IMPROVING WATER PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH MICRO-IRRIGATION IN ARID PUNJAB REGIONS

Abstract

Inadequate water supply in a canal command area is a major limiting factor for sustainable crop production, as well as for adoption of crop diversification options. Shifting from conventional (surface) irrigation to micro-irrigation in conjunction with an auxiliary reservoir is a possible alternative for managing irrigation water shortages. The auxiliary reservoir provides a reliable water supply for the micro-irrigation system during the period when the canal system is not operational. To study the techno-economic feasibility of a proposed technological package, an auxiliary reservoir of 1500m3 capacity was constructed at the Research Farm of Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Abohar, India, which received a canal supply from an outlet of the Panjawa minor of the Abohar distributory of the Sirhind canal system. Drip irrigation was used to irrigate kinnow (Citrus reticulata Blanco.), guava (Psidium guajava L.), pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.). Drip and micro-sprinkler both were used for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.). These crops were also grown with surface irrigation methods (border or furrow depending upon the crop) as control. Results of the study indicated that the interventions were able to save a substantial amount of irrigation water (3–46%) compared to surface methods, along with higher yields, a doubling of water productivity and more profits per mm of irrigation water. The study clearly showed that micro-irrigation in conjunction with an auxiliary reservoir should be recommended in canal-irrigated commands in order to improve water productivity and farmers’ income in arid regions of Punjab.