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Irrigation and Water Management

Irrigation and Water Management

1. Drip Irrigation System:


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 intervals. This method creates optimum air moisture level in the soil and the root zone through out the growing period. The above stage is responsible for continuous and regular uptake of moisture and nutrients necessary for plant growth.

Thus Drip irrigated crops are healthier, give higher yields, bigger and uniform size of produce with less quantity of water, simultaneously conserving the rapidly diminishing water resources. Drip irrigation systems can be used on any of the water sources, namely, well, river, lake, tank, canal etc. The system consist of sand screen filter, fertilizer tank, century for injecting fertilizer and chemicals, UPVC main and sub mains, laterals, Emitters and injection mounded fittings for UPVC pipes and laterals.

Pumped water passes through a sand/screen filter and is conveyed to the field via a network of UPVC mains and sub mains having control valves at appropriate points. Laterals are drawn from the sub main for plant rows. The water is discharged near the root zone from the Emitters attached to the laterals which are placed near the plants. Fertilizers and chemicals are injected through the system with the help of century.

2. Micro Sprinkler :
Micro Sprinkler is designed to provide large droplets which are projected at a flat trajectory for efficient under foliage watering and is available in eight flow rates ranging from 80 to 485 LPH diameter of throw ranging from 7.5 to 13.0 meter. Flipper can be replaced by deflector to provide jet splash for immature plantations. Crop damage and waste through evaporation is reduced.

3. Mini Sprinkler:


Mini sprinkler is designed to be durable and reliable. Available in six different flow rates ranging from 32 to 177 LPH and diameter of throw ranging from 5.3 to 18.3 meters water droplets are projected at a flat trajectory for efficient under foliage watering. The double bearing feature provides long time reliability and consistency of performance.

SYSTEMATIC DIAGRAM OF DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION:


Soil erosion is recognized as a serious threat to man's very existence. It is a natural phenomenon and has always taken place. The changing faces of the earth's surface can be solely attributed to the soil erosion. This is a natural process and is very slow but is accelerated when influenced by human activities.

Soil erosion is caused by excessive deforestation, uncontrolled grazing and human activities. It takes place in three phases viz. detachment of soil particles, transportation and sediment deposits. The main agents of soil erosion are wind, water and temperature. But in Sikkim, wind and temperature is of little significance as agents of soil erosion. Water is the most important single agent that influences erosion and this agent is in the form of rainfall. Erosion through water is further accelerated by man's agricultural and nonagricultural activities. Sikkim, therefore, with high rainfall coupled with man's agricultural and non-agricultural activities are more prone to erosion.

Agriculture in Sikkim is essentially  hill agriculture under rain fed condition with largely traditional cultivation practices. Limited availability of land in hilly terrain have compelled the farming community to till the hill tops /slopes rendering soil erosion severe and damaging. Forest cover is depleting very fast allowing top soils to be eroded under high rainfall situation.

We cannot stop the soil erosion but with proper soil conservation measures it can be controlled. Proper soil conservation practices could alone contribute about 25-30 per cent of additional production from the same piece of land. Expenses in soil conservation measures should, therefore, be taken as profitable investment in the development of agriculture, by way of production and employment generation, so vital for the state.

Some of the soil conservation structures which need to be constructed in order to check soil erosion is given below along with figures and model estimates.