“Resource conservation technologies for enhancing water productivity in field crop production’’

1. Credit seminar
on
“Resource conservation technologies for enhancing
water productivity in field crop production’’
Presented by
Nikhil Kumar
BAC/D/AGRO/004 /2017-18
Department of Agronomy
Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar) -813 210
Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar) -813 210

2. Out line of presentation
Introduction
What is Water productivity (WP) ?
What is Resource conservation technologies (RCT) ?
Major RCTs for enhancing water productivity.
Conclusion
2

3.  India’s population is 1.35 billion. 55% of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied
activities.
 Marginal and small farmers dominate.
 Total geographical area is 329 mha in India out of which 198 mha is gross cropped area and
140 mha is net sown area.
 Net irrigated area is 68 mha & rest is rain fed.
 Cropping intensity : 142%
 Total food grains production: 276 mt.
 Major crops are rice, wheat, maize, coarse cereals, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, fruits and
vegetables
INTRODUCTION
Source: Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare 2017-18 3

4. Water resources
Global
Annual precipitation on earth surface: 11,000 mham
 Ocean: 97%
 Fresh water: 3%
Central water Commission
4
• Ice cape & Glaciers: 79%
• Ground water : 20%
• Accessible surface Freshwater: 1%

5. India (4% of world’s fresh water)
 Annual precipitation: 400 mham
 Water resources in river basins: 187 mham (47% of precipitation)
 Utilizable volume of water: 112 mham (28% of precipitation )
Surface water: 69 mham
Ground water: 43 mham
 India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 km3 of ground
water per year, which is more than quarter of the global total.
 85.3% of the total water consumed was for agriculture .
 India entered the league of water stress nations. (1545 m3/person/year)
Central water Commission 2016-175

6. The physical or economic output per unit of water application.
WP (kg m-3) = P / WC (m3)
Where,
WP = Water Productivity
P = crop production (kg)
WC=water consumption (m3)
Water productivity ?
(Molden et al., 2001). 6

7. Why is it important?
 To meet the rising demand of food for growing, and
urbanized population,
 To respond to pressures to reallocates water from
agriculture to cities and to ensure that water is available
for environmental uses.
 To contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth,
by more productive use of water.
5177 m3
1545 m3
Central Ground Water Board, 2011
7
Water(m3)
year

8. Resources conservation technologies (RCT)
Resource conservation technology refers to any management approach or
technology that increases factor productivity including land, labour, capital and
inputs.
Resource conservation technologies (RCTs) conserve the resources and produce
more output with less input.
Meena et al., 2018
8

9. Advantages of RCTs
 Saving of resources : 60-85 %
 Yield advantage by : 3-17%
 Increase in profitability by : 11-45%
 Increase energy efficiency by : 20-39%
 Lower specific cost : 8-27%
 Saving in irrigation water : 4-38%
 Reduced weeds : 10-48%
(Sharma and Jat, 2006)
9

10. Major RCTs for enhancing water productivity
 Laser land levelling
 Bed Planting System
 Zero Tillage
 System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
 Direct seeded rice(DSR)
 Mulching
 Crop Diversification
 Improved methods of irrigation-Drip, Sprinkler
 Aerobic rice
 Residue management
10

11. Laser land levelling
 Laser land levelling is levelling the field within certain degree of desired slope using a guided laser beam
throughout the field.
 Laser levelling results a much more level field that is highly useful in conservation of irrigation water.
Advantage:-
•Better distribution of water
•Water saving 35-45%
•Save fertilizer 15-25%
•Increase farming area
•Good crop health
•Reduce weed infestation
•Decrease cost & higher productivity.
11

12. Treatments
Laser levelled field
with slope (%)
Wheat Grain yield
(kg ha-1 )
Irrigation water applied
(m3ha-1 )
Irrigation water
saving (mean)
compared to
control (m3ha-1)
Water productivity
( kg grain m-3 of water)
% increase
in water
productivity
over control
2013-14 2014-15 pooled 2013-14 2014-15 pooled Mean 2013-14 2014-15 pooled Mean
Control
(traditionally levelled)
2690.6 3184.4 2937.5 3793 3535 3664 - 0.709 0.901 0.802 -
0.05 2968.8 3346.9 3157.8 3571 3297 3434 230 0.831 1.015 0.920 14.71
0.15 3343.8 3606.3 3475.0 3139 3059 3099 565 1.065 1.179 1.121 39.78
0.30 3087.5 3356.3 3221.9 2902 2852 2877 787 1.064 1.176 1.120 39.65
SEm (±) 138.84 99.15 59.95 48 57 39 - 0.032 0.034 0.023 -
CD (P=0.05) 288.79 206.24 170.89 140 168 111 - 0.094 0.099 0.066 -
Effect of laser land levelling on water saving and water productivity of wheat
Das et al., 2018 12

