Irrigation Requirements of Certain Important Indian crops

When a crop requires water for its crop season and also for some time in the beginning of the next crop section, allowance has to be made for this overlap. This allowance is known as overlap allowance, Sugarcane is an example of this kind of crop. Some important Indian crops, their periods of growth, water requirements, seed requirements, yields, etc, are shown in table

Irrigation Requirements of Certain Important Indian crops

Crop : Kharif crops Maize high yielding

Period of Growth : June to      Sep Oct               

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 45

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Four  or five watrings sensitive to drought        and floods,        Responsible to fertilizers

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 15

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 3,000

Crop : Bajra (spiked)

Period of Growth : July to Nov.

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 30

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Water should not stand. Irrigation as required. Resistan to drought and flooding.         

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 3.75

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 2,000

Crop : Juar  (Great millets), high yielding

Period of Growth : Sown        in       July as fooder and cut    green more than once

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 30

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Water should not stand. Irrigation as required. Resistant to drought   and flooding.       

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 12.5

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 3,000

Crop : Ground-nut

Period of Growth : May to Nov-Dec

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 45

Irrigation requirements and remarks : ‘Paleo’ Before    sowing.      

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : -

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 1,600

Crop : Cotton

Period of Growth : May-June   to Nov. Jan        

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 25-40

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Three or four irrigations are  required, Damage up to the  extent of 50%  may be caused by flooding, rains, etc

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : -

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 500

Crop : Pulses       like Arhar, etc

Period of Growth : July-Aug to Nov- Dec

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 30 

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Irrigated when    leaves get dried    

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 12.5 

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 700

Crop : Transplant ed   Rice (paddy) high yielding

Period of Growth : July to Nov,

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 125-150

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Standing water of 5 to 8  cm gives best results

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 30 to 35 kg of seed is sufficient to raise nursery to transplant once hectare   

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 4500

Crop : Til  

Period of Growth : July-Aug to Oct- Nov.

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : --   

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Generally not irrigated but better to irrigate once

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 1.25

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 350

Crop : Rabi crops Wheat (ordinary)

Period of Growth : Oct. to       March â€'April

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 37.5

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Three- four waterings of 7-10 cm depth                     

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 80-100                

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 1500 

Crop : High yielding wheat  

Period of Growth : Oct â€'to March â€'April

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 45

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Five-six waterings of 7-10 cm depths

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 100-125     

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 4000 

Crop : Gram (high yielding)

Period of Growth : Sep. Oct to March

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 30

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Irrigated when leaves get dry         

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 12.5 

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 3500 

Crop : Barley     

Period of Growth : Oct. to       Mar. April                    

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 30

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Two waterings; one at jointing and another at booting stage

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 120

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 1300 

Crop : Potatoes

Period of Growth : Sep-Oct to Feb  

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 60-90

Irrigation requirements and remarks :Usually      irrigated; sown in high hills up to early          April. econd  crop in  plants  is sometimes. Taken in Feb. April

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 15,000

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 35,000        

Crop : Tobacco

Period of Growth : Oct- Feb to Feb- May

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 60

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Four to five waterings

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : -

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 4,500

Crop : Linsed   i.e. Alsi

Period of Growth : Oct-Nov. March

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 45-50

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Irrigated at intervals    of 15 days. Resistant     to drought       but damaged         by frost and flooding    

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : -

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 700

Crop : Mustard

Period of Growth : Oct. to Feb. Mar

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) : 45

Irrigation requirements and remarks : Watered    at intervals of 7- 10 days        

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 33

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 1000 to 1600

Overlapping crop but generally classified under Rabi crop

Crop : Sugarcane

Period of Growth : Feb-March          to Dec â€'March    

Av.  Water depth reqd. (in cm) :  90

Irrigation requirements and remarks : 5 to 6 waterings of 10  cm     or more      

Average quantity of seed required in kg/hectare : 500

Average quantity of       obtained in kg/hectare : 25,000- 30,000