Optimizing Essential Oil Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) Under Different Furrow Application Method and Deficit of Irrigation Water Levels in Lemongrass Production

Abstract

Appropriate agricultural water management and implementation of deficit irrigation methods can reduce water usage in addition to minimizing the adverse effects of irrigation agriculture. The experiment was conducted Wondo Genet, Ethiopia for three consecutive years to optimize the essential oil yield and water use efficiency of Lemongrass. Three levels of deficit irrigation and furrow application method were used. The study revealed that the maximum Lemongrass essential oil yield of 55.12 kg ha-1 was obtained from no deficit irrigation with conventional furrow application method while the minimum oil yield 36.03 kg ha-1 obtained from 50% ETc (Evapotranspiration of crop) under fixed furrow application method. The optimum lemongrass essential oil yield 100% ETc under alternate furrow application method which is statistically similar to the maximum oil yield. Statistically, the highest water use efficiency was obtained from 50% ETc under alternate furrow application method. Therefore, the optimum Lemongrass essential yield can be produced under alternate furrow application method with 1005 ETc which provides the water use efficiency of 0.041 kg m-3.