Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
India has 37% of the total irrigated area of the world, compared to 25 to 30% for
the drip irrigated area. The main reason for slow progress is due to high initial cost of
installation. If the cost is brought down to Rs. 10,000 per acre (maximum, Rs. 25,000/
hectare), it is possible that many farmers including small farmers will go for drip irri-
gation without waiting for subsidy from the Government of India. Many organizations
in India are now doing research trails to bring down the cost in the farmers fi eld in the
country.
Micro-irrigation can be practiced for all row crops and in all soils. In this method,
the required quantity of water is given to each plant at the root zone through the net-
work of pipes. Hence, the losses are minimum due to water conveyance and water
distribution. Since the water based on evapotranspiration (ET) is delivered daily to
the plants, soil moisture will be always available more or less near the fi eld capacity.
This implies that the roots can take moisture from the soil without any crop stress. This
results in the uniform and optimum of a crop. In addition, crop fertilizer requirements
can be met by fertigation, thus resulting in 30% savings of the nutrients without af-
fecting the yield.
Micro-irrigation system is suited for undulated terrain, shallow soils and water
scarcity areas. Saline/brackish water areas can also be used to some extent, since wa-
ter is applied daily, which keeps the salt stress at minimum. These salts are pushed to
the periphery of the moisture regime, which is away from the root zone of the crop.
Therefore, crop growth is not affected due to salinity. The main advantages of micro
irrigation compared to gravity irrigation system are: Increased water use effi ciency
(90-95%); Higher yield (40-100%); Decreased tillage requirements; High quality
products; Higher fertilizer use effi ciency (30% saving); Less weed growth (labor sav-
ing); All operations can be done at all times; and Less labor requirements.
3.3 RESEARCH STATUS OF MICRO IRRIGATION IN INDIA
Micro-irrigation is used extensively in many countries and its development in India is
very slow compared to the other countries. Experiments and farm trials using micro ir-
rigation research have been conducted in the last 35 to 40 years by various universities
and institutions in India. Progressive farmers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala states in India started using micro irrigation in the late
seventies and early eighties. Due to the sustained efforts taken by the Central and State
Governments and manufacturers of the drip irrigation equipments in India, the use of
this system started spreading in the southern and western states of India.
The studies conducted by various institutions have revealed that the water saving
in this method compared to surface irrigation is about 40 to 70% and the increased
yield is up to 100% for various crops.
3.4 SCOPE OF MICRO IRRIGATION
The experience of numerous farmers in this new method has revealed many interest-
ing results. The old coconut farms are not possible to irrigate as the water availability
in the wells has reduced and water table is depleting every year. Numerous farmers in
Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu - India have taken up this irrigation for the coco-
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