How to Conserve Water for Agriculture?

Unpredictable climate change and harmful chemicals have caused a decline in global water resources. The need for agricultural irrigation water is rising due to the increasing demand for food to feed the growing population. Now it is essential to conserve water for future crop production.?

Water conservation is feasible in several ways. Proper and efficient management of water, soil and plants can save water. This article will guide how we can save water through various aspects for agricultural use.??

Water conservation through irrigation management

By efficient methods of irrigation, we can conserve water for future crop cultivation.?

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is one of the most used modern forms of irrigation. Here crops get the required amount of water and nutrients directly in their root zone. As nutrients flow with water in the drips, the loss through leaching is much less. Timely irrigation is feasible and moisture loss through evaporation is negligible.?

Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinklers fitted in gardens or farms shower water in optimal amounts. At present technologies control and execute the process of sprinkler irrigation.??

Capturing and storing available water

Collecting rainwater, and surface runoff and storing it in water-harvesting structures has many benefits. Water harvesting structures maybe tanks, farm ponds or pits. The stored water suits during dry spells for irrigation.

Scheduling Irrigation with technology

The time of irrigation, amount and frequency varies with crops. Scheduling irrigation helps us to save water. Modern sensors and forecasting facilities aid in effective planning and implementing irrigation in the field.?

Soil health management practices

Certain soil properties determine the efficiency of water seepage into the soil. So, soil health is an important parameter for water conservation and efficient utilisation. There are ways to enhance soil health through which optimised irrigation is adaptable.

Adding compost and mulch

Compost increases the organic matter and humus content of soil. This enhances the soil’s water-holding and retention capacity—also, the more the organic matter, the less the leaching of nutrients with water.?

Mulching with any material like straw or wood chips can reduce water loss through evaporation. It also regulates soil temperature and hinders weed growth.?

Conservation tillage

Excessive tillage erodes the topsoil and causes water erosion. Conservation tillage employs minimum or zero tillage principles ensuring less disturbance to the soil. This increases water infiltration and reduces erosion. Crop debris in the field acts as a protective cover to conserve moisture.?

Cover crops

Cover crops are grown between the rows of crops or near the bunds. They fix atmospheric nitrogen, thus helping to increase the organic matter content and the water-holding capacity of soil. Some cover crops of the Indian ecosystem are alfalfa, cowpea, rye and mustard.

Soil erosion and weeds are in control with cover crops contributing indirectly to water conservation.?

Dry Farming

Dry farming relies on natural soil moisture and is less dependent on irrigation. Crops and tillage practices are specific for this type of farming. Minimum tillage and mulching are part of this system to enhance soil moisture-holding capacity. Tomatoes, pumpkin, and millet grow well in this condition.?

Crop and livestock management practices

Different crops require varied amounts of water for growth. It depends on the area and the climatic conditions.?

Livestock overgrazing can cause topsoil erosion which decreases the water infiltration rate. So it is important to optimise cropping and livestock management practices to conserve water.?

Crop rotation

Rotating the farm with different crops in a sequence will improve the soil structure and other properties affecting water infiltration. Weed suppression will also occur so that the competition for water becomes low.???

Below are some crop rotation practices in India,

• Cereal - Cereal system: Rice-Rice, Rice- Wheat, Maize- Wheat
• Pulses - Cereal system: Legumes followed by Rice.?
• Alternate planting with deep-rooted crops and shallow-rooted crops. This increases the water infiltration rate into the soil due to the varied depth of roots.?

Drought tolerant crops

Farmers can grow native crops best suited to the local climate. If such crops require low water and are drought-tolerant, it will be an effective strategy for water conservation. There are hybrid varieties of crops developed for specific climates with drought resistance.

Sorghum, pearl millet, ragi, chickpea and groundnuts are some crops grown in areas prone to drought.?

Rotational grazing

Rotational grazing involves the regular movement of livestock to different pasture stocks. This decreases the problem of soil compaction and topsoil erosion while enhancing soil health. These impacts on soil properties increase the water infiltration rate of soil and water use efficiency of pastures.????

Conclusion

This article gives us a glimpse of conserving water through proper management of various components in agriculture. Water conservation as a practice needs more attention from youths to lead a future thriving in sustainable agriculture.? ? ?