DEFICIT IRRIGATION: FOR REDUCING AGRICULTURAL WATER USE |
Author(s): |
DHANU UNNIKRISHNAN |
Keywords: |
Abstract |
Deficit irrigation refers to the application of water below full crop water requirement (Fereres, 2007). It is an optimizing strategy under which crops are deliberately allowed to sustain some degree of water deficit and yield reduction.The objectives of DI is to increase the WUE of a crop by eliminating irrigation that have little impact on yield, reduce the amount of water used for irrigating crops and improve the response of plants to certain degree of water deficit in a positive manner.Deficit irrigation is scheduled based on the yield response factor of each crops with seasonal and specific growth stages.The advantages of deficit irrigation are increased water use efficiency, enhanced root activity, improved nutrient use efficiency, improved product quality and increased plant yield. The basic rules for implementing deficit irrigation methods are practicing DI on relatively deep soils, use of drought resistant crops and varieties, increasing the contribution of precipitation, applying in the least sensitive growth stages, satisfying pre plant irrigation requirement, reducing irrigation losses and modifying cultural practices.As world’s population is expected to increase in future, the additional food required to feed future generations is under enormous pressure and thus the fresh water sources also. Therefore, each drop of water is precious and has to be used efficiently. Deficit irrigation practice combined with other advanced agronomic practices like mulching, cover cropping, no-tillage, ridge-furrow planting can enhance water productivity. |
Other Details |
Paper ID: IJSARTV Published in: Volume : 5, Issue : 9 Publication Date: 9/4/2019 |
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