Study of perception and practices of water footprint in crop production in Punjab
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Date
2021
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The study entitled ―A study of perception and practices of water footprint in crop production
in Punjab‖ was undertaken with the objectives to estimate the water footprint of different
crops based on total water input and crop evapotranspiration, to identify the spatial variation
in different crops and to estimate the virtual water export due to different crops from the
Punjab state. Study also focused on the adoption of water conservation practices and the
constraints faced by the farmers in existing water use. Five major crops of Punjab, i.e., rice,
wheat, cotton, maize, and sugarcane were selected. Five districts were selected from the three
agro climatic zones of Punjab based on the highest acreage under selected crops. By using the
multi-stage sampling method, a total of 20 villages were selected. From each village, 25
respondents were selected at random. Thus, a total of 500 farmers were selected. The crop
wise calculation of water footprints in different districts based on irrigation water inputs were
estimated as 2033 l/kg for paddy, 2567 l/kg for basmati, 1761 l/kg for cotton, 829 l/kg for
maize, 669 l/kg for wheat and 121 l/kg for sugarcane. Water footprints were also calculated
based on crop evapotranspiration using CROPWAT 8.0 model, which estimated water
footprints of 926 l/kg, 1313 l/kg, 2280 l/kg, 744 l/kg, 547 l/kg, and 150 l/kg for paddy,
basmati, cotton, maize, wheat, and sugarcane, respectively. The results of the study also
showed that all of the respondents from Sangrur district and majority of the respondents from
Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Fazilka and Bathinda had perceived that groundwater level is declining.
Further, most of the respondents also reported that their regions are experiencing less rainfall
than before. The results revealed that most of the respondents had adopted laser leveller as a
water saving technology. Further, respondents had also adopted the short duration varieties,
direct seeded rice, zero tillage in wheat and cover crops to conserve the water. This study
concluded that the non-availability of canal water and decline of water table were serious
constraint perceived by the respondents in water use for different crops. The respondents also
faced the constraint of deepening the bore well every or alternate year to meet the irrigation
requirements. The quality of groundwater was also deteriorating in the south-western zone of
Punjab.
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Citation
Navdeep Kaur (2021). Study of perception and practices of water footprint in crop production in Punjab (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.