Adoption level of water management practices in canal command areas

 

BALASUBRAMANIAM.P, MANICKAM.S and VIJARAGHAVAN.R

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. Thirty three water management practices under the crops viz., rice, sugarcane, turmeric, banana and groundnut were selected for the study. Regarding the practice-wise adoption of water management practices, individual field channel irrigation and land levelling and shaping were observed with highest mean adoption score, where as the kattuthalai or karivarappu is the practice which received low mean adoption score

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.

In Tamil Nadu, since the water has become a scarce commodity, importance is given for command area development programmes in canal and tank irrigated areas and drip irrigation in well irrigated area. The available water in Tamil Nadu has been already utilized and the demand is also increasing day by day for all purposes. In most of the rice-based cropping system prevalent in South India, there is a regular practice of releasing water at a definite time and on a fixed date, to enable the utilization of water throughout the cropping season. Rotation or turn system of irrigation was found to be very much suitable to save water and increase the productivity.  Since, more than 90.00% of the available water is used for irrigation, high priority should be given to water management to increase the water use efficiency in the field.  Keeping this in view, this study has been attempted in the canal command area of Erode district..

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.  The river flows through the three PWD divisions viz., Sathayamanglam, Erode and Kanagayam coming under Erode district.  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.  Three villages were selected at random from each block.  Thus, a total of 18 revenue villages were selected which formed the primary locale of the study.
 
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.      The Agricultural officers and Assistant Agricultural Officers working in the sample blocks were purposively selected for the study in order to assess their opinions, suggestions and exhaustive knowledge on the micro-irrigation system.  Six case studies were further attempted, two each from head, mid and tail reaches to collect information on indigenous water management practices.
 
The water management practice adoption index has been developed with a set of practices in rice, sugarcane, turmeric, banana and groundnut for assessing adoption level. One of major objectives of the study contemplated was to find out the adoption of recommended water management practices in head, mid and tail reaches of canal command area. As explained in the methodology, five principle crops namely, paddy, sugarcane, turmeric, banana and groundnut were considered for the study.
For each crop, the recommended practices were identified and the relevancy weightages were assigned based on judge's opinion. Adoption scores were further worked out. Subsequently mean adoption score were worked out for individual practices in each of the five major crops in each reach. The overall mean adoption scores have also been obtained and all the pertinent results were presented in Table 1

Findings and Discussion

Practice-wise adoption level of water management practices

The findings on practice wise adoption of water management practices in the crops viz., paddy, sugarcane, turmeric, banana and groundnut are given in the Table1.

Table. 1.    Practice - reach wise adoption level

S. No.	Practices	Head-reach (n = 50)	Mid-reach  (n = 50)	Tail-reach (n = 50)	Total (n = 150) Overall Mean adoption score
		Mean adoption score	Mean adoption score	Mean adoption score
I	Rice
1.	Summer ploughing	2.83	2.53	2.61	2.67
2.	Puddling and plastering	2.55	2.45	2.33	2.44
3.	Land leveling and shaping	2.16	3.72	3	2.96
4.	Lining the bunds and sides of the channel	2.22	3.43	2.16	2.60
5.	Alternate wetting and drying	3.09	3.09	2.69	2.63
6.	Forming "Kattuthalai  Kaivarapu"	2.78	2.54	2.98	2.76
7.	Individual field channel irrigation	3.2	3.72	2.09	3
8.	Growing short duration varieties	1.93	1.78	2.05	1.92
9.	Seed hardening with 1% potassium chloride	2	2.65	2.89	2.51
II	Sugarcane
1.	Alternate furrow irrigation	2.66	2.53	2.55	2.58
2.	Skip furrow irrigation	2.45	2.01	1.81	2.09
3.	Trash mulching	2.87	2.24	2.5	2.53
4.	Application of composted coir pith	2.18	3.57	2.33	2.69
5.	Drip irrigation	2.13	2.71	2.6	2.48
6.	Fertigation	1.96	1.78	2.02	1.92
III	Turmeric
1.	Life irrigation at the 3rd day after dibbling the rhizomes	3.8	2.49	3.18	3.15
2.	Frequency of irrigation once in 8 days	2.63	1.68	3.3	2.53
3.	Check basin	1.93	2.29	1.78	2
4.	Furrow irrigation	3.07	1.88	2.71	3
5.	Application of composted coir pith	2.62	3.1	2.87	2.86
6.	Drip irrigation	2.17	2.4	3.25	2.6
7.	Fertigation	2.15	2.05	2.40	2.2
IV	Banana
1.	Check basin	2.5	3.65	2.52	2.89
2.	Furrow irrigation	3.37	2.25	2.01	2.54
3.	Gradual widening of furrows and basins	2.43	2.08	2.24	2.25
4.	Drip irrigation	1.67	2.05	3.12	2.31
5.	Fertigation	1.5	2	1.75	1.75
V.	Groundnut
1.	Application of 0.5% potassium chloride spray during flowering and pod development	3.03	3.58	3.93	3.51
2.	Sprinkler irrigation	2.22	3.12	3.35	2.89
3.	Check basin	2.92	2.98	1.98	2.62
4.	Border strip	1.88	2.4	2.35	2.21
5.	Two irrigation at flowering stage	2.33	2.78	2.42	2.51
6.	One or two irrigation at pegging stage	2.4	3.34	2.49	2.7

