LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

IRRIGATION METHODS

• Surface irrigation
• Sub surface irrigation
• Over head or sprinkler irrigation
• Drip irrigation methods

Surface irrigation methods

• The common surface irrigation methods are flooding, check basin, border strip and furrow methods.
  • Flooding
    • Exclusive for lowland cultivation
  • Check basin method (View animation)
    • Mostly adopted method of irrigation. Suitable for closely growing crops. Here, field is divided into small plots surrounded by bunds or all the four sides.
    • Water is impounded in the basins and the bunds prevent water flow from one basin to the adjacent. Suitable for forage crops, which are tolerant to standing water, usually ranging from 12-24 hours.
  • Basin method (View animation)
    • This is highly suitable for fodder tree crops. Basins are formed around the trees and the basins alone are irrigated which are interconnected by an irrigation channel.
  • Border strip method (View animation)
    • The field is laid out into long, narrow strips, bordering with small bunds. Mostly the strips are about 30 to 50m in length and 3 to 5 m in width.
    • Suitable for medium to heavy textured soil with close growing crops.
  • Furrow irrigation (View Straight and Contour furrows animation)
    • Furrow irrigation is adapted to crops grown with ridges and furrows. The size and shape of the furrow depends on the crop grown and the spacing adopted for the crop.
    • Commonly grown crops with furrow irrigation are cumbu napier hybrid grass and guinea grass.

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Sub surface irrigation

• Water is applied to the subsurface soil through underground-perforated pipes. Here, the surface soil is dry even though the root zone is wet. Suitable, where water table is shallow.

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Sprinkler irrigation

• Water is applied as spray or as rain drops over the crops. Water is pumped through a system of pipes under pressure in the pipeline system to sprinkle water over the crops.
• Small quantities of irrigation water can be applied with sprinkler irrigation. This is highly suitable for pasture crops, and in dry areas where water is the limiting factor.

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Drip irrigation

• Drip irrigation is defined as the precise, slow application of water in the form of discrete or continuous or tiny streams or miniature sprays through mechanical devices called emitters or applicators located at selected points along with delivery lines.
• Drip irrigation is adopted extensively in areas of acute water scarcity and especially for crops such as coconut, grapes, banana, surgarcane, brinjal, cotton, maize etc.

Irrigation for fodder crops

• Irrigation water is an expensive input and has to be used very efficiently. Irrigation efficiency at the field level can be increased by selecting suitable method of irrigation, adequate land preparation and engaging an efficient irrigator. At the project level, it can be increased by proper conveyance and distribution system.
• Forage crops are usually grown as rainfed crop. In some cases, where the dairy farming is predominant, it is grown in irrigated upland situation. Most of the crops grown in irrigated upland situation are fairly drought tolerant, and it can withstand a drought period of upto five weeks, and thereafter is very susceptible.
• Irrigation is required on the day of sowing and subsequently once in 10-15 days interval or based on the soil moisture availability. Eg. Maize, cumbu napier hybrid grass, sorghum etc. Usually rainfed crops are sown as pre monsoon sowing. Once the rain occurs it utilizes the available moisture for its growth. Eg. Cenchrus, stylosanthes.
• Some of the crops are susceptible to water logging and in such cased provision of drainage channel is a must. Eg. Maize.

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