Farmers using drip fertigation, under Tarikere Drip Irrigation Project Phase II, in Tarikere taluka in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, has witnessed enhanced water productivity and fertiliser use efficiencies. The technology led to significantly enhanced water productivity by 90 per cent, fertiliser use efficiency by 30 to 40 per cent while considerably decreasing crop evapotranspiration by 9 -10 per cent, compared to farmers’ practicing traditional irrigation by furrow or flood and fertilisation by broadcasting. The technology also helps optimum moisture distribution for the crop to absorb nutrients, Netafim said today.
“The technology uses plastic tubing to drip water and fertiliser at the base of plants in a regulated way and, thus, attain a high yield of almost 50 to 60 per cent. The win-win agricultural practice with less quantity of water and judicious use of fertiliser input has helped nearly 49 per cent of the farmers with a cumulative 5100 hectares of land to increase crop yield by 50 per cent. As of date, the company has installed a drip system in 5500 hectares of Tarikere Drip Community Irrigation Phase II, the irrigation company claims.
“Kumar, son of Jayamma from village Kallapura witnessed a 30-35 per cent higher yield (5.5 tonnes per acre) of Gherkin, whereas, without drip fertigation, he could grow only 4 tonnes per acre. Another farmer Parappa from village Kallapura, has grown 14 tonnes per 0.5 acre of tomato with drip fertigation. Earlier, he used to yield only 10 tonnes per 0.5 acre. Ramesh from Garagadahalli village has grown 25 tonnes per hectare watermelon with drip fertigation, 30 per cent more than the earlier crop yield,” the irrigation company said.
Highlighting the rationale of drip fertigation, Umesh, Sr. Manager of Agronomy, Netafim India said, “Improving irrigation and fertilisation management for greater productivity is critical to address water scarcity. Drip fertigation can synchronise the water and fertiliser supply with crop demand, thus, offering the potential to increase productivity sustainably. The technology meets the nutrient demand of crops near the root zone and helps farmers save 15-25 per cent on fertilisers as well as crop production costs. As compared to surface irrigation, drip fertigation greatly contributes to agricultural emissions, improves crop root growth, nutrient uptake, and controls soil salinisation.”
The ongoing project, once completed, will cover 13,594 hectares of land in 42 villages and nearly 26,000 farmers. Predominantly, the farmers associated with the project are growing vegetables, fruits, flowers and areca nuts. The project is likely to get completed by July 2023.
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