Shallow tube wells
Shallow tube wells are made to tap groundwater from a
depth of 30-60 m and the water flow rate is 20 LS-1. Groundwater
irrigation through shallow tube wells is one of the alternatives, sometimes
complementary methods to irrigate the rice crop with surface water. The shallow
tube well is used for supplementary irrigation to rice crop during a dry spell
in the rainy season. One or two shallow tube well irrigation from a shallow tube
-well in the dry season can make it possible to take short duration pulse/ oilseed/
spices crop in coastal area supplementing the residual soil moisture carried
over from the preceding rainy season. Installation of
shallow tube wells may directly influence the cropping intensity by increasing the
net sown area in the coastal rainfed area. This water-smart technology
increases the grain yield of tropical lowland rice by 18-20% due to the timely
availability of water. Accelerated exploitation of groundwater is not
recommended in the coastal areas as it will facilitate the salinization of
aquifer due to saltwater intrusion from the sea. Shallow tube wells are preferred in the coastal area adjacent to the sea
for supplemental irrigation.