My experimental study of how effective Clay pot irrigation can work for tomatoes finally ended on Monday, after which i started on and have just finished writing the paper.
Meanwhile here i would like to share an abstract of the paper which i have already sent out to a science Journal. Hopefully it will be considered and published as i have put in quiet a lot of time (averagely 5 months) and effort.
Note:- The study was done with support from the Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Busitema University, P.O. Box 236 Tororo, Uganda
Introduction
Erratic and deficit rainfall patterns specific to fragile eco-systems of arid/semi-arid regions adversely impact on household food security. Inherent competitions for scarce resources ensures poor biomass turnover and make Agriculture risky. Site-specific Irrigation is the most sustainable means of radically enabling production and revitalizing productivity even on marginal ands.
Materials and methods
Porous clay capsule irrigation combines the original concept of burying clay pots filled with water and the principles of modern drip irrigation. The unglazed/porous clay flower pots are rim glued, plumbed and fitted with connectors and tubing to establish a distribution network fed by a water reserve.
Water availability extremes adversely impact on crop performance, but the self-regulating clay capsule system, once buried in soil only allows water to seep out at rates dictated by crop water need, atmospheric pressure, and soil water affinity.
The annexure of elevated water storage enables a switch-off from atmospheric pressure to technically enable this specific design to primitively perform modern "low pressure drip irrigation."
For qualitative/quantitative investigation, relevant literature was reviewed, basic soil/water tests and experimentation done on tomatoes by varying types, sizes and spacing of clay pots and plants on 30 sq. ft. trial beds using randomized block design replication. Water requirements were quantified, crop yields assessed under various water supply regimes.
Findings
Crop and system performance were recorded, projected and compared to other conventional systems like the watering Can. Consequently, 4 and 8 inch rim diameter pots gave the best balance between size, ease of use, efficiency and affordability; managing to deliver about 0.5-1 gallon of water in approximately 8-12 hours to serve 4-6 plants adjacent individual capsules and saving about 70% of water in comparison to other conventional irrigation systems.
Moreover, even saline water of up to 14 dS/m was found usable for growing salt-sensitive tomatoes. 175 tomato plants, irrigated by about 70 clay capsules on 100 m2 plot could be optimally served by about 45 gallons/day of water relayed from a 55 gallon drum reservoir to produce tomatoes approximately 0.7 tons/100m 2 and 30 tons/acre.
True, upper limits of crop production are set by natural climatic conditions and crop genetic potential, but how closely this limit is reached depends on how tactfully engineering aspects of artificial water supply meet biological crop water needs.
Conclusion
A complete set of this system, costing about 500,000-1,000,000 Ugx depending on acreage, while excluding the expensive pressurized pump and using local clay pots, trash cans as water regulators is tailor-made to sufficiently meet in quantity and time, water needs vital for optimum small-holder vegetable/cereal/fruit plant growth under arid/semi-arid conditions.
It realizes ideals of sustainable resource utilization, viable economics and compatibility to traditional farming mentalities to increase economic biomass production per unit of water, and cropping intensity for maximum cropland returns.
Related works
FARMER TALK - ICT’s and automated irrigation systems are a synergy to reckon with.
Tutorial #1 - Basic steps to design a Drip Irrigation system (10m×10m) for tomato growing
Tutorial #2 - Basic steps for laying out irrigation system
Tutorial #3 - How frequently should you irrigate/water your tomatoes?
Tutorial #4 - How to tell you have over-watered/over irrigated your tomatoes
Tutorial #5 - For free! - Complete fixed sprinkler irrigation system Design for 1.8 acres (Drawings/specifications)