1. Horticulture in Spate Irrigation
5.4
Horticulture in Spate Irrigation

2. Horticulture in Spate Irrigation
Horticultural production is possible in spate irrigation, provided:
Use the cool season
Soils are sandy-loamy preferable with good organic content
Care is taken in conserving soil moisture
Care is taken to prevent damage from tresspassing livestock, birds and pests
Care is taken to avoid damage from late floods
Note:
Additional use of groundwater makes it easy

3. Conserving soil moisture
Example from Eritrea: conserving soil moisture:
After being flooded few times in August-September
This field was ploughed by tractor
And mulched twice
In February (this picture)
soil moisture was still high

4. Examples of horticultural crops
Tomatoes
Planted from seedbed
Planted out on humid day

5. Examples of horticultural crops
Okra, lady-fingers
Direct seeded

6. Examples of horticultural crops
Beans

7. Examples of horticultural crops
Pumpkins
Added advantage:
Non perishable

8. Examples of horticultural crops
Cucumber and mellons

9. Examples of horticultural crops
Kerkede (hibiscus)

10. Examples of horticultural crops
Off-season onion in Sindh (Pakistan)
Also well-irrigated

11. With thanks to Mohammed Ali Hamirai.
Progressive farmer in Sheeb, Eritrea.