Drip Irrigation In Rice

Drip irrigation system is introduced from Israel. Drip irrigation is the latest method of irrigation which is becoming popular in water scarcity and salt affected areas. This system is precise and allows slow application of water, In this method water is used very economically. Drip irrigation allows water to plants directly to the root zone through pipes. It saves 70% of water and increases yield up to 30% than conventional cultivation of paddy. In transplanted rice most of the water is required at the time of land preparation (Puddling) And it also a time consuming process. Where as Directed seeded rice doesn’t require that much of water at land preparation. The methods like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) which permits proper spacing and DSR (Direct seeded rice) in combination with drip irrigation increase water use efficiency. Drip system maintain the soil always at field capacity level which results in higher or equal yield than standing water situations.

Drip irrigation allows precise amount of water to crop root zone. There is a huge loss of Nitrogen in paddy fields in the form of leaching, Denitrification, voltaliation. etc due to flooding, By using drip we can reduce the Nitrogen loss in paddy fields thus by we can increase Nitrogen use efficiency. Drip irrigation makes the application of fertilizes easier and it allows the nutrients directly to the crop root zone with out any losses. Continuous flooding in paddy fields are the responsible for 10 % of global methane emission, where as Drip irrigation reduces methane emissions up to 0%. When paddy is continuously submerged condition there is a chance of consumption of heavy metals by plant and Increase the arsenic in the crop which may hazardous to human health when consumed.

Advantages from Adoption of Drip irrigation system in rice.
Grow more with less water
70 to 80 % water saving.
Reduces methane emission.
Reduce weed growth.
Decreases cost of cultivation.
Increases Water use efficiency.
Reduces fertilizer losses.
Reduce Arsenic uptake up to 90%.
To increase the more area under cultivation of paddy in rabi season than kharif season which may results in ultimate production.
Fertigation is the technique of application of fertilizers along with drip irrigation system which helps in not only increasing fertilizer use efficiency but also helps in saving of fertilizers.

Source: https://timesofagriculture.in/drip-irrigation-in-rice-a-way-to-increase-water-use-efficiency-in-rice/#:~:text=Drip%20irrigation%20allows%20water%20to,also%20a%20time%20consuming%20process.