) was used to compute cumulative runoff inflows into the dam, seasonal open surface water storage, water losses and withdrawal and reservoir water available for the bean crop. Computer simulation using soil, vegetation and topographical characteristics, and crop water requirements revealed proportion of catchment to irrigation command area of 10:1 with bean water productivity of 0.7 g/l (0.7 kg/m3 ), indicating low water demand. The NAM simulated values were in agreement with calculated ones. Post-DSS gross margin analysis indicated that 2.42 times more crop returns were obtained from irrigated than rain-fed bean crops despite additional costs associated with reservoir maintenance and irrigation operations. The DSS is, hence, found potential for users in drought prone Sub-Saharan African countries such as Malawi.
dc.identifier2231-0606
dc.identifierhttp://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/5523
dc.identifier.urihttp://repository.costech.or.tz/handle/20.500.14732/99643
dc.languageen
dc.publisherScience Domain
dc.subjectIrrigation
dc.subjectReservoir
dc.subjectRunoff
dc.subjectSimulation
dc.subjectStorage
dc.subjectSynchronization
dc.titleDecision Support System for Runoff Water Harvesting and Irrigation
dc.typeArticle

Files

Collections

Sokoine University