Optimizing Garlic Yield Through Furrow Irrigation Systems and Deficit Irrigation in Central Ethiopia, Tiyo District

Water scarcity presents a significant challenge to sustainable agriculture, especially in semi-arid regions like Ethiopia, where limited water availability intensifies dependence on efficient irrigation methods. This study assessed the impact of three furrow irrigation systems—Conventional Furrow Irrigation (CFI), Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AFI), and Fixed Furrow Irrigation (FFI)—combined with four levels of deficit irrigation (100%, 85%, 70%, and 55% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) on garlic yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in Tiyo District, Central Ethiopia. A factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed with 12 treatment combinations and three replications. Results revealed that CFI at 85%ETc achieved the highest garlic yield among deficit treatments (82.68 q/ha), while AFI at 100%ETc provided a comparable yield with significantly reduced water use. The maximum irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of 31.52 kg/mm was observed under AFI70%ETc, followed closely by AFI100%ETc at 28.64 kg/mm. Crop water use efficiency (CWUE) was highest under CFI100%ETc at 26.35 kg/mm. Despite FFI being less effective due to uneven water distribution, AFI demonstrated consistent superiority in maintaining stable yields and maximizing WUE, especially under limited water conditions. The study concludes that AFI coupled with moderate deficit irrigation (100% or 85%ETc) offers a promising approach for improving garlic productivity and sustainable water management. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and farmers seeking adaptive strategies to enhance crop performance in water-scarce environments.