INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION METHODS ON YIELD AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY OF MUNGBEEN

Abstract

Background There is substantial variation in crop yields and corresponding water productivity of different crops as well as for the same crop grown in different parts of the world. Soil moisture is the supremely critical and greatly mutable component of the crop root zone environs. Therefore, water must be used wisely and efficiently by adopting water conservation technologies to enhance crop yield as well as water productivity.

Methodology A research experiment was piloted to compare water use efficiency and crop yield (Mungbean) by using three different irrigation methods i.e. flood vs sprinkler irrigation via center-pivot system vs sprinkler irrigation via hose reel.

Results The No. of branches produced under central pivot system were minimum (12.3±1.1), but pod length was greater than other treatments and No. of grains pod^-1 were statistically similar to other treatments. The grain yield of mungbean grown under different water application methods was not vary statistically, however was slightly higher under flood irrigation. The water productivity was 0.41 kg m^-3, 0.41 kg m^-3 and 0.38 kg m^-3 for flood, central pivot system and for hose reel treatment, respectively.

Conclusion Grain yield and water efficiency of different treatments were statistically similar to each other, however center-pivot irrigation system has an advantage to utilize input(s) efficiently with control of weed infestation.