STUDY OF HYDRAULICS OF PITCHER IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND ITS ADAPTABILITY IN VEGETABLE CROPS
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Date
2006
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MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
The most common problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries are facing since the last few decades has been lack of water due to recurrent droughts. There is need to figure out a way to water our crops and garden in a way that won't deplete the resources we have. A simple, but efficient, technological device is clay pitcher, which entails creation of rural employment, savings of scarce water resources, maximizing yield and a reduction in irrigation frequency. For the practical application of pitcher irrigation there is need to have basic information and understanding of system which leads to design criteria for pitcher irrigation.
In the present study four types of pitcher with varying shape, size, and volume were used. The hydraulic study of pitchers is critical to decide a particular type of pitcher to irrigate a particular crop. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of pitcher was determined by a) Falling head method and b) Constant head method. The hydraulic conductivity is found 360.5 to 484.0 mm/day as for falling head method and from 398.6 to 574.4 mm/day for constant head method. The conductance was found in the range of 13705837.54 to 17983403.85 mm2/day for falling head method and for constant head method it was in the range 15640326.92 to 21082408.74 mm2/day. Daily free seepage of all the four types of pitchers varied from 3150 to 5200 lit/day. The maximum radius of wetted area ranges from 48 to 68 cm and wetted surface area ranges from 7238 to 14526 cm2.
The crops are classified based on hydraulic studies, daily free seepage rate out of pitchers, spacing of crops and water requirement of crops for different size pitchers. The yield observed was 13.1 tonnes/ha in case of pitcher irrigation where as for furrow irrigation it was found as 13.4 tonnes/ha. The cost of cultivation per ha per year was found Rs. 55,033.00 for pitcher irrigation and Rs. 62,124.00 for furrow irrigation. The benefit net market profit was observed Rs. 204,967.00 for pitcher and Rs. 197,876.00 for furrow irrigation. The 60 % saving in terms of water was found in pitcher irrigation system and the system can be utilized very efficiently and effectively as compared to furrow irrigation system.
Description
STUDY OF HYDRAULICS OF PITCHER IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND ITS ADAPTABILITY IN VEGETABLE CROPS
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Citation
Nirmale and Kumar, 2006