Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
Response of SI on yield and RWUE in rainfed cotton production
Year
NEM
Rainfall
Pure
rainfed
Yield, kg
Pure
rainfed+SI
Increase in
Yield
SI,
mm
RWUE, kg ha -1 mm -1
Pure
rainfed
Pure
rainfed+SI
2011/12 503.4 1515 1730 14.2 50 3.01 3.13
2013/14 252.8 790 820 3.8 44 3.13 2.76
2017/18 421.4 876 987 12.7 25 2.08 2.21
2020/21 473.3 677 793 17.1 50 1.43 1.52
Mean 355.36 964.50 1082.50 11.95 2.41 2.41
Cotton crops responded positively to the SI for all the years. Further, giving supplemental
irrigation was found to produce higher cotton production per unit of water than rainfed.
Supplemental irrigation to a total depth of 50 mm resulted in 14.2 per cent, 12.7 per cent and
17.1 per cent increased yield in cotton compared to that of unirrigated crop during rabi season
of 2011-12, 2017-18 and 2020-21 respectively. During 2013-14, the yield difference between
treatments was very less, hence this effect has been reflected in RWUE. The increase in yield
of cotton by SI is mainly by the reduction of soil moisture stress experienced during the critical
growth stages. Rainfed cotton combined with SI has recorded higher RWUE over pure rainfed
cotton and it ranges from 1.52 to 3.13 kg ha -1 mm -1 .
Conclusion
This study examined the scope of supplemental irrigation during the moisture stress period for
cotton production. The runoff coefficient obtained was 0.24. Supplemental irrigation from farm
pond to cotton during vegetative, flowering, boll formation stages resulted 12.7 to 17.1 per cent
increased yield. Rainwater combined with SI recorded higher RWUE of 1.52 to 3.13 kg ha -1
mm -1 . At farm level runoff water harvesting in a pond and reusing harvested water through
supplemental irrigation combined with in-situ rainwater management is a great option with a
higher potential for increasing productivity in rainfed areas.
References
Oweis, T. and Hachum, A., 2012. Supplemental Irrigation—A highly efficient water-use
practice. Aleppo, Syria, 16.
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