Techno-economic feasibility study of raingun for irrigating wheat and chickpea in vertisol

Abstract

The techno- economic study of irrigation of wheat and chick pea using rainguns was carried out at ICAR- Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh during 2009-2010. Different rainguns with lower to higher discharge and radius of throw were used. Study indicated that raingun with lower discharge rate take more time to irrigate unit area. The cost of cultivation of wheat and chick pea was calculated and it was found that using raingun with lower discharge rate it was less as compared to rainguns with higher discharge rates and radius of throw. Raingun T3 having highest discharge rate could be used for irrigating 1.99 -2.98 ha of wheat and 3.11- 4.67 ha of chickpea with 8-14 hour daily operation of system. Raingun T1 with smallest discharge and radius of throw might be used for irrigation of 0.89- 1.56 ha wheat and 1.40 -2.45 ha of chick pea in 8-14 hour duration of operation. The net benefit and benefit cost ratio using yield data and market price of wheat and chickpea was estimated. This raingun having maximum B:C of 2.69 and 1.92 for wheat and chickpea seems to be beneficial. Higher net benefit but least B:C could be fetched due to using raingun T3 with higher discharge rate for irrigating wheat and chickpea.