Importance Of Irrigation Machinery Global Demand For Food Increases Due To Rising Population, It Becomes Extremely Important

As the global demand for food increases due to rising population, it becomes extremely important to maximize crop yields through efficient use of available resources. One of the most important resources required for agriculture is water and irrigation machinery helps in optimally utilizing this scarce resource. This article discusses the significance of irrigation machinery in meeting the growing food requirements.

Sprinklers and Drip Irrigation Systems

Sprinklers and drip irrigation systems have significantly helped increase crop productivity while conserving water resources. Sprinklers uniformly distribute water through the air in the form of droplets and are suited for various field crops like wheat, maize, soybean etc. They provide flexibility in applications and cover large areas quickly. On the other hand, drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the root zone of plants using a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. This localized application method reduces water wastage through evaporation and deep percolation.

Drip systems are ideal for high-value crops like vegetables, fruits, and nuts. They allow independent watering of individual plants based on their water needs. Micro-sprinklers which direct water in a small range are also gaining popularity. Advanced technology has enabled precise water application through drip, sprinklers and mister systems according to soil moisture and plant requirements using sensors, filters and digital controls. This has led to water savings of 30-50% without impacting yields.

Center Pivot and Lateral Move Systems

Center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems have revolutionized irrigation practices in the fields. In center pivot systems, equipment pivots around a central application point and crops are watered using sprinklers attached to the moving pipeline. Lateral move systems consist of a series of sprinklers connected to underground pipes that move across the field in a side-to-side direction to irrigate crops. These self-propelled systems maximize water application efficiency through low pressure delivery.

They cover irregularly shaped fields and are suitable for both small and large farms. Center pivots are beneficial for row crops like corn, soybeans while lateral move system works well for row spacing wider than center pivots. Advanced center pivots integrate GPS, soil moisture sensors and weather monitors to optimize irrigation scheduling. This reduces water and labor requirements compared to surface irrigation.

Surface Irrigation Systems

While sprinklers and drip Irrigation Machinery  systems directly distribute water, surface irrigation relies on gravity-flow. Flood irrigation and furrow irrigation are two widely used surface methods. In flood irrigation, entire fields are inundated with water using gates, weirs or pumps while in furrow irrigation, water flows through small ditches or furrows between crop beds.

Surface irrigation is suitable for paddy, sugarcane and other crops that can tolerate partial submergence. It leads to lower establishment and maintenance costs compared to pressurized systems. However, surface methods often result in significant losses through deep percolation, runoff and evaporation. Modern surface systems use land forming and water control structures like gates and flumes to efficiently distribute water. Laser leveling also improves water spreading across furrows.

Soil Preparation and Harvesting Machinery

Timely plowing, harrowing, leveling and irrigation plays a key role in maximizing crop yields. Tractors fitted with primary and secondary tillage implements prepare seedbeds for sowing/planting. Heavy-duty rotavators break up compact soils while harrow ridgers create ridges and furrows required for surface irrigation methods.

Laser guided land levelers ensure uniform land levelness which helps distribute irrigation water evenly. Reapers, harvesters and threshers efficiently perform harvesting, threshing and winnowing operations. Rice straw chopper and spreader are vital machines that evenly spread rice straw after harvest which enhances soil organic matter and water holding capacity over subsequent seasons.

Post-harvest Management

Once crops are harvested, they need to be transported from fields, undergo cleaning, grading and packaging processes before reaching consumers. For this purpose, specialized machinery like rice threshers, flash dryers, graders, sorters and packaging machines have facilitated value addition in the post-harvest phase. These machines preserve quality by quickly processing grains immediately after harvest.

Conclusion

Modern irrigation equipment has transformed farming practices leading to higher crop and water productivity globally. Precision technologies integrated with irrigation machinery will play an even bigger role in optimizing resource use to meet the food demands of a growing population in a sustainable manner. Governments need to promote customized irrigation solutions to diversify cropping patterns and increase farmer incomes through all-year crop cultivation. Timely availability of affordable irrigation machinery and farm mechanization services will help realize this potential fully.

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