Crop simulation models serve as effective instruments for evaluating the management conditions of irrigation systems. This study aims to simulate maize production to identify optimal irrigation water management strategies under deficit irrigation and moisture conservation practices, utilizing the AquaCrop model. We conducted this research at Woleh irrigation schemes during the 2023/2024 irrigation season in the Wag-himra zone of northern Ethiopia. To check how well the model worked, we used statistical tests such as prediction error (PE), root mean square error (RMSE), index of agreement (D), goodness-of-fit (R²), and the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (NCE). The model effectively simulated canopy cover, aboveground biomass, and yield across all treatments, evidenced by the high R² (0.99) and NSE (0.99) values. Furrow-irrigated raised bed planting (FRBP) at 100% and 75% ETc with mulch exhibited the lowest predicted errors and deviations in yield and water productivity. The model effectively predicted maize yield and biomass under full irrigation in FRBP at 75% ETc with mulch. The AquaCrop model serves as a dependable measure of maize crop development and outcomes across different irrigation conditions and mulch types, potentially enhancing sustainable maize productivity in water-stressed areas.

The most severe constraints for agriculture are water shortages in semi-arid areas of Northern Ethiopia. Rainfall is extremely variable; therefore, it is necessary to harvest rainwater to safeguard improved crop production. The objective of the study is to characterize, identifying problems and evaluating the performance of existing RWH systems in the Wag-Lasta areas. Tweleve RWH ponds were selected from six kebeles in the study area. Primary and secondary data were collected and evaluated using descriptive statistics to assess the technical performance of water harvesting ponds by field observation, direct measurements, and interviews with zone, woreda, kebele experts, and owners. The technical performance assessment showed that the collected runoff and system efficiency were negligible for the total rainwater catchment area. The problems in a portion of the non-functional ponds had found to be poor site selection, lack of maintenance, and standardization of techniques, and some of them were efficient with low performance.

Irrigation that saves water is important for satisfying the economic and environmental sustainability of commercial agriculture and improving the living standard of the people. Precision irrigation scheduling is critical to improving irrigation efficiency. A field experiment was conducted in two consecutive years at Abergelle irrigation schemes. The aim of the study was to determine crop water requirement and irrigation schedule of onion (when and how much to irrigate) for most market-oriented crops. The treatments were arranged with a factorial arrangement randomized complete block design with three replications. Three Levels of CROPWAT, fixed application depth (125%, 100%, and 75%ETc) and, three irrigation intervals (3, 4, and 5 days) and 1-farmer practice were used as control. The study result showed that 75% CROPWAT fixed depth at 3-day intervals achieved high water productivity, and saved 2873m³ha^-1 of irrigation water compared with farmers’ method of irrigation. It provides additional irrigated land of 0.84 ha with a yield gain of 10.44 t ha^-1. Therefore, a 3-day irrigation interval with 75% CROPWAT irrigation depth was recommended for the optimum yield and water productivity of the crop.

In the semi-arid regions of Ethiopia, water is the most limiting factor for crop production. Meeting crop water demand maximizes productivity from a land unit but does not inherently increase revenue per unit of water. This has led to a growing interest in irrigation practices that improve water productivity by regulating the inappropriate use of irrigation water. The experiment was conducted in the Woleh irrigation Scheme, to verify the efficiency of alternative furrow irrigation on onion water productivity and yield. The treatments used a randomized complete block design with four replications. Alternating furrow irrigation (AFI), conventional furrow irrigation (CFI), and fixed furrow irrigation (FFI). Each method used 75% ETc of the irrigation water. The experiment showed that AFI had the highest yield and water productivity. The amount of irrigation water used for AFI and FFI was about half (3038 m3) of CFI (6078 m3). The water productivity obtained was 4.05 kg m-3 for AFI and 3.16 kg m-3 for FFI, almost double the 2.15 kg m-3 for CFI. Economic water productivity and marginal rate of return were greatest in AFI. Therefore AFI at 75% ETc was superior in yield and water productivity in areas with water scarcity and high labor costs.

Water scarcity severely limits horticultural productivity in semi-arid regions of Ethiopia, making improved irrigation efficiency critical for sustaining crop yields. This study evaluated the effects of bed and furrow width configurations on onion ( Allium cepa L. ) yield and water productivity (WP) under surface irrigation at the Woleh irrigation scheme during two consecutive growing seasons (2022–2024). A randomized complete block design with ten selected furrow–bed treatment combinations and three replications was employed, chosen from a total of 18 possible configurations derived from the factorial combination of three furrow widths (20, 30, and 40 cm) and six bed widths (20, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 cm). The selection of the ten treatments was based on agronomic feasibility, farmer practice, and field layout constraints. Soil and crop parameters were measured to quantify bulb yield and WP, while crop water requirements were estimated using the FAO CROPWAT model to support irrigation scheduling. Partial budget analysis assessed economic performance. Treatment effects were highly significant ( p < 0.001) for plant height, bulb diameter, bulb yield, and WP, while year and treatment × year interaction effects were not significant, indicating stable performance across seasons. The 30 cm furrow × 45 cm bed configuration ( T ₅ ) produced the highest bulb yield (24.51 t ha ⁻¹ ) and WP (4.10 kg m ⁻³ ), corresponding to approximately 39.42% and 39.00% increases in bulb yield and WP, respectively, compared with the conventional 20 × 20 cm used as the control. This configuration was associated with improved yield and WP; however, the underlying mechanisms were not directly measured in this study and are therefore inferred from evidence reported in previous studies. Economic analysis confirmed its superiority, yielding the highest net benefit (USD 5606.61 ha ⁻¹ ) and marginal rate of return (483.74%). The findings indicate that the 30 cm furrow × 45 cm bed configuration can improve onion productivity, WP, and economic returns under semi-arid conditions. Adoption of the 30 cm furrow × 45 cm bed design provides a practical, low-cost approach for smallholder farmers to improve WP and farm profitability under water-limited conditions.

Applying the necessary types and quantities of plant nutrients in balanced amounts according to crop demand is crucial for increasing and sustaining crop production. This study was conducted to identify yield-limiting nutrients for bread wheat in the Lasta district during the 2022 main season. The treatments included: All (NPKSZnB), boron omitted (NPKSZnB-B), zinc omitted (NPKSZnB-Zn), sulfur omitted (NPKSZnB-S₁), potassium omitted (NPKSZnB-K), phosphorus omitted (NPKSZnB-P), nitrogen omitted (NPKSZnB-N), RNP (recommended nitrogen and maintenance phosphorus rate), control (unfertilized), and RNP + S₂. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications across five farmers' fields. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with R software version 4.5.3. and mean separation was performed using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test at the 0.05 significance level. The results revealed that, except for the unfertilized and nitrogen-omitted treatments, all treatments yielded statistically similar results. Further research across multiple locations and years is suggested to increase confidence in identifying yield-limiting nutrients.