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Water Management

Water Management

Sikkim, though abundant in average rainfall, its rainfall distribution is not uniform over time and area. Hence we have high rainfall as well as drought prone areas. We also have dry spells at times. Also, Sikkim, being a hilly state with varying degree of slopes, constructing big irrigation canals running across the length & breadth of the State is also not feasible and entails a very high capital cost & maintenance cost, and since the majority of farmers are marginal farmers, they are not able to provide irrigation to the crops through costly means.

The Ground water is available in highly dynamic state and unavailable for useful purpose in the highly sloping topography. Springs, both seasonal and perennial are the main source of available water.

Availability of abundant stream water during the summer allows for growing of paddy which the farmers carry to their field through temporary channels. Otherwise almost all the crops are grown on rainfed conditions.

The topography again is a big constraint in developing a suitable water application method. Design/ layout of drip irrigation, sprinklers etc, are difficult and entail high cost due to difference in pressure head in every terrace/ field.

Hence, a more pragmatic approach is to go for micro irrigation and better methods of water application, like small water harvesting structures, roof water harvesting and water saving application methods like sprinklers, drips, porous pipes etc.

 

(i) Poly Pipes: 
As a pilot project, Pipe water irrigation system is being implemented since last few years where by alkathene pipe are procured and distributed to the farmers who have to have a water tank of 10000 ltr, capacity as their share of the project cost. The water from these Tanks are then used to irrigate their Green Houses and Fields through pipe lines. Some farmers have been procuring small sprinkler heads that is connected to the alkathene pipe for irrigating their green houses.

 

(ii)Sprinkler Heads :
Consisting of a sprinkler head & a stand, it is a handy Water application device for irrigating kitchen gardens, green houses etc. Water from the tank is connected to the inlet by means of poly pipes. Area covered by one sprinkler is upto 30 ft. diameter depending on the pressure head and the ht. of the sprinkler. After the plot is wetted, the sprinkler can be shifted to another location or plot. This way a person can irrigate the entire area and manage other works as well.

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      Sprinkler Heads                            Sprinkler irrigation in Operation at Daramdin farm

 

(iii) SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM: "Sprinkler irrigation" is defined as the method of irrigation under pressure in which water is sprinkled in the form of artificial rain through pipes lines carrying irrigation water.

Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to natural rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground. The pump supply system, sprinklers and operating conditions must be designed to enable a uniform application of water.
 

  • Sprinkler irrigation is suited for most row, field and tree crops and water can be sprayed over or under the crop canopy. However, large sprinklers are not recommended for irrigation of delicate crops such as lettuce because the large water drops produced by the sprinklers may damage the crop
  • Sprinkler irrigation is adaptable to any farmable slope, whether uniform or undulating. The lateral pipes supplying water to the sprinklers should always be laid out along the land contour whenever possible. This will minimize the pressure changes at the sprinklers and provide a uniform irrigation.

(iv) DRIP IRRIGATION:
Drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation or micro irrigation is an irrigation method that applies water slowly to the roots of plants, by depositing the water either on the soil surface or directly to the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters, with the goal of minimizing water and fertilizer usage.

Drip irrigation (sometimes called trickle irrigation) works by applying water slowly, directly to the soil, bloop, bleep, bloop, bleep. The high efficiency of drip irrigation results from two primary factors. The first is that the water soaks into the soil before it can evaporate or run off. The second is that the water is only applied where it is needed, (at the plant's roots) rather than sprayed everywhere.

The drip concept is the latest technological breakthrough in the field of irrigation though simple in nature, it aims at providing controlled and precise water application at low rates for longer duration through a low pressure delivery system at frequent interval.

This system works best for plantation cops, and controlled conditions like that in Green houses but not sustainable for cereal crops.
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                        Drip Layout in Field
 

(v) POROUS PIPES:
 Continuous and automatic irrigation of Plants and Trees by using porous Pipes is an efficient method of using water for irrigation. It helps delivering water in the right quantity at the right place and at the right time. Water is dispensed gradually and near the roots of the Plant through the pores in the laid pipes. 

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