Water table dropping every year in Punjab. What can paddy farmers do to use less groundwater.
Punjab water table falling fast, how can paddy farmers save groundwater?
GGurpreet Singh10mo ago · 359 views
8 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓10mo ago
Punjab paddy farmers can cut groundwater use sharply through better timing and methods without big yield loss. Transplant only after the recommended date set by the state so the crop coincides with monsoon and needs less pumping, and follow it because early transplanting wastes the most water. Practice alternate wetting and drying instead of keeping the field always flooded, try direct seeded rice and laser land levelling to save water, and choose shorter duration varieties that mature faster. Crop diversification to maize, cotton, basmati or pulses in worst affected blocks reduces the pressure further. Use a tensiometer or soil moisture check to irrigate only when needed. These align with state groundwater rules and central programmes promoting water saving in paddy.
HHarjinder Singh10mo ago
Laser levelling cut my water and diesel both. The field wets evenly and I irrigate less often. Best single thing I did.
BBaljit Singh9mo ago
I tried DSR direct seeded rice on a few acres. Saves water and labour but weed control must be on time or it fails. Start small.
MManpreet Sidhu9mo ago
Following the legal transplanting date really helps. We used to plant in May and pump for weeks. Now waiting for the notified date saves a lot of groundwater.
JJagsir Brar9mo ago
Alternate wetting and drying worked once I stopped fearing a dry looking field. I let the water go down till the soil just cracks slightly, then irrigate again. The yield held and pump hours dropped clearly.
DDavinder Dhillon9mo ago
I moved two acres from paddy to basmati and a bit of maize. Basmati needs less water and the price is better, and the maize broke the cycle. Full diversification is hard but even part helps the water table.
KKarnail Singh9mo ago
Short duration variety helped me. The early maturing one finished sooner so I gave fewer irrigations at the end. Ask your university kendra which shorter PR variety suits your area.
TTarsem Singh8mo ago
One caution with DSR, do not jump in on heavy waterlogged land or fields with bad weed history, it can disappoint there. I picked my lighter, cleaner field for direct seeding and kept the problem plots on transplanting. Choosing the right field matters as much as the method.