Laser guided land levelling: A precision technique for enhancing water productivity

Abstract

Paddy-paddy is a traditional cropping system in the Tungabhadra Project (TBP) Command area. Though paddyfields are nearly leveled, unevenness of growth and yield variability are observed quite often in a given piece of land. Thismay be attributed to non-uniform spread of irrigation water and hence nutrients applied over the field. Conventionalmethods of land leveling followed traditionally are good enough to meet only the partial requirement of land leveling andleaves scope of improvement. The use of laser technology in the precision land leveling is of recent origin in India. It notonly minimizes the cost of leveling but also ensures the desired degree of precision in land leveling. Live field demonstrationof the laser leveling technology by the Saline Water Scheme centre, Gangavathi attracted many farmers especially of the tailend command who get canal water for irrigation once in 20 days rotation basis. Over the past four years, about 105 farmersgot benefitted through laser leveling technology in about 350 ha. Once such good example is Sri. Ramakrishna S/o N. SuriNarayana R/o Devicamp, Karatagi, Gangavathi, District Koppal of Karnataka, a successful farmer who leveled 4 ha landwith the laser leveler, who taken this equipment on rent basis from Saline Water Scheme, Gangavathi. In comparison withpaddy yields under laser leveled field and the field leveled through conventional methods, higher water saving and yield wasobserved. The farmer could enhance paddy yields by 12 % (` 6000/ ha) and saved irrigation water to a tune of 20-25% ascompared to traditionally leveled land. A field day was also organized on laser guided land.