Comparación de tres métodos de riego y ajuste del uso consuntivo (kc) mediante lisimetría en el cultivo de cebolla (Allium cepa L.) var. Burguesa en la estación experimental Tunshi.

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to determine the most efficient irrigation method in the Allium cepa L. (onion) crop var. Burguesa and adjust the crop coefficient (Kc) by means of lysimetry. From an analysis of the application efficiency of three irrigation methods: sprinkling, gravity and drip, Kc curves were constructed using drainage lysimeters according to the phenological stages of onion. A methodology about soil preparation and installation of the three irrigation methods and lysimeter calibration by using indicators evaluating irrigation efficiency, water stress and Kc adjustment was used to get the objectives. In addition, red onion seedling crop indicators were evaluated such as: plant height, psuedotal diameter, days to harvest, yield per category and finally the economic analysis that is appreciated with the benefit/cost ratio. To determine the differences among the established crop indicators, the Infostat program was used for the functional analysis and its corresponding Tukey test at 5%. Finally, the water footprint was determined for the economic analysis through the benefit/cost ratio. It was identified that in the three study treatments similar adjusted crop coefficients were achieved for red onion, the best values were obtained by drip water replenishment (T2) with Kc of: 0.6, 0.9, 1.3 and 0.8 for the initial, development, middle and final stages, respectively. The drip irrigation method had 92.29% efficiency, sprinkling: 82.19% and gravity: 51.28%. It is recommended to validate the results of the crop coefficient Kc under the edaphoclimatic conditions of Riobamba canton.