13. Bed planting system
The basic principle of bed planting is basically of sowing crops on
ridges or beds (instead of on the flat surface), and applying inputs,
including irrigation water, via the surrounding furrows.
Advantage:-
• Saving of seed and Water (25-40%),
• Less weeds,
• No lodging,
• No waterlogging/good drainage,
• Higher yields, easiness in interculturing.
• opportunity for diversification
Mollah et al., 2009
13

14. Furrow irrigated raised bed system in wheat
 In this method, wheat is sown on raised beds in 2-3 rows
 Bed planting reduces the population of Phalaris minor on the top of the bed
 Bed planting reduce the lodging
 Less seed and nutrient requirement by 25 %
 Good for irrigation as well as for drainage
 Less water requirement by 30- 40%.
14

15. Enhancing yield and water productivity of wheat through furrow
irrigated raised bed system :
Planting
technique/variety
Grain yield
(kg ha-1)
Harvest index
(%)
Biological yield
(kg ha-1)
Total water
applied in 5
Irrigation (m3/ha)
water
Productivity
(kg m-3)
Planting pattern
Bed 75 cm - 2 rows 4429 37.20 11925 2205 1.52
Bed 75 cm - 3 rows 4560 39.29 11703 2287 1.53
Bed 90 cm - 2 rows 4357 36.27 12026 1968 1.63
Bed 90 cm - 3 rows 6180 42.49 14575 2051 2.25
Bed 90 cm - 4 rows 4890 36.67 13398 2096 1.75
Flat planting 5282 35.11 15151 3500 1.26
CD (P= 0.05) 343 2.43 917 9.5 0.11
Wheat cultivar
PHW 343 4893 36.55 13355 - 1.64
WH 711 4736 38.01 12502 - 1.58
WH 1022 5219 38.92 13532 - 1.75
CD (P= 0.05) 206 NS 571 - 0.07
Kumar et al., 201015

16. Zero tillage
Zero tillage is an extreme form of minimum tillage in which primary tillage is
completely avoided and secondary tillage is restricted to seedbed preparation in
the row zone only.
Advantage:-
 Helps in early sowing
 Save water, labor and diesel
 Increase fertilizer use efficiency
 Reduced soil erosion
 Improve soil organic carbon
 Increase yield up to 20%
16

17. Treatments Grain Yield
(q ha-1)
Harvest
Index (%)
Water productivity
(kg m-3)
B:C ratio
Tillage crop establishment methods
T1 Zero tillage 43.55 39.96 1.30 1.29
T2 Reduced tillage 41.49 39.21 1.12 1.11
T3 Rotavator tillage 39.29 39.61 0.98 0.96
T4 FIRB 44.57 40.26 1.79 1.19
T5 Conventional tillage 38.98 39.94 0.94 0.76
SE m± 0.27 0.28 - -
CD (P= 0.05) 0.87 1.03 - -
Irrigation schedule
I1 CRI 34.78 39.97 2.90 0.46
I2 CRI+50mm 48.51 39.32 0.82 1.33
I3 CRI+100mm 46.64 39.91 1.00 1.55
I4 CRI+150mm 41.11 39.45 1.15 1.14
I5 CRI+200mm 36.85 40.34 1.55 0.73
SE m± 0.21 0.29 - -
CD (P= 0.05) 0.60 0.82 - -
Water productivity of wheat as influenced by tillage-cum-crop establishment
methods and irrigation scheduling
Singh et al., 2017
17

18. System of rice intensification
 It was developed in 1983 in Madagascar.
 System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a methodology aimed at increasing the yield of rice produced in
farming. It is a low water, labour-intensive, method that uses younger seedlings singly spaced and
typically hand weeded with special tools.
SRI PRINCIPLES:-
i. Transplanting a single seedling,
ii. Transplanting younger seedlings
iii. Wide plant spacing of 25x25 cm or wider, planted in lines,
iv. Minimum water applications
v. Frequent weeding and
vi. Application of organic matter 18

