Farmers should have awareness about advanced method of irrigation for precision agriculture.

1. TOPIC
ROLE OF MICRO IRRIGATION IN FLORICULTURE
Presented by Cho Cho Shabnum
Msc.(Horti) Floriculture and Landscape Architecture.

2. CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• WHY MICRO IRRIGATION IN FLORICULTURE
• SCOPE OF MICRO IRRIGATION
• MICRO-IRRIGATION SYSTEM & ITS TYPES
• COMPONENTS OF MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEM
• ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE
• MICRO- IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT FLOWER CROPS
• CASE STUDY

3. INTRODUCTION
“Micro irrigation is defined as the frequent application of small
quantity of water on and below the soil surface as drops, tiny streams
or miniature spray through emitters or applicators placed along a water
delivery line”
•Systems operating at low flow rates and low pressure rate ( 1.5 -2
bar)
Continued….

4. Continued….
Micro irrigation techniques provide water to plants that match the crop
evapotranspiration demands and provide optimum soil moisture at critical
growth stages resulting in high water use efficiency (Kipkorir et al., 2002)
Also known as trickle or low volume or low flow or precision irrigation

5. MICRO IRRIGATION
Centrally sponsored Scheme under the Pradha Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoja
na. Government of India is committed to accord high priority to water conser
vation and its management. To this effect Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
Yojana (PMKSY) has been formulated on 1st July 2015
With the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation ‘Har Khet ko
pani’ and improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop’. In a
focused manner with end to end solution on source creation,
distribution, management, field application and extension activities

6.  WHY MICRO - IRRIGATION IN FLORICULTURE CROPS
• Irrigation water quality and quantity important to decide the flower quality
Irrigation ,basic
requirement of floriculture
,as flower are delicate with
high moisture content
Micro-irrigation is an
efficient method than
conventional method
So,water has to be
precisely utilized in
flower crops at crop
sensitive stage
Singh et al., 2020

7.  SCOPE OF MICRO IRRIGATION
 As the water availability in wells reducing and water table is depleting every year.
 Numerous farmers are adopting micro irrigation
 In Tamil Nadu, the Government has decided to develop the entire waste land
of 2.0 Mha under horticulture crops using drip irrigation wherever sufficient
water is available for drip system by giving subsides to the farmers
 The same analogy can be followed throughout India to bring all the wasteland
under production and to generate employment opportunity
Continued….

8. SCOPE OF MICRO IRRIGATION IN ARID REGIONS ( LADAKH ).
• Water scarcity is reality in cold arid region like Ladakh
• So, solar powered micro irrigation results in optimum utilization of solar and water
resources
Solar powered integrated micro irrigation at Leh

9.  TYPES OF MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEM
 DRIP IRRIGATION OR SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION
SYSTEM
 SUB SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM
 BUBBLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM
 MIST, JET AND SPRAY SYSTEM
Continued….

10.  1.DRIP IRRIGATION OR SURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Water is applied at the soil surface as drop or small streams through emitters
• < 7.61L h-1 for single outlet emitters
• 11.41L h-1 for line source emitters
Continued….

11. Drip irrigation or surface drip irrigation

12.  2. SUB SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM
• Application of water below soil surface through emitters, with
discharges rates similar to surface drip
• Different from sub irrigation where root zone is irrigated by water
table control
• Depth of placement of laterals range from 0.02-0.70 m for lateral
spacing of 0.25-5.00 m.
Continued….

13. SUB SURFACE IRRIGATION
Continued….

14.  3.BUBBLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM
• Application of water to flood soil surface
using small stream or fountains
• Discharge rate for point source emitters are >
drip or subsurface emitters but , < 3.78 L min-1
• A small basin , required to control water
BUBBLER IRRIGATION
Continued….

15.  4.MIST, JET AND SPRAY SYSTEM
Application of water by small spray or mist
to the soil surface
• Travel through the air
• Referred to as micro or mini sprinklers.
• Operate at low pressure and apply water at
rates higher than drip but < 3.78 Lmin-1
• Wet a larger soil surface area
• Jets have no moving parts
MIST IRRIGATION
Continued….

