THE drip irrigation system is suitable for crop cultivation when irrigation water or rain water is not enough for conventional farming. This technology, so far, has not been adopted commonly but in near future it will be inevitable owing to acute shortage of river water and limited rains.

Keeping in view its high efficacy in conserving water, increasing per acre yield and reducing cost of cultivation, there is a need to create awareness among farmers about the drip irrigation system. With this technology, the farmers could save 60 per cent electricity and diesel costs augmenting per acre yield by 100 per cent.

The farmers are unable to adopt this water-saving technology due to its high installation cost. For installing one drip irrigation system on one acre, a sum of Rs70,000 is needed. In a limited way, the government is helping farmers adopt this system by providing drip irrigation equipment at subsidised rates.

The agriculture departments also need to step up efforts to introduce drip irrigation. Large areas which are fertile but short of water could be brought under cultivation by installing this system. Cropping intensity could also be increased.

Farmers can adopt this technology for growing cotton crop as well. There will be no negative effect of this technology on the crop and nutrients can be supplied judiciously increasing production by 60 per cent with 38 per cent of current water consumption.

During the day, water evaporates from leaves and soil surface that can damage plants if not replenished. However, this lost water can be compensated with the help of drip irrigation system saving plants from water stress.

Loamy soil with good amount of organic matter and better water retention capacity is considered best to obtain maximum cotton yield. Drip irrigation system ensures successful cultivation of cotton crop on problematic soils such as saline and water-logged.

To get better results with drip irrigation system, preparation of soil assumes special significance. It is also essential to cultivate cotton crop on recommended timing. The sowing should be undertaken keeping in view weather conditions and type of cultivar. The seed should be treated with recommended fungicide before sowing that ensures healthy plants. Resistance against leaf curl virus increases tremendously in healthy plants and thus the crop remains free from virus attack.

Under drip irrigation system, it is essential to sow seed four to six inches away from the edges of strips inside laterals. This ensures continuous supply of nutrients and water to plants. In drip irrigation, water remains on beds as a result there is less incidence of weed infestation. But even then it is needed to eradicate weeds with the use of herbicides in time to prevent crop loss.

Drip irrigation ensures supply of water to the crop in accordance with the soil type, weather conditions and plant growth stages. It is important to assess the nutritional status of the soil for adding balance amount of nutrients. A balanced amount of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium can be administered through this system directly to the root zone of the cotton plant in accordance with the growth stage and need of the plant.

The nutrient requirements of plant differ at different stages of its growth. Better production can be achieved only by fulfilling these requirements. To cater to the nutrient deficiency, foliar spray of nutrients is practiced because nutrients applied in the soil require more time to become available to crop plants.

Drip irrigation is the most efficient method of irrigating crops. It helps efficient utilisation of water that is a key input in agriculture. Sizable water losses during conveyance, distribution and application in the form of runoff, deep percolation, seepage and evaporation can be avoided by adopting drip irrigation system.

Other benefits of drip irrigation are that chemicals and fertilisers are applied efficiently in the crop root zone avoiding wastage. This system is also suitable for uneven fields where other irrigation systems are inefficient because certain parts of the field have excessive infiltration, water paddling, or runoff.

Drip system improves irrigation uniformity, ensures precise application of nutrients, facilitates operations of agriculture equipment because rows are dried enough, and allows timely application of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

Diseases retard growth and development of plants and thus cause reduction in yield. Since drip irrigation reduces water contact with crop leaves, stems, and fruit the onset of diseases is minimised. Drip irrigation facilitates management of irrigation scheduling precisely to meet crop demands and increases yield and quality.

Most significant benefit of drip irrigation is its capability to save 60 per cent of irrigation water over furrow irrigation for vegetable crops, weed emergence is minimised, reducing labour cost. The system components work satisfactorily for about eight years, soil salinity does not develop in the wetted zone, and higher yield of vegetables is ensured.