ABSTRACT
The field experiment was conducted on bundle flower (Desmanthus virgatus) under check basin, furrow, and rain-gun systems at Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam – Tamil Nadu during 2013–2014. Irrigation efficiencies of different irrigation methods and yield of Desmanthus virgatus was compared. Water application and water use efficiency were maximum in case of rain-gun irrigation method compared to check basin and furrow irrigation. Use of rain-gun method of irrigation during the cropping period helped in water saving water when the soil infiltration rate was very high and water need in the root zone was lower. Using rain-gun irrigation system, 35% and 25% higher water use efficiency and 17.1% and 9.0% more water application efficiency were achieved compared to check basin and furrow irrigation method, respectively. About 3.2% and 1.52% higher yield was obtained in rain-gun irrigation system compared to check basin and furrow irrigation methods, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that rain-gun irrigation method is a most feasible system for the production of fodder during water scarcity period. It reduces manpower requirement and prevents the growth of weeds, which flourish in check basin and furrow irrigation, thereby nutrient loss due to the utilization of nutrients by the weeds arising in flood irrigation will be minimized. Water is economically and efficiently used to produce maximum biomass with a minimum amount of water.
