Precision water management in pulses for enhanced resource-use-efficiency

Abstract

Although greater efforts have been made to realize higher yields with desired quality from a number of high-yielding varieties of pulses with matching agro-technologies and proven tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses, yet there has been a shortfall (though minimized to a greater extent now) in expected goals in production/productivity in these field crops. Therefore, there is a need for renewed and innovative approach for sustainable cropping intensification with pulses. In this context, water–a critical input for sustained crop production – is becoming limiting both under rainfed and irrigated conditions depending on its availability, competing factors, allocation to priority crops, and season of the year. It deserves all of us to use this precious commodity more judiciously, sensibly and need-based in agriculture through modern technology, especially in presence of diverse constraints. One of the approach for effective on-farm management of water is its precision use. One or two life-saving/supplementary irrigation through water-saving technologies (drip or sprinkler irrigation) during the post-rainy/ fall months or even under dryland condition could sustain productivity of crop. Some of the innovative agro-technologies could reinforce this by way of technology up-scaling and/or providing a sound footing for better water delivery/use. These include precision land levelling, no-till systems, furrow-irrigated raised bed planting, and crop diversification and its residue management. Thus, adaptive strategies for grain legumes or pulses will be highly location specific and offers an alternative for a quantum jump in its production with sustainable resource management and resource use efficiency (RUE). To conclude, strategic water management in pulses could play a significant role in their sustainable intensification/diversification of already scarce resource base in time to come (in the context of Sustainable Development Goals).