The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute has taken up a research on producing paddy using sprinkler irrigation.
The research aims at ensuring maximum utilisation of available water by ascertaining the moisture of the soil periodically. Irrigation water is wasted when used excessively. On the contrary, sprinkler irrigation, with its rotation system, ensures economic and effective use, says K. Ramaswamy, Dean. He said the institute had taken up the experiment in response to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to adopt water conservation techniques. Two varieties – ‘Anna R 4’ and ‘ADT 49’ had been raised in the past and CR 1009 paddy is being raised at the farm.
“The moisture of the soil is closely monitored and the field is irrigated once in three days,” he said explaining the technical analysis for ascertaining the moisture level of the soil. “If the field is too dry, the roots will need more energy for respiration,” he said. The field is never allowed to go dry which ensures regular irrigation for paddy.
ADVERTISEMENT
The sprinkler is not used during pollination period of two hours between 10 a.m. and noon as the water from sprinkler would gush out with greater pressure disturbing the pollination process. In terms of yield, he said the normal yield on conventional method ranged between 4 and 6 tonnes a hectare but the yield is likely to fall by about five per cent in this new method. Sprinkler irrigation in paddy has proved to be advantageous as the technique avoids water-intensive processes. As the seeds are sown through the tractor-drawn sowing method, there is no need for water for preparation of land and raising nurseries.
V. Ravikumar, Professor and Head of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering Department of the Institute, said that the sprinkler irrigation in paddy would benefit delta farmers in a big way. The institute was popularising the sprinkler irrigation among paddy farmers in the region.