19. Effect of crop establishment practice on yield and water productivity of rice
Crop
establishment
practice
Grain yield (t ha-1) Straw yield
(t ha-1)
Water applied
(mm)
Water productivity
(kg ha-1mm)
2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010
SRI 7.34 6.95 8.07 7.91 1097 1072 6.69 6.49
Recommended
practice
6.72 6.65 7.54 7.66 1344 1246 5.00 5.34
Farmers Practice 6.10 6.25 7.23 7.26 1485 1365 4.11 4.58
SE d ± 0.19 0.18 0.27 0.20 44 37 - -
CD ( P=0.05) 0.41 0.39 0.59 0.43 96 80 - -
Rao et al., 2013
19
SRI Recommended practice Farmer practice
Spacing (cm) 25x25 15x15 40 Hill/m2
Seedling/hill 1 2-3 4-5
Age of seedling (days) 10 24-26 26-30

20. Mulching
A mulch can be defined as a material which is applied to the soil surface in order to reduce water
loss, suppress weeds, modify soil temperatures and generally improve crop productivity.
Benefits of mulches
 Retain large amount of rain water.
 Allows the water more time to percolate into the root zone.
 Maintains the favourable soil temperature for plant growth.
 Reduces evaporation loss of soil moisture .
 Increases the microbial population and their activity in the soil.
 Provides organic matter to the soil after decomposition.
 Checks weed growth.
 Reduces soil erosion.
 Improves the efficiency of irrigation, particularly in drip method. 20

21. Effect of wheat straw mulch and sowing methods on yield and water
productivity of maize
Treatments 100-GW
(g)
Grain yield
(t ha-1)
Biolo. Yield
(t ha-1)
WUE
(kg m-3)
Total water
applied
(mm)
No mulch 32.5 9.19 23.80 1.41 b 531.1 a
wheat straw mulch 34.8 10.04 25.87 1.79 a 444.6 b
LSD NS NS NS 0.029 50.7
Bed sowing method 34.5 a 10.18 a 26.2 a 2.03 a 353.3 b
Flat sowing method 32.8 b 9.05 b 24.5 b 1.17 b 622.4 a
LSD 0.85 0.72 0.94 0.55 124.2
No mulch × Bed sowing 33.3 b 9.46 b 23. 92 c 1.73 b 392.0 c
wheat straw mulch × Bed sowing 35.7 a 10.89 a 26.49 a 2.32 a 314.6 d
No mulch × Flat sowing 31.7 c 8.91 b 23.68 c 1.08 d 670.2 a
wheat straw mulch × Flat sowing 33.9 b 9.19 b 25.25 b 1.26 c 574.6 b
LSD 1.44 1.38 0.75 0.084 85.6
Shah et al., 201521

22. Crop diversification
 A shift from less profitable and sustainable crop or cropping system to more profitable and sustainable
crop/cropping system.
 Crop diversification means to increase the total productivity in terms of quality, quantity and monetary
value under specific agro-climatic situations worldwide.
The major driving forces for crop diversification are:
• Increasing income on small farm holdings.
• Withstanding price fluctuation.
• Mitigating ill-effects of aberrant weather.
• Balancing food demand.
• Improving fodder for livestock animals.
• Conservation of natural resources (soil, water, etc.).
• Decreasing insect pests, diseases and weed problems
Nishan, 2014

23. Treatments Mean Yield (q/ha) Water use
efficiency
(kg/ha/mm)
Land use
efficiency
(%)
Net
return
(Rs/ha)
B:C
ratioKharif Rabi Summer
Rice-Wheat 33.60 35.89 - 24.14 70.78 43660 0.91
Rice-Mustard-Green Gram 34.30 10.57 6.95 20.27 85.84 34469 0.61
Rice - Rajma - Green Gram 35.19 12.45 7.55 27.36 88.58 54129 0.89
Rice - Potato - Green Gram 38.48 225.91 9.83 31.59 77.63 110110 1.22
Rice-Wheat+Mustard(5:1)-Green
Gram
34.50 26.49
(3.84)
6.57 18.38 89.04 46405 0.72
Rice-Wheat+Rajma(5:1)-Green
Gram
35.34 28.21
(4.33)
6.48 20.08 89.04 61770 0.91
Rice-Potato+Wheat (1:1)-Green
Gram
38.02 205.38
(18.49)
9.27 35.74 95.89 120602 1.26
S.Em.± 1.99 - 0.47 1.85 - 4614 0.04
CD (p=0.05) 6.11 - 1.45 5.35 - 13362 0.12
Intensification and diversification of rice (Oryza sativa) based cropping systems for productivity,
profitability and water use efficiency
Mall et al., 201423

