Techno‐economic Evaluation of Integrating Canal Water Harvesting and Drip Irrigation for Pomegranate Production in a Dry Eco‐region

Abstract

Water management plays an important role in sustainable and quality production of pomegranate. The present study envisaged the scope for water resource development and its utilization through a drip system in a canal irrigated dry eco-region where water is a limited resource. Canal water harvested in a secondary reservoir and re-used by a drip system in a pomegranate orchard to enhance quality and productivity. Results showed better soil moisture availability under a drip irrigation regime compared to existing surface irrigation practices. Drip irrigation saved 32% water and resulted in a 10.9% reduction in fruit cracking, resulting in a higher marketable yield and water productivity compared to surface irrigation. Drip irrigated trees produced larger size arils and resulted in higher juice recovery compared to surface irrigated fruit. Better quality and productivity resulted in higher economic benefits under the drip system. Net present value of additional income was INR 139,000 for the drip system. Results showed the potential of integrating a drip system and canal water harvested for enhancing quality and productivity of pomegranate growth in a dry eco-region. RÉSUMÉLa gestion de l'eau joue un rôle important dans la production durable et de qualité de la grenade. La présente étude envisage les possibilités de développement et d'utilisation des ressources en eau par le système goutte à goutte dans le cas d'une alimentation par un canal d'irrigation en région aride ou la ressource en eau est limitée. L'eau du canal est stockée dans un réservoir secondaire puis ré-acheminée vers le système goutte à goutte pour améliorer la qualité et la productivité des grenadiers. Les résultats ont montré une meilleure disponibilité de l'eau du sol sous le régime de l'irrigation goutte à goutte par rapport à la pratique d'irrigation de surface existante. L'irrigation au goutte à goutte économise 32% de l'eau alors que le nombre de fruits fissurés est diminué de 10,9 %, avec pour conséquence un rendement commercialisable et une productivité de l'eau accrus. Les arbres en goutte à goutte ont produit des arilles de plus grande taille et obtenu des rendements en jus supérieurs à ceux des arbres conduits en irrigation de surface. La meilleure qualité et la productivité accrues ont entraîné une augmentation des avantages économiques du système goutte à goutte. La valeur actuelle nette a été augmentée de 139 000 Roupies indiennes (N.D.L.T.: env. 2100 € en 2001) pour le système de goutte à goutte. Les résultats ont montré le potentiel de l'intégration du système de goutte à goutte dans un système d'irrigation conçu initialement en gravitaire pour améliorer la qualité et la productivité de grenadiers.

Viabilidade da cultura do morangueiro no Paraná - BR

“…Indicadores que utilizam fatores de descontos e consideram a dimensão tempo permitem identificar situações favoráveis e desfavoráveis de investimentos, facilitando a construção e a implementação de estratégias de intervenção (ATALLAH et al, 2012), quando se faz juntamente a análise de cenários dos fatores de produção passíveis de variação, sendo assim utilizado para mensurar resultados econômicos de diversas explorações, quando submetidas a manejos variáveis (KUMAR et. al., 2012).…”

On‐farm irrigation water management in India: Challenges and research gaps*

“…Thus, harvesting canal water into a reservoir in the field and reusing it through a pressurized irrigation system can improve water productivity in a canalirrigated area, especially at the tail end. This rationale is supported by a study by Kumar et al (2012), in which a drip-irrigated pomegranate orchard in a canal command area resulted in savings of 32% irrigation water and in 10.9% reduction in fruit cracking. The saved amount of water can be alternatively used for irrigating additional areas or can be diverted to meet the demands of the non-agricultural sector.…”

“…Using pipes for conveyance and application eliminates all the associated losses, thereby increasing the project efficiency up to 89% (Wani et al, 2017). The success of a pressurized irrigation system in a canal command area relies upon the supply of water, switching from an on-off mode of water supply to a continuous water supply (Kumar et al, 2012). Thus, harvesting canal water into a reservoir in the field and reusing it through a pressurized irrigation system can improve water productivity in a canalirrigated area, especially at the tail end.…”

Determining evapotranspiration and crop coefficients of young and mature pomegranate trees under drip irrigation*

“…However, deep percolation and evaporation losses were too significant. Kumar et al (2012Kumar et al ( , 2013 indicated that water use of pomegranate orchards in arid Punjab regions decreased by using micro-irrigation (drip) systems. Moreover, the quality of pomegranate fruit, water productivity, and farmers' income were improved.…”