FIELD EVALUATION OF SPRINKLER IRRIGATION TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTIVITY - A CASE STUDY

The goal of ending poverty in all its forms everywhere (Goal 1) and another goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture (Goal 2) of seventeen sustainable goals of United Nations ( to be met by 2030) can only be met by increasing the crop productivity per unit of water by Sprinkler Irrigation; as agriculture is the main occupation of people in the world. The evaluation by the existing sprinkler systems in farmers' fields according to the National and International standards is essential now to take timely corrective actions for improved water use efficiencies. The present paper describes the methodology of evaluation of sprinkler irrigation on the field using “Bureau of Indian Standards Code of Practice” on Irrigation Equipment and System Evaluation of Field Irrigation Efficiencies – Guidelines (IS 13062:1991). The Uniformity Coefficient obtained is 68.1%. Soil samples and water samples at the site of sprinkler irrigation are collected and analyzed. Infiltration equation of the soil is obtained by conducting a double-ring Infiltrometer test. The Kostiakov infiltration equation fitted is in the form y=0.44t0.65. The basic infiltration rate is 44 millimeters/hour.