24. Drip methods of irrigation
 Discovered in Israel,
 Discharge rate of water per unit area is 1-4 lit/hr.
 Efficiency of drip irrigation (80-90%) is the result of two
factors:
• Applying of water drop by drop, so that the soil soaks it
before it evaporates.
• Water is applied on the crop roots whenever it is needed.
 Herbigation and fertigation is possible.
 Water losses are minimum.
 No land levelling is necessary.
 Energy requirement is less.
 Less disease and weed infestation.
24

25. 25
Treatment Biological
yield (q/ha)
Grain yield
(q/ha)
Straw yield
(q/ha)
Test weight
(gm)
Harvest
index (%)
Water
productivity
(kg/m3 )T1 -Drip
irrigation
Lateral spacing
40 cm (one lateral for
two rows)
89.22 43.5 45.72 40.74 48.75 1.26
T2 -Drip
irrigation
60 cm (one lateral for
three rows)
83.73 42.61 41.12 39.24 50.94 1.23
T3–Drip
irrigation
80 cm (one lateral for
four rows)
83.07 40.34 42.57 37.49 48.63 1.17
T4-Border
irrigation
(border of 2.5 m width
and 20 m long)
98.01 47.77 50.11 42.94 48.66 0.99
CD (P=0.05) 8.15 5.56 7.23 2.85 5.82 0.14
Water productivity and yields responses of wheat based on drip irrigation
Chouhan et al., 2015

26. Sprinkler methods of irrigation
 Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water
which is similar to natural rainfall.
Advantages:
1. Suited to complete range of topographies and field
dimensions.
2. High irrigation efficiency due to uniform distribution of
water.
3. Land leveling is not essential.
4. Soluble fertilizer, herbicides and fungicides can be applied
in the irrigation water
26

27. Treatments Yield
(kg/ha)
Irrigation water
applied (mm)
Total water used
(mm)
WUE
(kg/ha-mm)
I1- Surface method (IW/CPE 0.60) 2797 200 409.2 6.8
I2- Micro sprinkler 100% PE 2860 348.9 558.1 5.12
I3- Micro sprinkler 80% PE 3823 301.5 510.7 7.48
I4- Micro sprinkler 60% PE 3407 258.4 467.6 7.29
I5- Micro sprinkler 40% PE 2992 202.8 412 7.26
I6- Micro sprinkler 100% ETc 3324 293.08 502.28 6.62
I7- Micro sprinkler 80% ETc 3130 253.26 462.46 6.77
I8- Micro sprinkler 60% ETc 3047 217.06 426.26 7.15
I9- Micro sprinkler 40% ETc 2770 170.35 379.55 5.85
SEm± 55 - - -
CD (P=0.05) 153 - - -
Effect of micro sprinkler irrigation on yield and water productivity of
Groundnut
Krishnamurthi et al., 2003 27

28. Direct seeded rice(DSR)
 Rice is sown directly in dry seeding or wet seeding, and irrigation is given to keep the soil
sufficiently moist for good plant growth, but the soil is never flooded.
 It is labour, fuel, time and water saving (75%) technology and Higher net economic returns.
Methods of direct seeding
28

29. S.No. Parameters Direct seeded rice Transplanted rice Resource saving
in DSR
1 Seeding rate (kg/ha) 34.5 60.7 43%
2 Water consumption (m3/ha) 8130 12500 35%
3 Fuel use (L/ha) 57 79.4 28%
4 Labour time (h/ha) 432 646 33%
5 Total fertilizer (kg/ha) 428 609 30%
6 Yield (t/ha) 7.21 6.59 10% High
7 Net income (Rs/ha) 79100 48200 48% High
Resource Conservation through direct seeded rice
Kuchanur et al., 201829

