Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the current agricultural practices, challenges faced in paddy agriculture and analyse the water delivery performance of tank using RS and GIS. To review and compare the current agriculture practices with the BIS and other standards and to proposeBMP’s for paddy cultivation. Methods/Analysis:Random sampling of surveywas taken and frequency analysis was done by questionnaire. The performance of irrigation system was carried out by rainfall frequency analysis by using Weibull’s formula. The water delivery performance was obtained by NDVI analysis. The current practices of paddy agriculture is analysed and compared with BIS 15930 (Part 1): 2010, TNAU and FAO reports to provide BMPs for improving the productivity. Findings: The NDVI values classified as high, low and normal water delivery performance for years of 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2011. The percentage of area under high vegetation of paddy in the year 2002 was 28% and increased to 31% in the year 2011, because of the rainfall in 2002 was 1032 mm, whereas it was 1499.6 mm in 2011. The drought year 2009, is characterized by a very drastic change of 0% percent vegetation in the tail end region of Navarai season. But, in the Samba season, the vegetations decreased as much as 9.8% when compared to vegetation in the Samba season of 2002. It can be inferred from the NDVI map of the Samba season of 2009, there is an increase in the high paddy vegetation in the tail end. The reason is an increase in the number of bore wells dug for paddy cultivation because of poor water delivery performance. Best management practices have been recommended, for the paddy cultivation. Conclusion: The farmers faced problems in water sharing, fragmentation; non-maintenance of supply system, non-availability of labours; consequently people involvement in agriculture is decreasing. By enhancing the water delivery performance and adopting best management practices, the productivity and farmers livelihood will increase.