|
NISCAIR ONLINE PERIODICALS REPOSITORY (NOPR) >
NISCAIR PUBLICATIONS >
Research Journals >
Bharatiya Vaigyanik evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika (BVAAP) >
BVAAP Vol.20 [2012] >
BVAAP Vol.20(1) [June 2012] >
| Title: | Techniques of soil moisture measurement for enhancing irrigation water use efficiency |
| Authors: | Tyagi, Jaivir
Srivastava, S L
Singh, R D |
| Issue Date: | Jun-2012 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| Abstract: | One of the major concerns in irrigated agriculture in India
is the poor water use efficiency. The share of irrigation water in the total
demand is bound to decrease from the present 84% to 74% due to more pressing
and competing demands from other sectors by 2025 AD. As such, the research on
improving the present level of water use efficiency in irrigation assumes a
great significance in water resource management. In this perspective, soil
moisture measurement and its use in irrigation scheduling can play a vital role
in increasing the water use efficiency. A tendency to over- or under-irrigate
the cropped fields results due to the absence of information about the soil
moisture status down the soil profile. Application of precise quantities of
irrigation water at the right time not only ensures a high efficiency of water
use by the crops, but also reduces nutrient losses through leaching, results in
better aeration of the soil, and significantly improves crop yields and farm
productivity.
Soil moisture readings are useful in determining how
much water is available for the crop, when to start irrigation and how much
water to apply. Soil moisture monitoring, therefore, helps conserve water and
energy, minimize pollution of surface and ground water, and produce optimum
crop yields. A variety of methods are available for measuring soil moisture.
The selection of method and equipment will depend on ease of use, cost of equipment,
applicability to drier conditions, and desire to monitor continuous changes in
soil moisture. The present paper
aims at disseminating the knowledge of the available
techniques and instrumentation for soil moisture measurement and its use in
efficient scheduling of irrigation water applications that gives the highest
return for the least amount of water. |
| Page(s): | 82-86 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-2412 (Online); 0771-7706 (Print) |
| Source: | BVAAP Vol.20(1) [June 2012]
|
|
