Often confused whether to irrigate. Want simple ways to decide irrigation timing.
How to know when to irrigate so I do not over water the crop?
SSompal Singh7mo ago · 242 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓6mo ago
Irrigate based on the crop need and soil moisture, not a fixed calendar, because over watering wastes water, leaches nutrients and invites disease. A simple field test is to take soil from the root zone and press it: if it does not form a ball and feels dry, it needs water. Irrigate at the critical growth stages of each crop, such as crown root in wheat or flowering and grain filling, when water shortage hurts most. Tools like a tensiometer or low cost soil moisture sensor make it precise. Drip with moisture based scheduling avoids over and under watering. Irrigate in cooler hours to cut evaporation. Follow the agromet advisory which gives irrigation guidance, and watch the forecast so you skip irrigation if rain is coming.
RRajveer Singh6mo ago
The hand test works for me. I check soil from the root depth, if it crumbles dry I water, if it holds together I wait. Stopped me over watering my wheat.
YYashpal Tomar6mo ago
I learnt to irrigate at the key stages only instead of every fixed week. Used less water and the yield was the same or better.
DDevendra Chaudhary6mo ago
Watch the sky before you water. I almost irrigated wheat the day before rain came, the advisory stopped me. Watering just before rain is double waste and can waterlog the field.
NNaresh Pal5mo ago
Look at the crop itself in the early morning too. If the leaves are slightly curled or dull at sunrise before the heat, it is thirsty. Once you also do the hand test of the root zone soil, the two together rarely fool you.