Relative Economics of Irrigation through Percolation Tank and Irrigation Tank

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken to study the economics of irrigation from percolation tank in relation to irrigation tank in Kolar district of Karnataka during 2011. The proportion of well failure was less in percolation tank situation (11.6%) compared to irrigation tank situation (22%). The average yield of bore wells in percolation tank situation was also high i.e. 1481 GPH as compared to irrigation tank situation 1060 GPH. Cost of one acre inch of water is 272 and 429 as in case of percolation tank situation and irrigation tank situation respectively. Higher water availability in bore wells due to percolation tank situation resulted in high yields of irrigated crops and net returns from the crops were also high in percolation tank situation as compared to irrigation tank situation. The study indicated that percolation tanks were more useful in recharging the groundwater and has proved that conversion of irrigation tank to percolation tank is economically worthwhile.