Assessing the effectiveness of locally made clay pot as an irrigation device.

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dc.contributor.authorSolo, Mahatsindry Randzato
dc.date.accessioned2025-12-05T08:29:52Z
dc.date.available2025-12-05T08:29:52Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.descriptionDissertation
dc.description.abstractAmong traditional irrigation systems, pitcher irrigation is one of the most efficient. Water seeps out of a buried pitcher due to the pressure head gradient across the wall of the pitcher directly into the root zone of the irrigated crop. The pressure gradient results from a positive pressure head inside the pitcher and negative pressure head at the outer surface of the pitcher which is in contact with soil. Pitcher irrigation is a cost effective traditional technique, which is easy for small scale farmers to comprehend with. This study considered the effectiveness of locally made pitchers as a micro-irrigation device using beans and amaranths crops. The experimental design was 2x3 factorial arrangements of treatments in a split plot design. The main-plots were two different initial soil moisture contents i.e. soil moisture content at field capacity (31 %, vol.) and 26 % (vol.). The sub-plots were three different plant densities i.e. 4 plants/pot, 6 plants/pot and 8 plants/pot and were replicated three times giving a total of 18 combination treatments. A positive relationship was found between seepage rate and actual evapotranspiration for all pitchers (R = 0.37) showing a sign of auto-regulative capabilities. Under beans, the pitchers were not effective in water saving in all the combination treatments because of high water loss through deep percolation because of poor pot characterization. However under amaranths the pitchers were effective in optimizing the water applied. The water applied was not statistically different (P < 0.05) for all the treatments. These results show that clay pots had low application efficiency. However the pots can still be used on amaranths, with a plant density of 16 plants/pot and at initial soil moisture content of 26 % (volume).
dc.description.sponsorshipICART/SADC
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7166
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSokoine University of Agriculture
dc.subjectTraditional irrigation systems
dc.subjectPitcher Irrigation
dc.subjectClay Pot Production
dc.subjectWater productivity
dc.titleAssessing the effectiveness of locally made clay pot as an irrigation device.
dc.typeThesis

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