Rice

With respect to rice cultivation, the highest overall mean adoption score observed was 3 with practice of individual field channel irrigation followed by land leveling and shaping (2.96) and the practice kattuthalai or kaivarapu observed with lowest over-all mean adoption score of 2.76.
In respect of reaches, individual field channel irrigation and alternate wetting and drying were the practices observed with highest mean adoption scores of 3.2 and 3.09 respectively. This might be due to the water saving nature and less percolation loss, which has been expressed as advantages by the respondents and shown in Table. The land leveling and shaping was the foremost practices with highest mean adoption score in mid-reach. The respondents would have felt that there might be enhanced water holding capacity due to this practice. This has been confirmed by the next practice namely lining the bunds and sides of the channel with mean adoption score of 3.43. The results are conformity with findings of Kavitha (2001). In tail-reach, besides the land leveling and shaping (3), forming kattuthalai or kaivarapu and seed hardening with 1% potassium chloride were found to be with more mean adoption scores (2.98 and 2.89) respectively. Since in tail reach, the availability of water would be inadequate and to withstand any contingent situation, the farmers would have gone for seed hardening practices. Growing short duration varieties was supposed to be least adopted practice due to non-availability of adequate seeds in time .

Sugarcane

It is observed from the table that application of composted coir pith, alternate furrow irrigation and trash mulching have emerged with highest overall mean adoption scores (2.69, 2.50 and 2.53). The fertigation is a modern irrigation system which is observed with the lowest overall mean adoption score 1.92
In reach wise analysis, trash mulching and alternate furrow irrigation were the practices with high mean adoption scores of 2.87 and 2.66 respectively in the head-reach. The reason might be due to less cost, increased soil microbial population and nutrient fixation, which might have been perceived as the advantages. In alternate furrow irrigation, water saving and less seepage loss would be the probable reasons for adoption.
 In mid-reach, the application of composted of coir pith with highest mean adoption score 3.57 followed by drip irrigation with 2.71 were observed. The reason could be the moisture conservation, nutrient fixation and reduction of runoff loss. The judicious use of water and uninterrupted intercultural operation were the major advantages for the highest mean adoption score in drip irrigation. The fertigation had been the least adopted practice with lowest mean adoption score (1.78). Due to high initial cost, non-suitability to small and marginal farmers and complicated design, this practice would find a low score.
The practices like drip irrigation and alternate furrow irrigation have been observed with highest mean adoption scores of 2.6 and 2.55 in tail reach. The reasons might be majority of farmers in tail reach expressed that inadequate water availability in canal. This would have urged the tail reach farmers to utilize and save the available water. Hence, the farmers would have adopted the drip irrigation and alternate furrow irrigation in sugarcane. The skip furrow irrigation was observed with lowest mean scores of 1.18. This might be due to the disadvantages of marginal yield reduction and labour requirement as expressed by them.    

Turmeric

The practice of life irrigation at the 3rd day after dibbling the rhizomes was observed with highest overall mean adoption score 3.15 followed by furrow irrigation (3). The reason might be due to the water saving and early developing of rhizomes, rhizome rot control and less percolation loss. The fertigation received the lowest overall mean adoption score of 1.81. Lack of awareness, high initial cost and non-suitability to all the areas and complicated design might be reasons for low mean score.

