Assessment of a Sprinkler Irrigation System for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Production in the Gontougo Region, Côte d’Ivoire: A Descriptive Case Study
Kouamé Elie FOKOUO *
Food Biochemistry and Tropical Products Technology Laboratory, University of NANGUI ABROGOUA, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire.
Hanzi Karen KOUAME
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Training and Research Unit in Food Science and Technology (UFR-STA), Nangui-ABROGOUA University, BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kouadio Gabin Kouakou
Food Biochemistry and Tropical Products Technology Laboratory, University of NANGUI ABROGOUA, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire.
Kouakou Nestor KOUASSI
Food Biochemistry and Tropical Products Technology Laboratory, University of NANGUI ABROGOUA, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire and Swiss Centre for Scientific Research, 01 BP 1303, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sprinkler irrigation may support vegetable production where rainfall is variable. This study examined the installation of a sprinkler irrigation system and reported okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) water requirements and yields in Yomankro and N’dakro, Gontougo Region, Côte d’Ivoire. The systems were installed on one-hectare sites following a preliminary field survey. Each system used a diesel-powered pump, polyvinyl chloride pipes, shut-off valves and rotary sprinklers supplied from a water source approximately 150 m from the plots. The layout comprised 49 sprinklers per plot, with 12 m spacing between adjacent sprinklers and lines. Crop water requirements were estimated using the FAO-56 approach, meteorological observations from Bondoukou and published stage-specific crop coefficients. Yield was expressed in tonnes per hectare. Estimated crop evapotranspiration increased from 2.64 mm·day⁻¹ during the initial stage to 4.42 mm·day⁻¹ during development and 5.49 mm·day⁻¹ at mid-season, before declining to 3.55 mm·day⁻¹ during the late-season stage. Reported yield was 3.20 t·ha⁻¹ under traditional irrigation and 8.38 t·ha⁻¹ under sprinkler irrigation, a difference of 5.18 t·ha⁻¹. These findings describe a higher observed yield under sprinkler irrigation. However, no replicated yield observations, statistical tests or field measurements of application uniformity were reported. Further replicated and hydraulically monitored evaluations are needed to establish how much of the yield difference is attributable to the irrigation method.
Keywords: Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, sprinkler irrigation, irrigation system design, crop evapotranspiration, crop coefficients, water requirements, crop yield, polyvinyl chloride pipes