Water Management in Horticultural Crops

Syllabus

Theory

• Importance of water, water resources in India. Area of different crops under irrigation, function of water for plant growth, effect of moisture stress on crop growth. Available and unavailable soil moisture – distribution of soil moisture – water budgeting – rooting characteristics – moisture extraction pattern. Water requirement of horticultural crops –lysimeter studies – Plant water potential climatological approach – use of pan evaporimeter – factor for crop growth stages – critical stages of crop growth for irrigation. Irrigation scheduling – different approaches – methods of irrigation – surface and sub-surface pressurized methods viz., sprinkler and drip irrigation, their suitability, merits and limitations, fertigation, economic use of irrigation water. Water management problem, soils quality of irrigation water, irrigation management practices for different soils and crops. Layout of different irrigation systems, drip, sprinkler. Layout of underground pipeline system.

Practical

• Measurements of irrigation water by using water measuring devices, use of common formula in irrigation practices, practicing of land leveling and land shaping implements, layout for different methods of irrigation. Estimation of soil moisture constants and soil moisture by using different, methods and instruments, scheduling of irrigation, different approaches, practicing use of instruments, estimation of irrigation efficiency and water requirements of horticultural crops, irrigation planning and scheduling, soil moisture conservation practices.