Effects of Irrigation System and Interval on Fodder Productivity of Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Under Semi-arid Environment

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Khartoum,( Lat. 15°40ʹ N. Long. 320 32ʹ E). and 380 metres
above sea level. The investigation was for three years, during January to
August of 2007, 2008 and 2009. The objectives of the experiment were to
study the effects of the irrigation intervals of 8 days (W1 ) and of 12 days (W 2)
on the yield of lucerne fodder, using drip and sprinkler irrigation systems,
each of which received 8mm day.-1 The amount per irrigation of W 1 was
therefore 8x8=64mm and that of W 2 was 8x12=96mm .The experimental
design was radomized complete block because the geographical site could
not allow other designs. The results showed that the production of lucerne
irrigated at W 1 was higher than that obtained at W 2 by about 70 % from the
total yield of 2007, 2008 and 2009 by (42 % in drip irrigation and 38 % in
sprinkler irrigation). During the relatively cool weather (January to March),
the yield was more than during the hot weather (April to June). Fodder
production during the rainy season (July and August) was higher than during
the hot season. This was probably a result of cloudy and rainy condition.
Water use efficiency (WUE) under the W 1 irrigation interval was more than
at the irrigation interval W 2 in each of 2007, 2008 and 2009. The high
productivity was associated with high leaf /stem ratio.