An Analysis on Drip Irrigation in India

An Analysis on Drip Irrigation in India

Author Name : Dr. Pardeep Malik

ABSTRACT The country's main necessities for agricultural and economic development are land and water. The shortage of water is increasing rapidly in the whole world. By 2025, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) predicts that one-third of the world's population would experience complete water shortage. More than 80% of the nation's useful water resources are used by agriculture. One water-saving technique utilized to maximize the use of water which is already available is the use of drip irrigation. The surface irrigation is an ancient form of irrigation. Surface irrigation is a common type of irrigation. Because water must pass through the soil to reach the crops, this method wastes water. Drip irrigation involves putting emitter-equipped pipes right next to the plants on the soil underneath. The nozzles' water slowly enters into the soil's root zone. Plant quality and production increase as a result of maintaining moisture levels within a desirable range. By efficiently supplying irrigation water to the root zone of plants using drip irrigation, traditional losses such deep percolation, runoff, and soil erosion are reduced. Drip irrigation uses 90% of the water that is used, compared to other types of methods of irrigation like sprinkler systems, which are only 65 to 75 percent beneficial. Additionally, it lessens evaporation and runoff. Water is slowly delivered by way of drip irrigation to the plant's root zone, which is where it is most required. The major goal is to use drip irrigation to conserve the existing water resources for sustainable development.