Comparative evaluation of bed and conventional irrigation methods on yield and water productivity of wheat

Improving water use efficiency is essential in regions with scarce water resources. In Ethiopia, conventional farming like flood and furrow irrigation often results in uneven water distribution, negatively affecting yield and water productivity. This study evaluated the effects of different irrigation methods on wheat yield, water productivity and economic return during the 2022/23 irrigation season. The conventional irrigation method (CIM) and the bed irrigation method (BIM) were tested across six locations, with farmers serving as replications. The findings showed that BIM achieved 3.5 t ha-1 mean grain yield, 0.98 kg m-3 water productivity (WP), 2116 US$ ha-1 net benefit and 0.6 US$ m-3 economic water productivity (EWP) using 3327.0 m3 ha-1 applied water. In contrast, CIM produced 2.8 t ha-1 mean grain yield, 0.63 kg m-3 WP, 1706 US$ ha-1 net benefit and 0.4 US$ m-3 EWP using 4146.7 m3 ha-1 applied water. These findings indicate that the BIM provides a 25% increase in yield, a 55.5% improvement in WP, a 24% increase in net economic return and a 50% EWP advantage compared to the CIM. Therefore, adopting BIM for wheat cultivation is recommended to enhance yield, optimize water use and maximize farmers' economic benefits in the study area.