PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF BAMBOO (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) LOW- COST MICRO IRRIGATION LATERAL SYSTEM

The objective of the study was to develop construction techniques and determine the application uniformities of a bamboo low-cost micro irrigation lateral system. Fresh bamboo stalks were sorted, dried and bored. The system's three 4 m long laterals made of bamboo tube with an average internal diameter of 1.7 mm were connected to a bamboo mainline pipe with an average diameter of 3 mm which receives water from the plastic reservoir. The mean flow rate of 5.91 litres per hour through about 1.9 mm diameter emitters falls within the acceptable discharge range for micro irrigation systems. A systems performance assessment based on standards for micro- irrigation systems was carried out. Average discharge variations, coefficient of manufacturing variation, emission uniformity, Christiansen coefficient of uniformity and distribution efficiency were 30%, 9.8%, 73%, 92% and 88%, respectively from the 1.9 mm emitter orifice fall within the recommended values for micro-irrigation systems. Method of orificing and cleansing of emitters should be improved upon, so as to reduce the flow rate variations in the emitters.