2022 Volume 32 Issue S Pages 95-99
Irrigation is essential for crop cultivation in arid and semi-arid areas with limited rainfall and water resources. Efficient and effective use of water resources is required and saving irrigation water is important. Djibouti is a very dry region with annual rainfall of about 150 mm and an average annual temperature of 28.6°C. Due to such meteorological conditions, water resources depend mostly on groundwater, and this makes water extremely scarce. Therefore, water saving in agricultural sector is indispensable. This study aims at promoting effective and efficient use of irrigation water in Djibouti. The appropriate irrigation water amounts for tomato cultivation were estimated using CROPWAT provided by FAO and observed meteorological data at Ali Farren farm in Djibouti. The conditions required for calculating the amounts of irrigation water were medium loam soil based on the laboratory results of soil particle size test, and the tomato cultivation period from October to March according to the local farmers. The result showed that the average monthly reference evapotranspiration was 5.7 mm/day annually. Reference Evapotranspiration was maximum in July and August with 8.4 mm/day and minimum in December with 4.6 mm/day. The amount of irrigation water from October to March was about 476 mm which corresponds to the local tomato cultivation period.
