Participatory approach in SRI
cultivation to enhance productivity of crop water in CDZ of Tamil Nadu
=
S.Anbumani=
, V.Ravi, T.Jayaraj and
Soil and Water Management Research Institute=
, Kattuthottam,
Thanjavur -&nb=
sp;
613 501.
The
cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) is popularly as ‘=
;Rice
granary’ of Tamil Nadu since, it owes lar=
ger
rice growing tracts in the state. Rice crop is being grown from time immemo=
rial
in old delta by canal irrigation and past 50 years in new CDZ by canal and =
well
irrigation. Recent past, CDZ farmers are facing distress due to inadequate =
and
erratic release of canal water. Of late, rice crop is also being less lucra=
tive
and remunerative due to increase in the cost of production and decrease in
profit in the rice bowl region. By keeping the above facts, project is being
implemented in CDZ for a period of 2 years (2005-07) under this project; mo=
re
emphasis are being given on improved water, management coupled with system =
of
rice intensification (SRI) to enhance productivity of crop and water, apart
increasing the profitability in rice cultivation. This project is implement=
ed
in Kalakudi village representing Old delta (clay
soil) and Cholapuram village representing new d=
elta
(sandy to loamy soil) of Thanjavur district. Un=
der
this project, promotion of adaptive research trials (ART) to ensure more
efficient execution and management of irrigation system (On Farm Development
Work) through better water management practices was done with SRI cultivati=
on.
In the study area, sensitilization meeting was
organized to eye open the farmers on scientific approach in rice cultivatio=
n.
Demonstration of modified mat nursery, square transplanting, conoweedling and need based nutrient application are =
being
imparted in a participatory approach.
&=
nbsp;
&=
nbsp; An
area of 0.4 hectare was selects for conducting each ART. The area was divid=
ed
in to two plots of 0.20 hectare each. Farmers practice and SRI cultivation =
with
improved water management (alternate wetting & drying) was adopted. For
irrigation water qualification par shall flume was erected in the field
channel. Bamboo marks were fixed in each field to control irrigation water =
to a
required depth (2.5 cm in SRI). Totally 63 ART’S were conducted Suring
2005-06 at both the sities. Results emanated fr=
om
this project reveals that increased grain yield and water saving are the key
benefits, apart from input saving viz., seed & lab our. Average grain y=
ield
of 7082 and 6220 kg/ha was obtained under SRI and farmers practice (FP) dur=
ing Kuruvai season 2005. It was 12.2 percent increased gr=
ain
with 369 mm of water saving per hectare with higher water use efficiency (W=
UE)
of 8.4 kg/ha – mm over FP (5.1 kg/ha-mm). During in samba and Thaladi seasons, SRI cultivation with improved water
management practices registered 15.9 per cent yield advantage over FP with =
29.2
per cent (373mm) water saving over FP with higher WUE of 7.1 kg/ha-mm over
(4.3kg/ha-mm), ART’s also been continued =
during
summer 2006. The results showed that improved cultivation registered 996 kg=
/ha
increased yield over FP, 331 mm water saving with 6.6 kg/ha-mm of water
productivity than FP (4.0 kg/ha-mm).
****