Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Furrow Application Methods on Yield and Yield Components of Artemisia annua L. at Koka, Ethiopia

The study was conducted at Wondo genet Agricultural Research Center Koka Research Station, Ethiopia, 8°26’ N latitude, 39°02’ E longitude and 1602 m.a.s.l. for three consecutive years with the objectives to determine deficit irrigation levels and furrow irrigation water application techniques on yield and water productivity of Artemisia annua L. The experiment consists of three-level of deficit irrigation (100%, 75%, and 50% ETc), and three furrow irrigation water application techniques (alternate, fixed, and conventional furrow) were used in combination. The study revealed that the deficit levels and the furrow application techniques were statistically affected artemisia plant height, fresh leaf weight, fresh and dry biomass, essential yield, and water use efficiency during the whole years. The pooled mean result indicated that the maximum economic yields which are fresh leaf weight (7.11 t ha-1) and essential oil yield (16.06 kg ha-1) were obtained from the combined treatment of 100% ETc and conventional furrow application technique. However, the maximum water use efficiency (5.83 kg m-3) was recorded from a combined treatment of 50 % ETc and alternate furrow application technique. Based on the study for the maximum yield achievement in an area of no limited water resource 100 % ETc and conventional furrow application technique can be used. Whereas in an area where limited water resource is available the maximized water use efficiency can be obtained from 50% ETc and alternate furrow application technique at Koka and similar agro ecology.