Rainguns Irrigation System are excellent choice for sugarcane cultivation in Indian Agriculture. It is a proven technologies by Thumba since last 15 years.
The amount of yield can be increased than normal irrigation method. Mainly it avoid usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which give additional benefits for the farmer. It increases relative humidity and its give natural climate for better growth and yield.
Intercrop Is possible with this system. And sugarcane leaves are allowed to decay by using periodical sprinkling of water.
No need of bunds, canals and unwanted maintenance for whole crop period made the sugarcane cultivation easier.
When compared to flood irrigation Rain gun irrigation system saves almost three times of water ,time, labour and also power. But increase the productivity up to 40% then primitive methods.
Top considerable point is it's durability . The system will work up to 50 years without fail. Not possible to compare with any other modern irrigation method in durability and long lasting.
Normally sugarcane crop irrigated by flood irrigation or drip irrigation methods. In flood irrigation much more water needs for one irrigation. In drip irrigation water saving is possible but life of the system is very low 3 to 4 years due to salt sediment and rat bite problems. So that we introduce durable and efficient water saving rain gun system as the next revolution in irrigation methods which will runs without maintenance up to 50 years without fail.
When compared to flood irrigation method in sugarcane cultivation rain guns saves 3 times water, labor and time for irrigation to the same area. But can change the climate also. During rain gun operation the relative humidity increase due to water particle spraying above the crops which helps to grow as rain effect.
We achieve 2 tier crops in sugarcane fields. First we sow groundnut in upper bed method. Here soil get loose to support groundnut crop high yields. After 30 days we plant sugarcane saplings between 4.5 feet gape. (see photo) Here machine weeding is possible by using power weeder or power tillers. After 100 days groundnut crop harvested and earthing up done by power tiller machine. (see the video) Huge labor saving due to machine utilization for earthling up work. All irrigations are given only by rain gun irrigation method which will help crop growth and extraordinary yield for year by years. Because all leaves are clearly cleaned from crops and put as a mulch cover in-between sugarcane crop lines. Due to sprinkling of water it will easily decay and change as a natural fertilizer also saves water from evaporation.
In drip irrigation they give much more chemical fertilizers through drip line to get maximum yield. They can get maximum yield in first year. But all micro organisms in that soil destroyed by the fertilizer resulting nature of soil conditions surely affected which leads to low yield in next few years. But in Rain gun system no need of such chemical fertilizers to use. Because natural favorable climatic conditions support to soil micro organisms helps to attract nitrogen from atmosphere naturally. We achieve 7 times continues harvests with single plantation. Here more than 3 time plantation cost saved. But total yield will increased year by year. We achieve average 64 tons to 84 tons per acre in single crop harvest. Very important information is No chemical fertilizers used in this field for 7 crops continuously. Complete natural leaf mulching helps to this crop as fertilizer.
