Integrating canal water harvesting and micro-irrigation for quality production of horticultural crops in semi-arid region of northern India.

摘要

The objective of the present study was to envisage the scope for water resource development and its utilization through microirrigation in canal irrigated regions for enhancing water use efficiency and better productivity of horticultural crops. Study was initiated in south western Punjab during 2003-07 with the hypothesis that storing precious canal water in secondary reservoir and subsequent use with microirrigation in horticultural crops could be a viable option of crop diversification for higher profitability and sustainability. Canal water was harvested in plastic lined reservoir (pond of 1500 m3 capacity) and used by drip irrigation system for the production of Kinnow, guava, pomegranate, strawberry, tomato, potato, capsicum and onion. The result indicated that there is about 26, 42, 37 and 46 percent saving in water and 37, 22, 17 and 41 percent increase in fruit yield of guava, pomegranate, kinnow and strawberry respectively with the use of drip irrigation. Similarly, use of micro-irrigation resulted about 39, 16, 14 and 46 percent saving in water and 47, 42, 52 and 28 percent increase in yield of tomato, potato, onion and capsicum respectively.