Frequently Asked Questions :: Irrigation Management

Irrigation management

What is drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation is a recent advanced irrigation method. Irrigation water is conveyed from motor or pressure water sources to the plant root zone directly through a network of PVC and low density polyethylene pipes. The water is emitted through drippers for longer period and at low rate drop by drop matching plant water requirement

What are the merits of drip irrigation?

Irrigation water saving from 40 to 70 per cent compared to conventional irrigation
Crop yields are increased from 20 to 50 per cent
Irrigated area could be doubled with the saving of water
The labourers for irrigation is reduced thus labour scarcity can be manged easily
Weed growth is restricted, thus reduced cost of weeding
Drip irrigation enables Fertigation and chemigation
Minimum land preparation is sufficient
Saline water can be efficiently used.

How Fertigation is done?

Fertilizers can be efficiently applied along with irrigation water through micro irrigation system. This is called irrigation. Fertilizers which are completely soluble should be injected. Fertilizers like super phosphate, which are not soluble and create precipitation problems should not be used.

What are the fertilizers suitable for Fertigation?

Water in which fertilizers are to dissoleved should have pH levels between 5.8 and 7.8. eg. Ammonium nitrate, Ammonium sulphate, Urea, Monoammonium phosphate, potassium chloride etc.

What is the need to go for drip irrigation?

Increase in water use efficiency
enhanced plant growth and yield
moderation of salinity hazards
efficient fertilizer application
reduced weed growth
reduced labour and energy requirements

What do you mean by surge irrigation?

The term “ Surge irrigation” refers to the delivering irrigation flows into individual long furrows (more than 25m upto 200m) in an intermittent fashion of predetermined ON-OFF time cycles (5 minutes to 10 minute) with the design duration of irrigation.

What do you mean by micro irrigation?

Micro irrigation is a modern method of irrigation; by this method water is irrigated through drippers, sprinklers, foggers and by other emitters on surface or subsurface of the land.

What is the unit cost for installing drip irrigation system?

The initial investment in drip irrigation system is mainly depends upon the spacing of crops. The initial cost will be almost 20-25 thousand rupees per hectare for wider spacing crops such as coconut, mango, grapes and for orchard crops. The initial cost is approximately 50-70 thousand rupees per hectare for close spacing crops such as sugarcane, banana, papaya, mulberry, turmeric, tapioca, vegetables and flower crops.

Name some of the N fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation?

Urea is well suited for injection in micro irrigation system. It is highly soluble and dissolves in non-ionic form, so that it does not react with other substances in the water. Also urea does not cause precipitation problems. Urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate are used as nitrogenous fertilizers in drip fertigation.

Name some of the P fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation?

Application of phosphorus to irrigation water may cause precipitation of phosphate salts. Phosphoric acid and mono ammonium phosphate appears to be more suitable for fertigation.

Name some of the K fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation?

Application of K fertilizer does not cause any precipitation of salts. Potassium nitrate, Potassium chloride, Potassium sulphate and mono potassium phosphate are used in drip fertigation.

How can I prevent clogging in emitters?

Among different types of emitters, micro sprinklers and tape systems are free from clogging. Maximum clogging occurs in bi-wall and typhoon systems; Pressure compensating drippers are also affected by clogging with improper irrigation management (25 % of surface irrigation) and the use of poor quality water.

Prevented by injection of dilute HCl (1%) in the system.
Running the system at least for 10 minutes even during rainy days increase the operation and lowering the clogging.
Regular maintenance including checking and cleaning of emitters, filters and laterals at least once in a month


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Frequently Asked Questions :: Irrigation Management

Irrigation management What is drip irrigation? Drip irrigation is a recent advanced irrigation method. Irrigation water is conveyed from motor or pressure water sources to the plant root zone directly through a network of PVC and low density polyethylene pipes. The water is emitted through drippers for longer period and at low rate drop by drop matching plant water requirement What are the merits of drip irrigation? Irrigation water saving from 40 to 70 per cent compared to conventional irrigation Crop yields are increased from 20 to 50 per cent Irrigated area could be doubled with the saving of water The labourers for irrigation is reduced thus labour scarcity can be manged easily Weed growth is restricted, thus reduced cost of weeding Drip irrigation enables Fertigation and chemigation Minimum land preparation is sufficient Saline water can be efficiently used. How Fertigation is done? Fertilizers can be efficiently applied along with irrigation water through micro irrigation system. This is called irrigation. Fertilizers which are completely soluble should be injected. Fertilizers like super phosphate, which are not soluble and create precipitation problems should not be used. What are the fertilizers suitable for Fertigation? Water in which fertilizers are to dissoleved should have pH levels between 5.8 and 7.8. eg. Ammonium nitrate, Ammonium sulphate, Urea, Monoammonium phosphate, potassium chloride etc. What is the need to go for drip irrigation? Increase in water use efficiency enhanced plant growth and yield moderation of salinity hazards efficient fertilizer application reduced weed growth reduced labour and energy requirements What do you mean by surge irrigation? The term “ Surge irrigation” refers to the delivering irrigation flows into individual long furrows (more than 25m upto 200m) in an intermittent fashion of predetermined ON-OFF time cycles (5 minutes to 10 minute) with the design duration of irrigation. What do you mean by micro irrigation? Micro irrigation is a modern method of irrigation; by this method water is irrigated through drippers, sprinklers, foggers and by other emitters on surface or subsurface of the land. What is the unit cost for installing drip irrigation system? The initial investment in drip irrigation system is mainly depends upon the spacing of crops. The initial cost will be almost 20-25 thousand rupees per hectare for wider spacing crops such as coconut, mango, grapes and for orchard crops. The initial cost is approximately 50-70 thousand rupees per hectare for close spacing crops such as sugarcane, banana, papaya, mulberry, turmeric, tapioca, vegetables and flower crops. Name some of the N fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation? Urea is well suited for injection in micro irrigation system. It is highly soluble and dissolves in non-ionic form, so that it does not react with other substances in the water. Also urea does not cause precipitation problems. Urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate are used as nitrogenous fertilizers in drip fertigation. Name some of the P fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation? Application of phosphorus to irrigation water may cause precipitation of phosphate salts. Phosphoric acid and mono ammonium phosphate appears to be more suitable for fertigation. Name some of the K fertilizer which can be used in Fertigation? Application of K fertilizer does not cause any precipitation of salts. Potassium nitrate, Potassium chloride, Potassium sulphate and mono potassium phosphate are used in drip fertigation. How can I prevent clogging in emitters? Among different types of emitters, micro sprinklers and tape systems are free from clogging. Maximum clogging occurs in bi-wall and typhoon systems; Pressure compensating drippers are also affected by clogging with improper irrigation management (25 % of surface irrigation) and the use of poor quality water. Prevented by injection of dilute HCl (1%) in the system. Running the system at least for 10 minutes even during rainy days increase the operation and lowering the clogging. Regular maintenance including checking and cleaning of emitters, filters and laterals at least once in a month

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