• Abdishukri Said Shire
• Abdirizak Tahir Ayanle

Uganda has been experiencing El Niño and La Niña the dual phenomena. The effects have since become increasingly hostile characterized by drought, shortened and erratic rainfall seasons, leading to reduced crop production, poor rangeland conditions in pastoral areas and food insecurity. Drip irrigation is a powerful intervention to combat the situation ensuring that all year round cultivation can be afforded with good yields. This is because it ensures efficient utilization of water and minimizes wastage as water goes directly where it is needed. Investigations of the soil, climatic data and topography were carried out to establish the suitability of the chosen site for drip irrigation and the crop water requirement for maize. Results showed that the conditions of the soil, climate and proximity to Lake Kyoga made it suitable for irrigation of maize using drip technology. The preliminary design of small scale irrigation system using water abstracted from Lake Kyoga was successfully done and included; a topographic survey, soil and water quality tests, pump and the pipework for the system using EPAnet software. Since the water and soil parameters tested satisfy FAO Irrigation standards of Maize, it means that the plot (0.96ha = 2.37acres) and can be grown two times a year with a growing season of 125days.The net irrigation water supply of at least 142.9 mm to cater top up and meet the required 800mm of actual crop water requirement for maize per crop per growing season.

Agricultural, Drip Irrigation for maize, Topography survey, soil test, water balance, water quality test, CROPWAT software, Epanet software.

"PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR MAIZE CASE STUDY LWAMPANGA SUBCOUNTY, NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 1, page no.304-319, January-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1912041.pdf

"PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR MAIZE CASE STUDY LWAMPANGA SUBCOUNTY, NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 1, page no. pp304-319, January-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1912041.pdf