Yerima Bako Djibo Aboubacar1 and Illa Salifou2
1 Department of Plant Production and Irrigation, University of Djibo Hamani de Tahoua, Niger
2 Radio Isotopes Institute, Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger
Original language: English
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Abstract
In the Sahel, irrigated agriculture through market gardening activities occupies a key place in the socio-economic life of populations but food insecurity remains a persistent reality. The solution to deal with this delicate situation which occurs every other year (2), would be to resort to intensive irrigated production of market garden crops intended for consumption, such as the case of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This study was carried out on the experimental site of the departmental directorate of agriculture of Goudoumaria. The aim is to analyze the impact of complementary irrigation on the growth and productivity of three (3) tomato varieties in experimental trials conducted at a research station. These varieties are: F1 Mongal, Roma and Rio Grande with two (2) supplementary irrigation regimes with 2 treatments (T1: with supplementary irrigation in the absence of rain for 3 successive days and T2: without supplementary irrigation or Control, the plants receive as rainwater). The following parameters were measured over time: germination rate, growth parameters (height, number of leaves, stem diameter) and production. The results showed that supplementary irrigation improves the production of 3 tomato varieties from the first harvest with respective yields for F1 Mongal=9.216t/ha, Roma 16.464t/ha, and Rio Grande, 10.368t/ha. As for the controls (T2), the yields are 6.336t/ha (F1 Mongolian), 7.392t/ha for the Roma variety, 6.3t/ha (Rio Grande). These varieties are therefore well suited to supplementary irrigation and constitute a solution to the food and economic deficits of the population, especially since these varieties are well palatable to humans and very nutritious. To perpetuate this activity, which is beneficial to irrigators in the study area, the State must support them; only the means of drainage and wells or market gardening boreholes remain.
Author Keywords: Supplemental irrigation, irrigated agriculture, food insecurity, tomato varieties and Goudoumaria experimental site.
