PRODUCTION COST AND WATER SAVINGS OF PADDY PRODUCED BY DRIP IRRIGATION

Abstract

Although there are different opinions on climate variability and global warming, it is a common idea in all hypotheses that water will become even more scarce. The water used in the production of paddy, which is one of the most important food sources for the majority of the population in the world, is too much due to the irrigation method. The average global water footprint of paddy production is reported as 1.391 billion m3/year. Considering this amount, it can be seen that paddy has an enormous environmental footprint. Excessive water use causes both waste of scarce resource water and numerous environmental problems during production. The most important reason for flooded production is the ability of paddy to grow/develop in water and to have a less competitive capacity with weeds. However, when rice is grown with drip irrigation, which is one of the irrigation methods that save water with high efficiency, significant increases in both yield and quality occur. Studies are showing that 50-74.6% water saving is achieved in paddy production with drip irrigation depending on the region, climate, soil, variety, producer habits, and similar situations. In addition, the cost of one kilogram of paddy produced in the drip irrigation system in the conditions of Canakkale province of Turkey has been calculated as 0.35 $. This value has been calculated as 0.44 $ in the flooded method. In addition, methane, carbon dioxide, and Nitrous oxide emissions are significantly reduced due to the transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions. In this way, greenhouse gas emissions, other environmental negative effects, and especially groundwater pollution caused by paddy production can be reduced.