Using rotational canal water with drip via storage tank or pond, filtration of silty water, scheduling.
Can I use drip irrigation with canal water that comes only on rotation?
IIqbal Khan6mo ago · 186 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓6mo ago
Yes, you can run drip on canal water even when supply comes only on a rotation, but you need to store it because drip needs a steady pressurised supply. The usual setup is to fill a lined farm pond or storage tank during your canal turn, then pump from it through the drip system between turns. Canal water often carries silt, algae, and weed seeds, so good filtration is essential: a settling tank plus a sand filter and disc or screen filters protect the emitters from clogging. Flush the lines regularly. Size the storage to bridge the gap between canal turns for your crop's water need. This combination saves water and lets you fertigate. Get the storage size, filtration, and layout from a micro irrigation agency or your KVK.
AAslam Pathan5mo ago
I fill a lined pond during my canal turn and run the drip off a pump from it between turns. It works well, but size the pond to actually last until the next turn for your crop, otherwise you run dry mid rotation like I did the first season. Calculate your days between turns and the crop need.
RRamavtar Choudhary5mo ago
Canal water is silty and full of algae, so a settling tank before the sand filter is a must. I let the water sit and drop its mud first, and only then it goes to the filters and drip. Skipping the settling step clogged my emitters fast. With it, the system stays clean.
FFaiyaz Ahmed4mo ago
A sand filter on top of the disc filter made a big difference for me with canal water, because the fine silt and algae get past a disc filter alone. Clean both regularly, especially right after filling from a muddy canal turn. The combined filtration is what keeps the drippers open.
AAslam Shaikh4mo ago
I fill a lined pond on my canal turn and run drip off a pump between turns. Size the pond to actually last till the next turn for your crop or you run dry mid rotation like I did the first season. Work out your days between turns and the crop need.