Avaliação da eficiência do manejo de irrigação em área experimental no semi-árido nordestino – estudo de caso.

Abstract

Small-scale irrigation has been largely practiced in the alluvial valleys of the semi-arid region in, using groundwater. In these areas, conflicts related to water use occur, mainly in drought periods. These conflicts could be ameliorated by management and control practices orienting irrigated agriculture. The present paper presents a study comparing three plots, with different irrigation schemes. In only one of these plots irrigation management has been practiced by the farmers, estimating irrigation depth based on rainfall and evaporation daily measurements. It has been verified that the farmer experience follows the crop requirement. However, in the empirical practice fragile attention is given to the time distribution of the correct irrigation depth, causing eventually water stress in the crop or unnecessary irrigation application.