16. JET IRRIGATION SPRAY IRRIGATION

17.  COMPONENTS OF MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEM
• Control head
• Main lines, sub mains and manifolds
• Laterals and emitters
• Flushing system
CONTROL HEAD
• Deliver water from the source to the main line
• Control the amount and pressure of water delivered, filter that
water to avoid operational problems
• Add fertilizers and chemicals
It has the following major components
 Pumping station.
 Control and monitoring devices.
 Fertilizer and chemical injectors.
 Filtration system.
Continued….

18. MAINLINES, SUB MAINS AND MANIFOLD
 Receive irrigation water from control head and deliver it to
laterals and emitters
• Proper design of mainlines, sub mains and manifolds ensure
that pressure loss through these conduits does not adversely
affect operation of the system
• Pressure control or adjustment points are provided at inlets to
manifold
• The manifold or header connects the mainline to the laterals
• It may be on the surface but usually it is buried
Continued….

19. LATERALS AND EMITTERS
• Irrigation water is delivered to plant from emitters ,which are
located on the laterals
• Water flows from manifold into laterals ,which are made of
polyethylene plastic tubing ranging from 3/8 to 1 inch in
diameter ( 0.95 to 2.54cm)
• Emitter are used to dissipate pressure and discharge water at a
constant rate and uniformly from one end of field to the others
Continued….

20.  FLUSHING SYSTEM :
 Remove particles and organisms that pass through filtration
system and accumulate in pipelines , manifold and laterals
 Flushing involves pushing water through system at sufficient
velocity to resuspend the sediment that has accumulated and
allowing flush to exit system
 Includes flush valves ,flush manifold at downstream end of the
laterals

21.  TYPES OF DRIPPEERS
• Standard –Button drippers
• Pressure compensated
Online Drippers
• Standard –Button drippers
• Pressure compensated
Integral drippers
Continued….

22. Online dripper Integrated dripper

23. Layout of drip irrigation

24. Micro irrigation
system
System with drip
lines .
System with
drippers.
System with
emitters.
Sub surface irrigation
TYPES OF MICRO IRRIGATION
SYSTEM

25. 
• Suitability
of the crop
• Land
topography
• Soil type and
characteristics
Clay soil
Sandy soil
Factors affecting the choice and type of micro irrigation system

26.  WETTING PATTERN
• Drip irrigation only wets part of the soil root zone,
30 % of the volume of the soil is wetted by the other method
• Wetting patterns which develop from dripping water onto
the soil depend on :
 discharge
 soil types
Continued….

27. Wetting patterns for sandy soil
with high and low discharge rate
Wetting patterns for clay soil with
high and low discharge rate
 ….
Continued….

28. • The diameter of wetted area ( D, meter) increase with
increasing values of flow rate ( F ,1 h-1) according to following
relationship:
 Sandy soil , D = 0.12F + 0.31
 Loamy soil, D =0.11 F+ 0.68
 Clay soil , D = 0.10F + 1.19
Continued….

29.  Irrigation scheduling with climatic data
• The applied volume of a single irrigation is equivalent to cumulative ETc for period
between irrigation plus additional irrigation.
• This method is based on determining crop water requirement ,calculated as daily
,Etc using Kc – ETo methodology and tensiometer recommended to determine
frequency
ETc=Actual Crop Evapotranspiration (in/day).
Kc=Crop Coefficient (unitless multiplier).
Continued….

30.  Soil moisture sensor-based irrigation scheduling method
• soil moisture content is measured
by using a soil moisture sensor
• Irrigation management with soil
water sensor is based on maintain
-ning soil water between 2 limit:
 Lower limits ( drier value):Indication of
when to start watering.
 Upper limits( wetter value): Indication of
when to stop watering.
Installed FDR soil moisture sensors (west
olive, MI, USA).Frequency domain refle
ctometry Continued….

