Research article COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF SPRINKLER IRRIGATION OVER CHECK BASIN IRRIGATION IN GROUNDNUT AT DIFFERENT IRRIGATION SCHEDULES

The field experiments were conducted for consecutive two years to assess the comparative efficiency of sprinkler irrigation over check basin irrigation at different irrigation schedules for groundnut (K-6) during rabi season. Split plot design was adopted for the experiment with two methods of irrigation as main treatments M1 - Sprinkler method and M2 - Check basin irrigation and three irrigation schedules based on IW/CPE ratio at 0.6 (I1), 0.8 (I2) & 1.0 (I3) as sub treatments, replicated thrice. During 2004-05, there was no significant difference in the pod yield obtained between the methods of irrigation, however irrigation scheduled at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio significantly out yielded (1511 kg/ha) the pod yield obtained at 0.8 & 0.6 IW/CPE ratios. The WUE and shelling percent were also not influenced by the irrigation methods and schedules. Significantly higher pod yield was obtained during 2005-06 under sprinkler method of irrigation (2020 kg/ ha) as compared to check basin of irrigation (1762 kg/ha). Irrigation at IW/CPE of 1.0 (I3) resulted in significantly higher pod yield (2123 kg/ha) when compared to I1 and was on par with that of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (I2). Results indicated that sprinkler method of irrigation scheduled at 1.0 or 0.8 IW/CPE ratios would be beneficial to groundnut crop as compared to check basin method of irrigation.