The Effectiveness of Centre-Pivot Irrigation from Dolomitic Ground Water in the Northwest Province,South Africa |
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Authors: | I J Van der Walt B W Richter |
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Institution: | (1) Geography and Environmental Management, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa ( |
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Abstract: | Because South Africa is situated in a semi-dry region, the limited water resources are placed under increasing pressure by
consumers from different sectors. Irrigation consumes more than half of the available water resources in South Africa. In
the Northwest Province large volumes of water are found in dolomitic aquifers. Since 1970 irrigation from these aquifers has
resulted in an exponential growth in the withdrawal of groundwater. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness
of groundwater utilization with centre-pivot irrigation in the Northwest Province, as well as to identify the most important
variables that influence this effectiveness. Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to establish a model
with which the probable effectiveness of groundwater utilization on a specific farm can be predicted. The results show that
four variables have a significant effect on the net profit margin from centre-pivot irrigation in the study area, namely:
• Knowledge regarding the water capacity of the soil • Adjusting irrigation according to precipitation • The use of a yield
target for fertiliser application, and • Soil characteristics The above parameters were used to develop a model with which
farmers in the study area can be ranked according to the effectiveness of their water usage for centre-pivot irrigation.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | centre-pivot ground water resources irrigation |
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