Agricultural Engineering Today
Year : 2000, Volume : 24, Issue : 5
First page : ( 1) Last page : ( 7)
Print ISSN : 0970-2962.

Alternative technology in reclamation of waterlogged areas on Dankuni basin in West Bengal

Patra S.K., Ray R., Das N.C.*

* AICRP on Agricultural Drainage, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India, Pin-741235.

Abstract

Conventional drainage measures in eliminating the high run off and tidal water accumulation from the low-lying land of Dankuni basin in West Bengal are infeasible. In consequence, the cropped land in kharif season is abandoned and rabi cultivation is at subsistence level. To overcome this problem, a low-lying holding of 366 m² was developed into raised bed and pond areas in 2.3: 1 ratio by excavating earth frolll 110 m² area and spreading it uniformly over 256 m² area. The raised bed height was so acijusted as 10 avoid submergence in the peak monsoon season. A scaffolder covering 50% of pond area was constructed and hung over the pond 10 create additional space for creeper vegetables. Different vegetables were grown both in the developed raised-bed areas and the undeveloped adjoining low-lying areas. The analysis of data (1994–95 to 1998–99) reveals that in kharif season, vegetables were successfully cultivated in the raised bed whereas no crop could be grown in the adjacent lowland due to waterlogging. The average yields of vegetables in rabi season under raised bed-pond system were 24 to 47 per cent more than those grown in low-lying areas. Timely sowing followed by protected irrigation to crops using the monsoon run of f water stored in the pond were responsible for such yield increase. The additional net economic return from the raised bedpond system of cultivation over the prevailing low-land cultivation system was estimated at Rs. 55973/ha/year.

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