Agricultural operations like irrigation rely heavily on the availability of water. As per a 2022 report, the Annual Ground Water Extraction meant for all types of use was 239.16 billion cubic meters (BCM). Of this, around 87% (208.49 BCM) was used for agricultural activities. Due to prevailing water scarcity in India, the need of the hour is to manage water use efficiently in agriculture.
This is where the drip irrigation method comes in. It saves water and nutrients by precisely delivering them to the root zone of crops. Read on to understand what is drip system, its components, uses and benefits.
Drip or trickle irrigation is an efficient irrigation method that ensures less water consumption compared to surface irrigation. A network of pipes, valves and emitters delivers water directly to the crops' roots. This irrigation technique is highly suitable for most crops, including oil seeds, cash crops, vegetables and fruits. Also, fertigation is used to apply fertilisers using drip irrigation to carry and distribute water and nutrients.
The root zone receives almost all water in the drip irrigation system. There is nearly no wetness in surface area; thus, this method needs 25% less water than surface irrigation. Also, drip irrigation is suitable for saline soil conditions.
In the 1970s, drip irrigation technologies from developed nations like the US and Israel were introduced in India. 4374.53 thousand hectares area was noted to be under drip irrigation in 2019. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Karnataka are the leading users of drip irrigation.
In 2021-22, the area covered under drip irrigation in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was 3.58 lakh hectares. Also, the largest drip irrigation programme in Asia is the Ramthal (Marol) Micro Irrigation Project located in Karnataka.
The following are the primary types of drip irrigation systems:
Drip Irrigation Model: Components of Drip System
The components of the drip irrigation system have been categorised as:
The other components of the drip irrigation model are valves, gauges, water meters, chemical tanks/injectors, etc.
Drip irrigation applies irrigation water with water-soluble fertilisers directly to the plant roots at a low discharge. The mainline supplies water to the sub-mains, which is then moved into the laterals. The emitters are fixed to the laterals for water distribution.
Emitters deliver water at a low operating pressure of 1 - 2 kg/cm2. Based on different factors like the soil type, the emitter discharge is in the range of 0.5 to 12 litres per hour (lph). Due to the low discharge, partial wetting of the root zones is observed.
The uses of drip irrigation result in various benefits for Indian farmers, such as contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Other key benefits include:
Limitations of Drip Irrigation
The limitations of drip irrigation are as follows:
Government Support for Drip Irrigation
The Government of India is making huge efforts to help farmers adopt micro-irrigation. There is a provision of financial assistance/subsidy under Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) for installing drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. This subsidy amounts to 55% and 45% of the indicative unit cost for Small & Marginal farmers and other farmers, respectively. PDMC is a key component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.
Drip irrigation is improving water use in agriculture. Its benefits promise a bright future for sustainable agriculture in India. As more farmers use government support to adopt this practice, earning more with high-value crops is becoming easier.
Drip irrigation is an efficient micro-irrigation method that slowly drips water to the root zones of plants.
The uses of drip irrigation include irrigating vineyards and small and large fields while saving water.
Simcha Blass, a Polish-Israeli engineer, invented the modern drip irrigation system.
The advantages of drip irrigation include water conservation, weed control, higher crop yields, and labour and energy savings.
Drip irrigation makes use of a network of pipes and emitters to supply water at low pressure at the root zones.
Drip irrigation saves water because of the precise delivery of water where needed. Also, there is less evaporation and runoff due to this irrigation method.
Yes, drip irrigation makes farming more efficient. It is because this method optimises water usage and enhances crop yields.