The availability of low cost and long-lasting water pumping technology is a dream of every farmer. In Sri Lanka, fuel or electricity-powered water pumps are used to irrigate thousands of hectares of field crops, Vegetables, and fruits. Based on the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) survey conducted in the year 2000, there are about 50,000 agro-wells in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. More than 110,000 pumps are used to pump water from those wells. The fuel cost is the biggest burden for the farmers, which results in a high cost of production. The use of solar energy for water pumping is a promising alternative to conventional electricity and fuel-based water pumping systems. Solar-powered water pumping is based on photovoltaic (PV) technology that converts solar energy into electrical energy to run a DC or AC type water pump. This paper presents a comparative analysis of economic and environmental benefits associated with solar water pumping systems against fuel-based water pumping systems. The analyses were based on practical experience over 50 acres of land cultivated for export-oriented Green Cucumber by 100 members of Tempitiya Farmer Organization in Ampara District of Sri Lanka. It concluded that the solar water pumping system is advantageous compared to a fuel-based pump in terms of economic and environmental aspects.
Non-point source, agriculture based pollutants have been identified as one of the main cause for water pollution in Sri Lanka. Naranhinna, Pambadeniya Kappeti-Ela, and Rajamale micro watersheds located in the Kandy district have been identified by the project on Rehabilitation of degraded agricultural lands in the Central Highlands implemented by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to rehabilitate through watershed management plan. This study assessed the baseline water quality status of these micro watersheds by obtaining water samples at the outlet of each watersheds during the Maha cropping seasons 2018/2019. Three replicates water samples from each outlets were collected six times and analysed for EC , pH, TDS, CO32-, HCO3-, NO3-, NH4+, available P, total K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Pb using standard methods. Most of the tested drinking water quality parameters in all four micro watersheds were within the permissible limits of World Health Organisation (WHO) standard except Fe and NH4+. Observed Fe contents exceeded the WHO limits (0.3 mg/L) of all watersheds and was in the range of 1.2-1.5 mg/L. Concentration of NH4+ at Kappeti Ela, Rajamale, and Pambadeniya was in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 mg/L which exceeded the WHO standard (0.5 mg/L). Using the tested parameters, study calculated drinking water quality index (DWQI) and also irrigation water quality index (IWQI) for all investigated micro watersheds for each of the sampling date. According to the guideline, mean DWQI (19 to 48.1) graded the water of all micro watersheds as excellent while IWQI (8.7-9.2) characterised them as excellent for any crops during the study period.
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