COMPOST ADMIXTURE IMPACT STUDY ON WATER INFILTRATION DEPTH, WATER FRONT ADVANCE AND RECESSION IN IRRIGATED ENVIRONMENT

Water is an important life supporting resource and is essential for sustainable food production. Its continued decrease has diverted the attention of researchers to find new ways of efficient irrigation management. Decomposed bio-solids (for example leaves, crop residue, animal waste, municipal solid waste) form the compost and provide friendly environment for enhancing crop production. The present study investigates the effects of compost admixture on water infiltration depth, water advance and recession phase of irrigation event in the field having loamy sand texture. Compost from two sources was used. There were nine experimental plots with 3.5 m width and 45 m length. Compost at the rate of 5 % was incorporated up to a depth of 3 cm in six plots (3 plots of each compost source) and in the remaining three plots no compost was applied. The field was irrigated twice. The results revealed that by using 5% compost admixture by weight the advance time reduced by 23.96% and 26.83 % for 1st and 2nd irrigation, respectively compared to non compost admixture plots. Results revealed that by using 5 % compost up to 3cm mixing depth the water infiltration depth decreased 42.97 % at head side of the field and 10.37 % at tail side of field during 1st irrigation, during 2nd irrigation the water infiltration depth decreased 48.67 % at upper end of the field and 11.28 % at lower end of the field. The significant decrease in water infiltration depth at head side gives uniformity in water infiltration depth along the length of field. The faster movement of the water front with the application of compost admixture reduces the difference in intake opportunity times between the head and far end of the field, thus it improves the performance of the irrigation system. Reduction in the applied water volume to the tone of 23.96% during 1st irrigation and 26.83% during 2nd irrigation, further supports this improvement in irrigation performance, considering on the advance phase.