Counter watering method of furrow irrigation
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2018-09-08 08:20 Updated: 2020-01-27 19:37
Compilers: Rustam Ibragimov
Reviewers: Elizaveta Soloveyva, Olga Andreeva, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Uzbekistan
- Region/ State/ Province: Chencinski district/Khorezm region
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Pilot production site
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Furrow Irrigation by forced water supply from two sides of the field with the use of single output irrigators - from the beginning and from the end of the furrow or strip (”counter" furrow irrigation) is used for irrigation of cotton and other row crops. The technology is used on low-slope / non-slope lands, which allows to ensure homogenity of moisture, reducing soil salinity in the end part of the field, increasing irrigation water productivity and crop yields
Detailed description of the Technology
Furrow surface irrigation method is traditional in Uzbekistan on row crops. It is quite simple and low cost, but low efficient. According to N. Laktaev (1978), V. Sevryugin (2001), even with an optimal combination of irrigation technique elements, the coefficient of uniformity of wetting of the field area does not exceed 0.5-0.4 points. However, on lands subject to salinization, the furrow surface irrigation is preferable, as it provides downward flows of water and regulates soil salinization in the root zone. Therefore, to increase the efficiency of the irrigation water use, it is necessary to improve irrigation along the furrows, which is especially important for flat lands with small slopes. For such conditions, furrow irrigation is recommended, which effectiveness has been proven empirically. It regulates the salt regime during the growing season, uniformly moistens the soil and reduces water losses due to the reduction of irrigation duration and the absence of discharges.
The forced supply of water is carried out from single output irrigators on both sides of the field. For this, a permanent irrigation network is created in the area with small surface slopes. The effectiveness of furrow irrigation of cotton on saline lands was tested in the framework of the ZEF / UNESCO project (2004-2006) in the Khorezm region. Year-round monitoring of the components of the water and salt regime included: measurements of precipitation and evaporation, volumes of water supply for irrigation and leaching, soil moisture in the aeration zone, depth and salinity of groundwater and salinization of the soil. As a result, savings of irrigation water by 321 m3 / ha (2004) and 914 m3 / ha (2005) were revealed. The use of counter-irrigation on the farm fields of the Khorezm region ensured a decrease in irrigation water costs by 15-30%, reducing of the salts seasonal accumulation at the end of the furrows, and an increase of cotton productivity by 30-35% (0.5 t / ha). Technology does not cost much. At the initial stage of implementation, there will be additional costs for high-quality field levelling and the preparation of a permanent irrigation network. The acquiring of water metering equipment (a Chipoletti portable spillway for measuring of the water flow rate in the supply sprinkler and 4 Thompson spillways for measuring flow rate in the furrows) is also necessary. In the future, to maintain the technology every year, only the maintenance of irrigation system elements will be needed.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Khorezm region, Hankinsky district, experimental plot
- 🗓 2026-04-06
- 📷 Paluasheva G.