30. Aerobic rice
 Aerobic rice cultivation system is the method of cultivation, where the rice crop is established
by direct seeding (dry or water-soaked seed) in non-puddle field and un-flooded field condition.
 The usual way of planting aerobic rice is the same as we would plant the other cereal crops like
wheat or maize-by direct seeding. It is the most promising approaches for saving water and
labour.
The basic practices of this system are:
 Direct seeding of treated seed in non-puddle and non flooded field
 It can be rain fed or fully irrigated or supplementary irrigated
 Maintain water at just soil saturation level (aerobic i.e. with oxygen)
 Effective and timely weed control is crucial for success of this system
 Row to row spacing should be adopted at 20 or 25cm with continuous sowing
 Use of best nutrient management practices along with use of
FYM/compost/vermicompost etc.
Jana et al. (2018)
30

31. Treatment Irrigation (mm) Total water Use(mm) Grain yield (kg ha-1) Water Productivity (kg m-3)
2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013
Dates of sowing
D1- 18 Jun 213 450 530 686 5422 4944 1.04 0.73
D2- 07 Jul 263 450 548 688 5254 4893 0.98 0.72
D3- 20 Jul 338 525 612 734 5005 4754 0.82 0.66
D4- 04 Aug 425 550 645 759 4769 4377 0.74 0.58
D5- 18 Aug 488 550 655 720 4573 4257 0.70 0.59
SE m± - - - - 65 48 - -
CD (P=0.05) - - - - 211 156 - -
Varieties
V1- JGL 17004 240 400 481 592 3946 3752 0.84 0.64
V2- MTU 1010 290 450 541 654 5066 4632 0.96 0.72
V3- JGL 11470 400 550 658 773 5459 5063 0.84 0.66
V4- MTU 1061 223 620 712 849 5546 5132 0.78 0.61
SE m± - - - - 63 66 - -
CD (P=0.05) - - - - 183 190 - -
Interaction - - - - NS NS - -
Grain yield, total water use and water productivity as influenced by dates of sowing and varieties under
aerobic culture
Naik et al. (2015)V1- 105 days, V2-120 days, V3-135 days, V4-160 days
31

32. Residue management
 Turbo seeder is an advance version of happy seeder developed by PAU.
 The Happy Seeder is a tractor-powered machine that cuts and lifts the rice straw, into the soil, and
deposits the straw over the sown area as a mulch.
 The Happy Seeder thus combines stubble mulching and seed and fertilizer drilling into a single pass.
Burning crop residues causes;
• Loss of organic source
• Loss of plant nutrients
• Environmental pollution
• Health problems
• Reduces soil microbial activity
• Depletion of soil organic carbon
32

33. Treatments Grain yield
(tones/ha)
Total water
applied (mm)
WUE
(Kg/ ha)
B:C ratio
M1 Zero till without residue 3.63 279 13.01 1.79
M2 Zero till with residue, 3.96 265 14.01 2.03
M3 Wide raised beds without residue, 4.18 269 15.54 1.99
M4 Wide raised beds with residue, 4.31 256 16.84 2.21
M5 Narrow raised beds without residue 4.17 273 15.27 1.96
M6 Narrow raised beds with residue 4.27 262 16.30 2.13
M7 Conventional tillage 3.81 315 12.10 1.47
CD (P=0.05) 0.098 - - -
Kumar et al. (2016)
Alternative tillage and crop residue management effects on yield & water
productivity of wheat
33

34. Conclusions
 Resource conservation technology has emerged as a potential tool for enhancing resource use
efficiency, crop productivity and profitability.
 Improve in land and water productivity is an important interdisciplinary approach and only possible
by the choosing of the appropriate resource conservation technology depending upon the region.
 Resource Conservation practices resulted in better soil aggregation, soil biological health and
provided favourable impact on rhizosphere for crop growth and productivity.
 Indian agriculture is likely to suffer losses in long run due to heat, erratic weather, and decreased
irrigation availability. Adaptation of laser land leveling, direct seeded rice (DSR), bed planting, zero
tillage (ZT) are among the common RCTs and mitigation strategies can help minimize negative
impacts to some extent.
34

35. 35
THANK YOU