PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT MAMPRUGU MUADURI DISTRICT IN NORTH EAST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to evaluate performance of center pivot irrigation systems at the irrigation scheme of Integrated Water and Agriculture Development (IWAD) in Ghana. The study was carried out during dry season 2022/23. The system was evaluated using selected hydraulic performance. This study was conducted under system of eight (8) spans and one overhang for different running speed 100%, 80%, 60% and 40%. 84 catch cans were fixed in the field to identify hydraulic performance. The average collected depth of water in catch cans were 6.5mm, 10.01 mm, 12.87 mm, 19.63 mm for 100 %, 80 %, 60 %,40 % running speed of the system respectively. However, coefficient of uniformity, irrigation efficiency and scheduling coefficient of twelve irrigation number in growing season were 82.7 %, 69.4 % and 1.35 respectively and which were below recommended value. Distribution uniformity was good with 74.49 % while application efficient of 92.68 % was greater than recommended value. The soil moisture content was measured gravimetrically. The results indicated that soil moisture content value before and after irrigation were highly positively correlated with correlation coefficient of 99%. The rate of water losses of system was 7.21 % corresponding to 7.3 m3 per hectare. Approximately 213.922 US Dollars ($) was used for pumping 1 Mega liter (ML) of water to 1ha of irrigable land. Approximately 1 Mega liter of water was required to produce 3640.684 kg of maize grain, 447.451 kg of cow peas, 19659.910 kg of onion, 5008.239 kg of sorghum and 824.155 kg of groundnuts. Therefore, to improve system efficiency, we recommend using flow meter, soil sensors, and operating pressure regulators should be checked and computer system to control water flows, finally performance evaluation of center pivot irrigation system should be done every two years.