Comparison of practices

Use of water resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Chuy Region

District: Sokuluk District

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Tashkent Region

District: Parkent District

Other settlement: Baikazan Farm

The site is located in a semi-drought zone subject to acute shortage of water resources in summer period and land degradation

Steep foothill terrain

Start date: 01.01.2011

End date: 31.12.2011

Start date: 01.01.2006

End date: 31.12.2006

Extremely low water availability (supply) of pastures; the quantity of cattle in watering sites below standard; land erosion

Issues: loss of water in temporary water distributers, low plot use ratio, difficulties with regulating water supply to irrigation furrows, low irrigator labor productivity

Technology of springs arrangement for stock watering

Portable polyethylene trays (PPL-50) of semi-circular section

Actions:

At first, the exact location of water outcrop was identified and cleaned from mud.  15 meters below the outcrop, 3 interconnected water tubs were installed (each 1.8 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.5 deep).  Each subsequent tub is located lower than the preceding one, thus, allowing water flowing down in the cascade manner.

Results:

Financial and economic:

Cattle gaining weight quicker.

Technical:

Improved water supply in the area, including for cattle watering.

Actions:

1. Water supply using PPL-50 is possible from: a) reinforced concrete trays, b) covered network, c) temporary earthen water distributers;
2. Prior to watering, the trays are manually distributed along the route and installed with required inclination perpendicular to the furrows in the beginning of the irrigated site. Sections are inserted into each other;
3. After adjustment, the kit is capable of ensuring the desired watering regime;
4. In case of long furrows (150+ m) layer watering is used with the application of flexible polyethylene film hoses (D=300 mm);
5. Depending on specific site conditions, inter-row spacing and crop type, the size of irrigation streams is regulated by way of adjusting the water supply control gate.

Results:

• 20-30% reduction of field unproductive losses;
• Increased productivity (2-4 dt/ha for wheat, 3-4 dt/ha for cotton);
• At least twofold increase of irrigator labor productivity;
• Increased land use ratio (1.5-2.5%).

Lessons learnt:

Collection of water in one place had been practiced since ancient times, but was forgotten over time.  Rehabilitation of traditional practices should be welcomed.

Recommendations:

Similar practices should be scaled-up and continued as they not only benefit the local population, but also allow enhancing water availability for wild animals and expanding hayfield meadows.

Lessons learnt:

PPL-50 can be used for watering cotton with 0.9 and 0.6 m row-spacing as well as vegetable and cucurbit crops with 0.3 m row-spacing.

Recommendations:

It is recommended to apply:

• PPL-50 (D=300 mm) in steep foothill conditions;
• PPL-50 (D=500 mm) in flat terrain;
• Prior to using the system in flat terrain conditions, it is desirable to do land planning.

Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation which demonstrate their relevance in modern conditions

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: Moderate

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $7.6

3. O&M costs: Moderate

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

Project title: Adaptation of contour furrows and layer watering via portable trays: research on establishing permanent furrows on the premises of Baikazan Farm of Parkent District.

Project duration: 2005-2006.

Project goal and objectives: improve local living standards and food security among rural residents as well as preserve soil fertility in farms located on sloped terrain by way of watering via contour furrows based on the greatest inclination and layer arrangement of assembly polyethylene trays.  The short-term project objective was to demonstrate the technology of watering via contour furrows based on the greatest inclination of sloped terrain and layer arrangement of assembly polyethylene trays.

Project beneficiaries: farms and dekhan farms.

Project implementer: ICARDA

WOCAT.net, Mr. Abdybek Asanaliyev (e-mail: asanaly61@mail.ru), Kyrgyz National Agriculture University, Bishkek

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC