Efficacy of water harvesting structures in sugarcane based farming system in India

Abstract

Study were conducted by constructing two water harvesting structures (WHS) (WHS-I and WHS-II) in the Harsauli drain of Rasulpur block of Muzaffarnagar district to see the impact on recharge of groundwater. Study indicated that intervention of WHS in Harsauli drain resulted extension of back water upto 1200 m and 1500 m behind WHSI and WHS-II, respectively. Impact of WHS-II on groundwater table was monitored by placing four piezometers (P1, P2, P3, P4) across the drain at intervals of 0 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m with depth of 30 m, 33 m, and 27 m, respectively. Variation in piezometric level was observed during the impounding in all the piezometers, and its effect was more in the piezometer installed near to the drain in comparison to P2, P3, P4 and fluctuated at piezometer location at 50 m, 100 m and 200 m. Drill core observation showed that fine sand fraction were the main stratum of aquifer. Study indicated that sugarcane field has higher infiltration rate than drain due to textural variation in soils. Gradual decrease in the infiltration rate with time due to saturation of soil particles indicated uniform sedimentation and deposition of sediment in the indo gangetic plain (IGP) region and subsequently development of soil over it, an indicator of similar climate during their formation. Presence of moderately alkaline water indicated that the source material of soils were derived dominantly from Himalayan limestone, shale and slate and deposited there by weathering, erosion and transportation by Himalayan rivers, and it (moderately alkaline water) also have potential beneficial effects on nutrition (extra source of Ca and Mg) for sugarcane crops grown in the area. Study indicated that to make the sugarcane cultivated area of water positive zone, water harvesting structure can be highly effective.