Research Unit 5: Irrigation Research Station, Madhepur
The Irrigation Research Station in Madhepura, established in 1957, plays a vital role in advancing research on irrigation systems and water management. By focusing on efficient irrigation technologies, water conservation, soil moisture management, and climate adaptation, the station supports agricultural productivity and sustainability in the region.
Mandate of Irrigation Research Station, Madhepur
· To find out water requirement of different crops.
· To study the fertilizer, need of crop and water nutrient relationship.
· To establish some suitable cropping pattern in the area.
· To study the water table behavior and quality of ground water.
· To evolve suitable irrigation method.
· To develop suitable agril. Implements for better water management.
· To develop practice for management of shallow water table and temporary flooding and work out drainage criteria.
· To work out water balance of the area.
Research activities
Since its inception, the IRS Madhepura center has conducted significant research on crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling for cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cash crops. The experiments focused on three main approaches to irrigation scheduling: moisture depletion, physiological crop growth stages, and climatological factors.
For paddy, studies have demonstrated that maintaining continuous ponding is not essential for achieving high yields. Even a 3 to 9-day gap between pondings yielded satisfactory results, especially during years of adequate rainfall. It was found that irrigation scheduling based on a 3-day interval between pondings could optimize water use, reducing water expenditure and aiding water distribution to regions that lack sufficient canal supply. The crop showed resilience under varying irrigation conditions, and nitrogen application increased yields significantly up to 80 kg N/ha.
For jute, experiments involving different cultivars and nitrogen levels revealed that irrigation schedules had no significant effect on fiber yield, but nitrogen application at 40 kg/ha increased yields compared to lower levels. Further studies on mulch and compaction also showed no significant impact on jute fiber yield. The limited response to irrigation was attributed to pre-monsoon rains and a high water table in the area, suggesting a need for further trials with earlier sowing dates.
In sugarcane, experiments indicated that irrigation at 30% soil moisture depletion was more effective compared to 45%. For wheat, trials conducted with four irrigation schedules revealed that irrigation at an IW/CPE ratio of 0.75 was sufficient under Madhepura conditions, requiring a maximum of two irrigations. Applying nitrogen up to 160 kg/ha resulted in significant yield increases, but further research is needed to validate these findings.
Studies on barley indicated that irrigation at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.05 resulted in the highest grain yields, although the difference between IW/CPE ratios of 0.90 and 1.05 was not significant in some years. For maize, experiments showed that submergence at critical growth stages led to yield reduction, with the crop being particularly sensitive during the knee-high and tasselling stages. The irrigation needs of maize were also studied, and it was found that increasing nitrogen application significantly boosted yields.
