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IRRIGATION WATER USE
EFFICIENCY
The irrigation water use efficiency with the present method of furrow/flood irrigation followed by the farmers is very low. There is excessive use of irrigation water with this method resulting in high leaching losses of water and also of the nutrients particularly that of nitrogen along with water. In this method, it is always advisable to apply light and frequent irrigations rather than a few heavy irrigations. The water use efficiency can be improved with the other two methods viz. the sprinkler and drip/trickle irrigation. In areas having limited irrigation water, these two methods can be used and where the land topography is undulating, sprinkler irrigation has proved more useful. Adoption of plasticulture also helps in conserving moisture and reducing irrigation requirements greatly.
This technology is being used extensively in countries like China and can also be adopted in India in areas having limited irrigation water availability.
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