Micro irrigation technology: a remedy for groundwater management in Jaffna peninsula

Abstract

The study was conducted with the objective of estimating groundwater saving, irrigation intervals and duration for cabbage, a field trial was carried out with sprinkler irrigation to see the performance of yield. The field posses the main soil type of Calcic red yellow latosol and located under DL3 region. The ten treatments were carried out including farmers’ practices, morning sprinkler irrigation for 15 and 25 minutes and morning and evening sprinkler irrigation for15 and 25 minutes with two varieties analyzed by two factorial randomized block complete design. Irrigation duration of 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation with Green coronet variety field was record highest yield of 4.53 kg/m2 and 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation with K – Y cross variety field was record lowest yield of 3.94 kg/m2. Morning sprinkler irrigation was statistically not significant different from morning & evening sprinkler irrigation and these two treatments were statistically significant different from ridge and furrow irrigation for two varieties. Finally 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation was selected as best treatment and followed by 25 minutes sprinkler irrigation. Green coronet variety more response to sprinkler irrigation than K – Y cross variety. The depth of water application was higher in ridge and furrow irrigation than sprinkler irrigation. The saving of 69.31% of groundwater was accounted under sprinkler irrigation system with 15 min duration compared to ridge and furrow irrigation method. Adaptation of sprinkler irrigation is more economical and water saving than the ridge and furrow irrigation.