WATER REQUIREMENTS OF CROPS
- The subject of water requirements for crops is of direct significance wherever irrigation is practiced.
- The areas may be divided into three categories namely— arid region, semi-arid region, and humid region.
- Growing of crops in arid regions is almost impossible without irrigation as rainfall in this region is very rare.
- In semi-arid regions irrigation may be optional but crops like sugar cane, vegetables, rice, etc. requiring more of water can only be grown by irrigation.
- In humid regions, irrigation plays a protective role against possible failure or deficiency of rainfall during the crop season.
- The water requirement of a particular crop does not remain uniform in different areas.
- It varies according to variation in climate, rainfall, and type of soil.
- India is a very large country with having a lot of variation in its different areas as regards rainfall and type of soil.
- Hence water requirement of a particular crop in a particular region cannot be considered applicable for whole of the country.