International Journal of Agricultural Engineering

D. K. Singh ¹, R. M. Singh ², K. V. R. Rao ³

Affiliations
1 Division of Crop Production, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi U.P., IN
2 Department of Farm Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi U.P., IN
3 Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Division, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal M.P., IN

Abstract

Sustainable and increased agricultural productivity emphasize judicious use of water and nutrients accompanied by other factors. This can be achieved by application of water and nutrients through drip fertigation, which is the most advanced and efficient practice of fertilizer application. It has to follow appropriate management strategies to get maximum benefit, which become easy through automatic operation system. Therefore, an automated drip fertigation system was installed in mango (Mangifera indica L.) and guava (Psidium guajava L.) orchards at the farm of Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Irrigation and fertilizers were provided to mango and guava as per crop water requirement and scheduling. The mean fruit yield of guava under automated drip fertigation system was found to be 10.29-13.07 tonnes/ha and increased by 27.03 per cent during the period from 2007-08 to 2009-10. It increased significantly from 15.6 per cent to 23.7 per cent over conventional system during the same period. The pulp content of guava varied between 95.4 - 95.5 per cent and was higher by 1.38-1.60 per cent as compared to conventional system. The mean fruit yield of mango was 8.00-12.80 tonnes/ha and increased to 60.0 per cent under automated drip fertigation. The mean fruit yield of mango significantly increased from 17.6 to 23.1per cent over conventional practices. The pulp content of mango under automated drip fertigation ranged between 74.5 to 74.6 per cent being 3.33-3.47 per cent higher than conventional system during the study period. Total cost of cultivation through automated drip fertigation varied from Rs.1,56,383- Rs.12,17,913 and Rs. 1,73, 775- Rs. 15,65,774 for guava and mango, respectively for one to 20 hectare area. The benefit cost ratio for mango and guava orchard reached 1.45 and 2.20 for 20 hectare area, respectively. This study indicated that automated drip fertigation system could be techno-economically feasible for use in 5-20 hectares of mango and 3-20 hectares of guava.

Keywords

Mango, Guava, Automated Drip Fertigation, Increased Yield, Techno-economic Feasibility, Benefit Cost Ratio

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D. K. Singh ¹, R. M. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Shahanshahpur, Varanasi U.P., IN
2 Department of Farm Engineer ing, Inst itute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi U.P., IN

Abstract

Worldwide 10-50 per cent of irrigated agriculture is facing problems of waterlogging and soil salinity which cause loss of around 1.5 million hectare land annually. The problems of alkalinity and salinity coupled with waterlogging affect about 7.3 million hectares land in India, which reduce agricultural productivity. At the same time agriculture is facing increase in water demand at 2.4 per cent annually during 2005 -2030 as well as reducing share of water due to competing demand from industry and urbanizations. Therefore, to fulfill food and nutritional security of nation on sustained basis, both salt affected soils and waters need to be managed using appropriate techniques. Techniques for controlling salinity that require relatively minor changes are more frequent irrigations, selection of more salt-tolerant crops, additional leaching, residue management, chemical amendments, pre-plant irrigation, bed forming and seed placement. These require significant changes in management such as, changing the irrigation method, altering the water supply, land-leveling, modifying the soil profile, and installing surface as well as subsurface drainage. Where possible, furrow planting may help in obtaining better stands and crop yields under saline conditions. Studies have shown that yield obtained by the drip method with saline water was almost equal to that produced when the high quality water was applied by this method. Therefore, improved agricultural production and water productivity on sustained basis could be realized by application of techniques to manage salt affected soils and waters.

Keywords

Soil Salinity, Salt Tolerance, Seed Placement, Leaching, Bio-drainage, Surface And Subsurface Drainage, Water Management

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