Can solar-powered irrigation systems naturally meet crop water requirements? proof of concept from a case study in Sub-Saharan Africa

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cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Ghanaen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Copenhagenen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technologyen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Cape Coasten_US
cg.contributor.affiliationAarhus Universityen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghanaen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationCentral Universityen_US
cg.contributor.donorUniversity of Ghanaen_US
cg.contributor.donorMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Denmarken_US
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/ird.3089en_US
cg.identifier.iwmilibraryH053645en_US
cg.identifier.urlhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ird.3089en_US
cg.issn1531-0353en_US
dc.contributor.authorDanso, E. O.en_US
dc.contributor.authorDietzen, C.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAkortey, W.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMensah, B. K. B.en_US
dc.contributor.authorObour, P. B.en_US
dc.contributor.authorNyasapoh, J. B. A.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAgyapong, E.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAyayi, E. G.en_US
dc.contributor.authorBonsu, N. O. O.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAdu, M. O.en_US
dc.contributor.authorArthur, E.en_US
dc.contributor.authorUlzen, J.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAtta-Darkwa, T.en_US
dc.contributor.authorSabi, E. B.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAbenney-Mickson, S.en_US
dc.contributor.authorAndersen, M. N.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-01T10:30:35Zen_US
dc.date.available2025-04-01T10:30:35Zen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/173952en_US
dc.titleCan solar-powered irrigation systems naturally meet crop water requirements? proof of concept from a case study in Sub-Saharan Africaen_US
dcterms.abstractIrrigation scheduling is crucial for ensuring precise water delivery to crops. However, in many sub-Saharan African irrigation schemes, water is applied without considering crop water needs, resulting in low crop water productivity and low yields. Solar-powered irrigation systems can automatically meet these needs by utilizing solar radiation, which drives both evapotranspiration and solar panel power production for pumping. This study aimed to integrate irrigation scheduling into a solar-driven irrigation system and assess the impact of meteorological variables on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) in Ghana. A 50-watt solar panel powered a 12-V submersible pump, with a flow meter installed on the outlet pipe for hourly volume of water pumped (VWP) data readings. These data were used to examine correlations between solar radiation (Rs) and ETo, as well as between Rs and VWP. Partial correlation analyses were used to assess the relative influences of Rs, wind speed (U2), relative humidity (RH) and air temperature (Tair) on ETo across 10 locations in Ghana's agroecological zones. The study revealed a strong linear correlation between the hourly Rs and ETo (R2 > 0.9) and between the hourly Rs and VWP (R2 = 0.8). The VWP was sufficient to meet crop-water demand year-round. Solar radiation was consistently the primary meteorological factor influencing ETo in Ghana.en_US
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Accessen_US
dcterms.bibliographicCitationDanso, E. O.; Dietzen, C.; Akortey, W.; Mensah, B. K. B.; Obour, P. B.; Nyasapoh, J. B. A.; Agyapong, E.; Ayayi, E. G.; Bonsu, N. O. O.; Adu, M. O.; Arthur, E.; Ulzen, J.; Atta-Darkwa, T.; Sabi, E. B.; Abenney-Mickson, S.; Andersen, M. N. 2025. Can solar-powered irrigation systems naturally meet crop water requirements? proof of concept from a case study in Sub-Saharan Africa. Irrigation and Drainage, 74(1):1-13. [doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.3089]en_US
dcterms.issued2025-01-29en_US
dcterms.languageenen_US
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0en_US
dcterms.typeJournal Articleen_US

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