System of irrigation (Turmeric and Banana)

Balasubramnaiam, P¹. Vijayaraghavan, R² and H. Philip³

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3

Abstract

The irrigation has been a critical input for agricultural development in India. The onset of monsoon and pattern of rainfall which is generally capricious in its occurrence and variable in its quantity, downpours is mostly concentrated in a few months of the yea rand particularly in canal command areas, the water scarcity is severe and the farmers of this area are in the position to adopt water management practices

Introduction

In India more than 70 per cent of the annual rainfall occurs during the South West monsoon period between June and September. Irrigation especially during winter months enable increased intensity of land use for cultivation.  The irrigated agriculture has to expand considerably in order to increase the food production to the required level of about 400 metric tonnes by 2025.

Research Methodology

          Erode district was purposively selected. In order to make the study more comprehensive, the head, mid and tail reaches of LBP canal command areas were selected.  Two blocks each at random from the head, mid and tail reaches were selected viz., Sathayamanglam and Nambiyur in head reach, Perundurai and Modakuruchi in mid reach and Kanagayam and Vellakoil from the tail reach.The sample size consisted of 150 farmers, those who grow paddy, sugarcane, turmeric, banana and groundnut were considered. Fifty farmers each in head, mid and tail reach were considered based on the proportionate random sampling method.

Findings and Discussion

Turmeric

Six water management practices viz., life irrigation at the third day after dibbling rhizomes, frequency of irrigation once in eight days, check basin, furrow irrigation, application of composted coir pith, drip irrigation and fertigation were found to be adopted by the farmers.  The advantages of the each practice are discussed below.

Life irrigation at 3^rd after dibbling the rhizomes

It could be observed from that more than 60 percent of the respondents reported that water saving, early germination and rhizome rot control were the advantages for 60 per cent of respondents followed by 33 per cent expressed that development of rhizome as the other advantage.

Frequency of irrigation once in 8 days

Water saving (67%), rhizome development (32%) and control of rhizome rot (16 %) were the advantages reported.

Check basin

The simple layout, control of seepage, erosion loss and water saving were the advantages reported by more than sixty percent of the respondents due to adoption of check basin in turmeric.

Furrow irrigation

Two advantages viz., uniform distribution of water (33 %) and control of seepage and erosion (21%) were reported by the farmers.

Application of composted coir pith

Two advantages namely, moisture conservation (67%) and increased soil microbial population (27%) reported by the respondents.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is one of the modern irrigation systems being adopted by the canal command area farmers in turmeric. Provision of subsidy (82%), easy intercultural operations, less labour cost (73%), non-requirement of land leveling (72%), water saving (71%), and reduced operation and labour cost (65%) were the important advantages reported by the majority of the respondents.

Fertigation

Under fertigation, two advantages namely, application of fertilizers through irrigation water reported by 27 per cent of respondents followed by 21 per cent of respondents reported that less evaporation loss of nutrients.

Banana

There were five practices adopted by farmers in banana. The advantages of each practice are given below. 

Check basin   

It could be observed that four advantages viz., simple layout (82 %), less loss of see page (53 %), uniform distribution of water (49%) and enhanced yield (33%) were reported by the respondents. 

Furrow irrigation

Regarding the furrow irrigation, two advantages viz., uniform distribution of water (33%) and less loss of see page (27%) expressed as major advantages.

Gradual widening of furrows and basins

Two advantages viz., less loss of see page (24%) and less loss of percolation (13%) were indicated by the respondents as advantages with regard to gradual widening of furrows and basins. 

Drip irrigation

There were eight advantages reported by respondents.  The advantages viz., uninterrupted cultural operations (82%), uniform distribution of water (76%), enhanced yield and quality of crops (73%), economized use of water facilitates easy intercultural operations (74%), reduced operation and labour cost (69%) were the important advantages reported by the majority.

Fertigation

Regarding the fertigation, control of evapotranspiration loss (55%), carefully monitoring and supply of nutrients (51%), combined application of fertilizers and micro-nutrients (33%) were the important advantages reported by respondents.

Conclusion

The advantages viz., early germination, control of rhizome rot, less loss of seepage and percolation, provision of subsidy, less requirement of land leveling, reduced operation and labour cost, water saving and moisture conservation were reported by the respondents in turmeric

Simple layout, uniform distribution of water, enhanced yield and quality of crops, economized use of water facilitates easy intercultural operations, easy monitoring and supply of nutrients, reduced operation and labour cost have been reported as important advantages by the more number of respondents in banana.

1. Associate Professor (Extn), ODL, TNAU Cbe-3

2. Professor (Extn) DOEE TNAU Cbe-3

3. Professor (Extn), FC&RI, MTP