Site pages
Current course
Participants
General
Topic 1
Topic 2
Topic 3
Topic 4
Topic 5
Topic 6
Topic 7
Topic 8
Topic 9
Topic 10
Topic 11
Topic 12
Topic 13
Topic 14
Topic 15
Topic 16
Topic 17
Topic 18
Topic 19
Topic 20
Topic 21
Topic 22
Topic 23
Topic 24
Topic 25
Topic 26
Topic 27
Topic 28
Topic 29
Topic 30
Topic 31
Topic 32
Topic 33
Topic 34
Topic 35
EXERCISE 13
EXERCISE 13: WATER MANAGEMENT IN FRUIT ORCHARDS |
Aim: To make judicious use of available water for proper growth and production of fruit crops in rainfed areas.
Water is an important essential natural land resource affecting growth and production of fruit crops. Fruit trees require irrigation water for maintaining adequate growth, fruit quality and yield, particularly in dry months. However, availability of water is always a limiting factor in fruit cultivation, particularly in arid and semi arid conditions. Even in high rainfall (>1500 mm) areas, sufficient moisture may not be available in the root zone during the dry months and crops may suffer from drought at any stage due to erratic rainfall pattern and for the want of irrigation water. In order to ensure the supply of requisite quantity of water at critical stages of growth and development of fruit crops, efficient management of water is required. In rain fed areas, three essential components of water management are:
In situ soil moisture conservation: Mulching is known to conserve soil moisture, be it mulching with organic (Plate 13.1) or inorganic material. Plate 13.1. Grass mulching in pomegranate Plate 13.2. Construction of pond for irrigation Water harvesting: Two natural water resources that can effectively be harvested are rainfall and low (as low as 1 to 30 l/min) water springs and rivulets. About 10 to 14 per cent of total rainfall, depending on soil and rainfall characteristics may be lost as surface runoff. Water harvesting can be done through in situ rainwater harvesting and water harvesting in farm ponds (Plate 13.2). In situ rainwater harvesting: In fruit plantations, rain water can be harvested in the tree basin areas by certain soil working techniques such as:
The run-off water from orchards and water flowing from other sources like spring and small streams that though cannot serve as water source for irrigating crops due to their meagre flow rates but, can be effectively stored in suitable small or big reservoirs. Small ponds may also be used as auxiliary water reservoirs in which water is stored during lean period and used when required by crops. The provision of a small pond in one corner of the orchard to collect runoff water during high intensity rains and its utilization as life saving irrigation or during critical periods of the crop is an age old practice (Plate 13.2).
Small ponds are ideal for growers who have scattered land holdings. In addition, they do not require elaborate management skills and resources. Ponds, however, vary in shape, size and mode of construction. Orchard ponds can be divided in to three categories:
Suitable sealants may be used to check/reduce seepage losses in ponds. Ponds may be lined with polyethylene sheet (covered with soil or bricks or round boulders to protect it against UV sun light), silpauline sheet (UV resistant), bitumen, cement and concrete lining, RCC, etc. The cost and longevity of structure will depend upon the lining material used. Larger ponds can be made by damming the upper catchment area of a creek. Water harvesting in larger ponds is practiced on community basis. It involves proper planning and sincere participation of the inhabitants of the catchment and command areas. It may form a part of integrated watershed management involving participatory approach. Efficient Utilization of Conserved/Harvested Water: The water conserved/harvested from natural resources must be used very efficiently for fruit crops. The water should be possibly be used through pressurized irrigation system e.g. drip irrigation (Fig. 15.1). Drip irrigation system is ideal for fruit crops, because it enable to achieve higher water use efficiency and also help in maximizing crop production within limited water resource. Observations to be recorded: Record periodic observations on soil moisture contents under different systems of in-situ moisture conservation techniques and draw inference. |
Last modified: Saturday, 7 January 2012, 7:34 AM