31.  Plant-based irrigation scheduling method
• A sap flow sensor is used.
• Sap flow is the measurement of water
and nutrients, flows through stem of a plant
• The sensors use heater and thermocouples
to measure amount of heat carried by the sap
• This can be converted to sap flow in units
of grams per hour
• Based on total amount of water used by the
plant, irrigation scheduling can be developed
Installed Dynagage flow 32-1 K sap
flow system (Lakeview, MI, USA)
Continued….

32.  Smartphone APP-based irrigation scheduling
• Water irrigation scheduling for efficient application
(WISE) was developed by Colorado State Universi
ty as an irrigation scheduling mobile app, uses evap
otranspiration data and water balance method
• WISE collects weather data from Colorado Agricul
tural Meteorological Network (CoAgMet) and Nort
hern Colorado WATER Conservation District (NC
WCD) weather stations.

33.  Advantages of Micro-irrigation system
1 2 3
Continued….
Reduce Labour
cost (30-40%)
Save Water
(20-48%)
Save Fertilizer
(11-19 %)

34. 4 5
Control Disease &
pest
Save Energy
(10-17%)
Crop production
(20-38%) increase
6

35.  Disadvantages of micro irrigation system

1 2
Continued….
High initial investment Pipes break due to sun

36. 3 4
Clogging of pipe Highly skilled labour

37.  IRRIGATION TIMING
• Irrigation timing during the hot dry season can be estimated on
the basis of the consumptive use
• If the maximum consumptive use rates are known for the crop
and area ,
Available moisture held in the root depth of the soil ( mm)
Consumptive use rate ( mm per day )

38.  MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN FLORICULTURE CROPS

Gladiolus
Sensitive stage
• Pre –flowering stage
• 50mm weekly water application
Method
• Overhead sprinkler or flooding
• Sprinkler irrigation cause Botrytis problem
•
•
Irrigation
schedule
•
• Irrigation withheld atleast 4-6 weeks before lifting of
corms
Gladiolus field
Continued….

39.  Carnation
Soil
• Should be moist
• Under water stress condition ,flower quality
negatively affected
Sprinkle
method
• Sprinkle method ,encourage fungal diseases
• Thus drip irrigation is adopted
Water
requirement
• 5-7 mm water day-1
Drip irrigation in carnation ,
SKUAST-K experimental field
Continued….

40. Chrysanthemum
Crop nature
• Sensitive for moisture stress as well as
excess water supply
Water
requirement
• 8-9 L of water is sufficient in meter
area in one day
Excess of
water
• Leads to excess vegetative growth and small
flower size
Drip irrigation in chrysanthemum
Continued….

41. Rose
Nature
• Rose is water sensitive crop
Stage
• Initial vegetative, flowering and post pruning stages
sensitive to irrigation
Excessive water
• Excess water with low frequency leads to abnormal
growth
• Delay flowering and reduce yield
• Total annual requirement of rose plant is 999.51 mm
water in open field and 1210.94 mm in protected
condition
Lack of water
Water quantity
Drip irrigation system ,
SKUAST-K Shalimar
Continued….

42. Lilium
Quantity of water
• Uniform soil moisture important during first three
• week of planting
Lack of water
• Sudden moisture deficit increase the
• number of blasted bud and root decay
Irrigation
requirement
• Increase of irrigation water along with a decrease
• irrigation interval resulted increase in stem length,
• stem diameter, number of buds and stem weight
Drip irrigation system
at Kargil

43.  Gerbera
Method
• Drip irrigation suitable for Gerbera , under protected
• condition
Fertigation
• Soluble fertilizer applied through drip irrigation
• Suspectible to Botrytis
Water
requirement
• Gerbera requires 700 ml water day-1 through drip
• irrigation Drip irrigation at SKUAST-K
experimental field

44. •
• Micro-irrigation technologies are supported as a means of saving
 water in irrigated agriculture and averting the impending water crises.
• It is a strategic approach to increase income security of rural households.
• Flower growers need to have a better understanding of irrigation system
design along with total operating costs.
• The grower, in addition, must learn the water-use requirement of the crop
and the irrigation system’s application rate, to estimate the correct amount of
water to apply .

CONCLUSION