Análisis de la distribución de la dosis de riego en el suelo con un sistema de riego localizado en el cultivo de la pitahaya.

Abstract

In Manabí, the issue of water scarcity for irrigation has persisted for years, forcing most farmers in economically disadvantaged areas to plant only once a year during the rainy season. This reliance on natural conditions jeopardizes their crops and investments. The main objective of this research was to determine the distribution of irrigation doses in the soil using a micro-sprinkler system on a plot cultivated with red pitahaya in the Las Papayas sector, Rocafuerte Canton. The soil's field capacity was determined using the Flooding Plot method, yielding an average of 42.96% dry soil in the 10 cm surface layer. This value aligned with the 45% volumetric moisture measured with a DELTA-T HH2 probe. Using the CROPWAT program, the average annual irrigation interval was estimated at 3.7 days, ranging from 9.3 days in February to 2.7 days in November. Moisture measurements confirmed the need to adjust irrigation starting on the fourth day based on the season and precipitation. The micro-sprinkler system evaluation showed an average flow rate of 42.7 l/h and a uniformity coefficient of 75.9%. Sediment accumulation at the lateral ends emerged as the main issue, highlighting the need to increase maintenance frequency and clean the filtration system to improve efficiency.