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1 Stirzaker, R.; Stevens, J.; Annandale, J.; Maeko, T.; Steyn, J.; Mpandeli, S.; Maurobane, W.; Nkgapele, J.; Jovanovic, N. 2004. Building capacity in irrigation management with wetting front detectors. Pretoria, South Africa: Water Research Commission. 85p. (WRC Report No. TT 230/04)

Capacity building ; Irrigation management ; Drip irrigation ; Sprinkler irrigation ; Furrow irrigation ; Irrigation scheduling ; Small scale farming ; Farmers ; Helianthus annuus

(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 631.7 G000 STI Record No: H044219)

http://www.wrc.org.za/Knowledge%20Hub%20Documents/Research%20Reports/TT230-04.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H044219.pdf

(2.19 MB) (2.19MB)

Efficient use of water in the agricultural sector is an issue of national importance in South Africa and the science required to achieve this goal is relatively mature. However, a recent survey among commercial farmers showed that they ranked irrigation scheduling as priority number four or five amongst their major concerns. Most farmers are prepared to admit that their system is not perfect, but at least it works. After a period of trial and error they have settled on management system that satisfied them and they need a good reason to re-evaluate it. Small-scale farmers were preoccupied with issues such as their access to land, water, credit and markets and showed little awareness of the importance of water use efficiency. This project introduced a Wetting Front Detector to farmers with the purpose of stimulating a re-think about irrigation management on their farms. The Wetting Front Detector (WFD) was designed to be the simplest tool that could assist farmers to improve their understanding of irrigation. To achieve this aim, the wetting front detector must pass two tests. First, the device itself and how it works must make intuitive sense to farmers. It should be relatively easy to install and give “believable” results that challenge the farmer’s perceptions. Second it must pass the accuracy test. We have to demonstrate that crops irrigated according to the principles of the Wetting Front Detector perform adequately against standard scientific procedures. A combination of research and extension was employed to satisfy these objectives.