Tactical water management in field crops: The key to resource conservation

Abstract

Water is a critical input for productivity enhancement especially of field crops. Its judicious and optimum use is needed utmost for realizing higher resource use efficiency and plugging gaps in production. Resource conservation technologies or key technological interventions, which could alter or rectify the usage pattern or strategies in freshwater utilization in agriculture, are the need of the hour. Tactical or strategic approach in water management could help in conserving and making more-efficient use of scarce water resources through integrated management combined with selected external inputs/technologies. In this context, the scientific interventions on water management involving precision levelling of land, no tillage or reduced tillage systems, furrow irrigated raised bed planting or broad bed furrow systems, management of soil cover and crop diversification and other inclusive technological practices could enforce appropriate water management schedules.