Evapotranspiration, irrigation water requirement, and water productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Sahelian environment

Rice is the main crop produced in the Senegal River Valley under the semiarid Sahelian climate where water resource management is critical for the resource use sustainability. However, very limited data exit on rice water use and irrigation water requirement in this water scarcity environment under climate change conditions. Understanding crop water requirements is essential for better irrigation practices, scheduling and efficient use of water. The objectives of this study were to estimate crop water use and irrigation water requirement of rice in the Senegal River Valley at Fanaye. Field experiments were conducted during the 2013 hot and dry season and wet season, and 2014 hot and dry season and wet seasons. Three nitrogen fertilizer treatments were applied to rice variety Sahel 108: 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha−1. Rice water use was estimated by the two-step approach. Results indicated that crop actual evapotranspiration (ETa) varied from 632 to 929 mm with the highest ETa obtained during the hot and dry seasons. Irrigation water requirement varied from 863 to 1198 mm per season. Rice grain yield was function of the growing season and varied from 4.1 to 10.7 tons ha−1 and increased with nitrogen fertilizer rate. Rice water use efficiency relative to ETa and irrigation requirements increased with nitrogen fertilizer rate while rice nitrogen use efficiency decreased with the nitrogen fertilizer rates. The results of this study can be used as a guideline for rice water use and irrigation water requirement for the irrigation design projects, consultants, universities, producers, and other operators within rice value chain in the Senegal River Valley.