Water-use efficiency on commercial wheat farms in Zimbabwe
Abstract
Wheat is grown commercially in Zimbabwe as a fully-irrigated winter crop (May-September) in the highveld, middleveld and lowveld on medium-to-heavy textured soils. Approximately 75% of the commercial wheat farmers are located in the Hunyani and Mazowe Valleys of the highveld (mean elevation of 1442m) and the rest are scattered in the middleveld and lowveld, with a significant concentration in the lowveld (mean elevation of 443m) In Zimbabwe, winter wheat is irrigated by overhead sprinkler systems. Virtually all farmers hand move their irrigation equipment, although about four farmers are experimenting with low-pressure centre pivot systems.