Session 12. International Status and Experiences with Microirrigation I
Status and Growth of Microirrigation in Florida
A. G. Smajstrla, W. G. Boggess, B. J. Boman, G. A. Clark, D. Z. Haman, G. W. Knox, S. J. Locascio, T. A. Obreza, L. R. Parsons, F. M. Rhoads, T. Yeager, F. S. Zazueta
Microirrigation is extensively used in many of Florida's 1.9 million ha of commercial agricultural crops. Over 11% is microirrigated, and 94% of this is in fruit crops, primarily citrus. In this publication major Florida crops were categorized as fruit, field, pasture & hay, vegetable, and ornamental crops. Irrigated areas, advantages and limitations of the use of microirrigation were presented for each crop category and system costs were estimated. The potential for microirrigation in Florida is high. Approximately 55% of the current 850,000 ha irrigated are adaptable to microirrigation. The rate of conversion is estimated to be about 12,500 ha per year, with most of this occurring in fruit and vegetable crops.
Keywords: Microirrigation, Drip irrigation, Microirrigation costs
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 325 to 330 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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The Current Status of Microirrigation Systems in Dade County
C. M. Yurgalevitch, L. S. Tenny, D. S. Ulmer
The Mobile Irrigation Lab (MIL) is a publicly-funded irrigation evaluation team that assists both agricultural and urban users of water in Dade County, Florida. Its primary goal is to promote water conservation through education and extension work. Agriculture comprises about 36,000 hectares (ha) in the county, with diversity reflected in the crops grown and the irrigation systems used. The seven types of irrigation systems currently employed are: high volume gun, drip, ebb-flow, linear move (or center pivot), microsprinklers, solid-set, and pop-up heads (turf). Among the seven systems, two - the drip and the microsprinkler systems - are classified as microirrigation. Since 1986, over 4,000 ha of crops irrigated by the high volume guns and solid-set systems on row crops and groves have been replaced with microirrigation systems. Hurricane Andrew, which struck in August 1992, damaged virtually every irrigation system in Dade County. As part of the recovery effort, the Mobile Lab has been assisting in the restoration process and has been encouraging the conversion to low volume systems.
Evaluations are performed to determine the emission uniformity (EU) of each system. Of the 57 evaluations conducted on microsprinkler systems, 45 had an EU above 90%. Of the 19 evaluations on drip systems, eight had an EU above 90%; four had an EU between 80%-89%; one had an EU between 70%-79%; and six had EU less than 70%. The microsprinkler systems have fewer maintenance problems than the drip systems which are commonly clogged with sand and mineral deposits. As the MIL performs evaluations, data are gathered not only on system performance, but also on management and scheduling for the particular crop species. A discussion of how low volume systems are evaluated, along with the problems found with the drip and microsprinkler systems, will be presented.
Keywords: Irrigation systems, Drip irrigation, Microsprinkler, Uniformity coefficient
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 331 to 335 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Review of Development of Microirrigation in Poland
Jerzy Jeznach, Edward Pierzgalski, Dorota Haman
Agricultural, hydrological, and climatic conditions in Poland are described. The development of microirrigation in Poland for the past 20 years is discussed. The paper highlights briefly some research projects performed in the past two decades and presents examples of research results.
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 336 to 340 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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The Future of Microirrigation
Satish K. Dua
While India has a stupendous task of producing 250 million tons of food and fibre to feed its one billion by the turn of century; the world community faces this daunting challenge to sustain some six billion people. This grim scenario is enacted at a time when water shortage compounded by surface and subsurface pollution and mounting non-irrigation usage has become a world-wide phenomena. Conventional surface irrigation practices continue to be wasteful. The search is on for a complete solution to bridge the gap between potential yield and actual productivity; optimising water/land use efficiency in developing versatile irrigation practices which guarantee improvement in yield and quality, reclamation of degraded lands and increased use of saline ground waters. Extensive field research provided an answer in microirrigation techniques which apply water to a plant at a rate not more than its consumptive use with minimum percolation, run off and soil evapotranspiration thus generating additional water resources.
Keywords: Water resources, Water conservation
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 341 to 346 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Success of Drip in India: An Example to the Third World
S. K. Suryawanshi
The sixties saw the rapid development of agriculture in India through the intensive use of modern agricultural inputs such as water energy, fertilizers, chemicals, and high-yielding crop varieties. The input-based strategy was successful in that the agricultural production increased three-fold during the past four decades. But predominant use of water and chemicals resulted in a paradoxical situation in which soils in the Northern Plains turned saline, whereas in the South, the water went down due to excessive pumping. Both shallow and deep water tables affected agricultural productivity to a point of stagnation.
In the late eighties, drip irrigation gained popularity with its inherent advantages like saving water and use in problematic soil. Various research institutes conducted experiments on drip irrigation and made people aware of its benefits. Some manufacturers also conducted their own studies first by importing the materials before venturing into commercial production of drip systems. The farming community usually believes only after personally observing the benefits. Today, more than a 60,700-hectare area is brought under drip irrigation covering more than 30 crops (Sudhakar, 1993). Farmers from various places communicated their experiences of drip irrigation on various crops like sugarcane, cotton, grapes, banana, pomegranate, vegetables, tea, ber, flowers, etc.; results are studied and compiled in Table 1. The increase in yield as compared to conventional irrigation method, is from 20% to 100%, whereas saving in water ranges from 40% to 70% (Gayen et al., 1993).
The results achieved by drip irrigation in a developing country like India can show many third world countries optimum utilization of resources for increased agricultural production.
Keywords: Drip (micro) irrigation, Agriculture, Farmer, Water, Yield
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 347 to 352 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
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Microirrigation in India - Achievement and Perspective
R. S. Saksena
In India, to meet the food requirements of its growing population of 900 million (1994) more cropped area is to be brought under irrigation and yield has also to be increased from the present average yield of 1.38 t/ha. Microirrigation system which includes drip and microsprinklers although having higher capital cost is most efficient compared to conventional irrigation application methods and gives higher yield. Studies done have revealed that for drip irrigation system actual cost varies from 408 to 1256 U.S.$ per ha, while percentage water saving varies from 39 to 70%, increase in yield is 23 to 45% and benefit - cost ratio varies from 1.31 to 13.3 (Kumar etal 1993). Of the 61.78 m ha (1991) of irrigated cropped area, the coverage under microirrigation is only 0.07 m ha (0.11%). The nationalised banks give loan on a simple interest of 10% per annum only, under the refinance scheme of National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The Government of India and several state governments are giving liberal subsidy also to the extent of 50% for purchase of drip irrigation equipment. The Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is administering a scheme (INCID, 1994) with a provision of about 62.8 million U.S.$ as subsidy to be spent on drip irrigation installations and demonstrations to bring an additional area of 0.125 m ha under this technology during the VIIIth five year plan (1992-97). The scope for future expansion is vast. There are some problems for the accelerated development of microirrigation system in India. These are described and discussed and feasible solutions have been suggested.
Keywords: Microirrigation, Drip Irrigation, Microsprinklers, Agriculture, Irrigation
Abstract taken from paper found on pages 353 to 358 in Proceedings of 5th International Microirrigation Congress, April 2-6, 1995, Orlando, Florida. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-9659, USA. Phone: 616-429-0300 FAX: 616-429-3852 EMAIL: HQ@ASAE.ORG
