Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
cost comes to about Rs. 33,000 for banana, while the same varies only
from about Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 16,000 for other crops like coconut, mango,
grapes, pomegranate, etc. Though, the initial cost of drip irrigation system
is higher, its relative cost is quite low when compared with the average
capital cost in the surface system. For instance, during the Seventh Plan,
the investment requirement to create one hectare of irrigation in Major
and Medium Irrigation (MMI) was over Rs. 60,000 per hectare at current
prices (1995). This when compared with drip irrigation does not amount
to a losing proposition. Especially, one must take into account the benefit-
cost ratio (B-C ratio) of any project for justification instead of comparing
cost of investment alone. Studies conducted on benefit-cost ratio of drip
irrigation show that the B-C ratio excluding water is up to 13 and it goes
up to 32 when water saving is also accounted for the income side. This
is substantially higher than the surface method of irrigation where B-C
ratio varies from 1.8 to 3.9. Convinced with the advantage of drip irriga-
tion, farmers have increased their area under drip irrigation significantly
in the districts like Jalgaon and Nasik in Maharashtra in the recent years.
Large numbers of farmers are willing to take drip irrigation for crops like
banana and grapes. A comparative performance of Flood method of irriga-
tion (FMI) and Drip Method of Irrigation (DMI) on different horticultural
crops indicated that water saving in DMI over FMI can range between 0%
(potato and water melon) to 84% in Okra. Although the saving in water is
0% in potato, drip irrigation has been found to increase yield by 46% and
179% over that of flood irrigation. Use of sub surface drip irrigation with
placement of laterals at root zone below the ground level is a recent devel-
opment and studies conducted on subsurface drip indicated that placement
of lateral at a depth of 10 cm have resulted in increase yield of cucurbita-
ceous vegetables by 11%.
4.10.9 MULCHING FOR SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION
Mulching is an effective technique for minimization of evaporative losses.
Use of plastic mulches has been successfully demonstrated to increase
yield and quality of different horticultural crops. Extensive research with
colored mulches has been conducted the experience so far clearly indi-
cate scope of color mulches under Indian conditions. Studies on mulching
at various centers of PFDC's all over India has indicated yield increases
