Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is a pressurized
irrigation system that can save water as well as nutrients by permitting the water
to drip at very low rates (2-20 l h-1) to the roots of plants,
either from the top of the soil surface (surface drip) or buried inside the
surface (sub-surface drip).The main objective is to apply water directly into
the root zone and minimize evaporation loss of water. Drip irrigation increases
the crop water productivity(25%), irrigation water productivity (20%),net
photosynthesis (~10%), and water use efficiency (~36%),while reduces the
transpiration rate(~22%) compared to flood irrigation.The on-farm efficiency
of the drip irrigation system is estimated to be over 90%.The grain yield of
drip-irrigated rice is about 25% higher than rainfed rice.It is mostly recommended
in the water scarcity area, growing high-value crops (cash crops) in protected
cultivation and where recycled water is used for irrigation.This method of
irrigation is highly successful for high-value horticultural crops. The major
constraints associated with drip irrigation are (i) initial cost of
establishment and (ii) maintenance as the pipes/ conveyance tubes are often clogged
if good quality irrigation water is not used.The average cost for installing a
drip irrigation system is 0.7 to 1 lakhs per acre.