Crop water requirements of watermelon (Citrullus lantus), cassava (Manihot esculenta), groundnut (Arachis hypogea), rice (Oryza sativa) and pineapple (Ananas comosus), for year-round production in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Food security of any nation or society is mostly guaranteed by effective crop production. This does not only put food on the tables of the people but also provides raw materials for industries. One sure way to achieve this is by effectively utilizing the available water resources for year-round production. This study analyzed historic weather data at various locations across the Southeast of Nigeria to determine crop evapotranspiration and irrigation water requirements for watermelon (Citrullus Lantus), cassava (Manihot Esculenta), groundnut (Arachis Hypogea), rice (Oryza Sativa) and pineapple (Ananas Comosus). The spatial distribution of crop evapotranspiration for the crops were then mapped using interpolation methods. Seasonal effects on irrigation water requirements were also determined. It was observed that rice has the highest water requirement, while pineapple requires the least among the crops studied. This study determined the amounts of irrigation water needed to produce the various crops year-round, in the southeast of Nigeria