In reach-wise analysis, the life irrigation at the 3rd day after dibbling the rhizomes with highest mean adoption score (3.8) followed by furrow irrigation with 3.07 in head-reach. Since, the farmers are adopting these practices for controlling the rhizome rot, early development of rhizomes, increased flow rate of water and less percolation loss. This result is in conformity with the findings of Venkatapirabu (1988).  
In mid-reach, the application of composted coir pith ranks first with mean adoption score of 3.1. This might be due to the less cost, nutrient fixation and moisture conservation which would have been perceived as the advantages by the farmers.
The practices viz., frequency of irrigation once in 8 days, drip irrigation and life irrigation at 3rd day after dibbling the rhizomes, were found to have high mean adoption scores of 3.3, 3.25 and 3.18 in tail-reach respectively. The reasons would be the availability of water for one season only in tail-reach and support with supplemental irrigation sources in tail reach. This might have urged the farmers for adoption of water management practices in turmeric. Check basin was observed with lowest mean adoption scores of 1.78. Since, it demands more labour for forming basins, a low score might be possible. 

Banana

It could be observed from the table1, check basin was the practice observed with highest overall mean adoption score (2.89) followed by fertigation with lowest overall mean score (1.75). Banana is usually planted in check basin to save the water and to reduce the seepage loss. Lack of awareness on fertigation and high initial cost for installation of fertigation unit might be the reasons for low mean score.
Regarding the reach-wise analysis, the furrow irrigation received high mean adoption score of 3.37 where as the fertigation received with low mean adoption score. The furrow irrigation is the common water management practice which increases high flow of water and it controls the percolation and seepage loss. 
In mid-reach, the check basin observed high mean adoption score of 3.65 and fertigation observed with low mean adoption score 2. The reasons could be groundnut and banana raised in check basin method to control seepage loss and percolation loss. The lack of awareness and high initial cost might be reasons for low mean scores in fertigation. The tail-reach is concerned, the drip irrigation observed with highest mean adoption score of 3.21. The reasons would be economized use of water, less operation and labour cost, easy intercultural operation and controlled root zone. The findings are in conformity with findings of Senthilkumar (1992)

Groundnut

In groundnut, the practice, potassium chloride spray during flowering and peg development have seen with highest overall mean adoption score 3.51 followed by sprinkler irrigation with over-all mean adoption score of 2.89. The border strip practice was observed with the lowest over-all mean adoption score of 2.21.
Regarding reach-wise analysis, application of 0.5% potassium chloride spray ranks with high mean adoption score of 3.03 followed by check basin with 2.92 in head-reach. The reasons might be to develop the drought resistance behaviour is recommended to be sprayed during flowering and pod development stage to control flower shedding. Groundnut crop is usually raised in check basin in the irrigated condition to save water and to control the seepage loss. The results are in conformity with the findings of Nanjaiyan (1985).
In mid-reach, the practices like application of 0.5% potassium chloride spray, irrigation at pegging stage and sprinkler irrigation have been observed with highest mean scores of 3.58, 3.34 and 3.12 respectively. The low mean adoption score was observed with border strip water management practice. The reasons for highest mean adoption score was developing the drought resistance to withstand stress condition, control of flower shedding, control of  root rot, initiation of peg formation, uniform distribution of water, easy inter-cultural operations and less labour cost, which are expressed as advantages by the farmers. Regarding the tail-reach, application of 0.5% potassium chloride spray and sprinkler irrigation secured more mean adoption scores of 3.93 and 3.35 respectively. The low mean adoption score (1.98) is observed with check basin (1.98). The reason would have been the marginal yield reduction, more labour requirement and marginal loss of seepage.

Conclusion

In over-all adoption level of water management practices among the three reaches, the head-reach farmers had high level adoption on water management practices while mid and tail-reach farmers had more of medium level adoption.

 References

• Cyril kanmony, J. 2001. Conservation of water. Kisan World, Aug. 2001: 27-28.
• Krishnaraj, A. 2004. Awareness, knowledge, extent of adoption and consequential effects of water management/conservation practices. Unpub. M.Sc.(Ag.) Thesis, AC&RI, TNAU, Coimbatore.
• Senthil Kumar, R.K. 1992.  Drip irrigation - economics and market potential in Coimbatore district. Unpub. M.Sc.(Ag.) Thesis, AC&RI, TNAU, Coimbatore

 
1. Associate Professor (Extn), ODL, TNAU, Cbe-3
2. Associate Professor (Agronomy), TCRS, Yethapur, Salem District
3. Professor (Extn), Community Radio, DOEE, TNAU, Cbe-3