A cost benefit analysis of crop production with various irrigation systems

Abstract

India has the largest irrigation network in the world yet the irrigation efficiency is not been more than 40 per cent. In absence of new irrigation projects, bringing more area under irrigation would mostly rely on the efficient use of water. In this context, micro irrigation could play a key role in higher productivity and increased water use efficiency (WUE) besides fulfilling sustainability mandates with economy in use and higher crop productivity. Adoption of this might help in raising the irrigated area; productivity of crops and WUE. Drip-fustigation, where fertilizer is applied through an efficient irrigation system (drip method), nutrient use efficiency could be as high as 90 per cent compared to 40-60 per cent in conventional methods.