Introduction

Irrigation has played a major role in increasing food production in India. It is

estimated that 70 million ha of land is currently irrigated. which is about 39 percent
of the total cropped area in the country. However, salinity and water logging
problems associated with irrigation are an increasing problem. It was estimated
that in 1987 approximately 6 million ha of irrigated land was affected by excess
soil salinity and high water table conditions resulting in decreased crop production
in the past. India has developed new irrigation project to increase food production
but it is very difficult expensive and environmentally challenging task and most of
economically feasible possible basin inflows have been tapped. Now government
has recognized that increased emphasis must be placed on increasing water use
efficiency of existing projects and reclaiming existing irrigated land taken out of
production by salinity and water logging problems.
The Rajasthan Agricultural Drainage Research project (RAJAD) was a joint
venture undertaken by Government of India, the state of Rajasthan and Canada,
through the Canadian international Development Agency (CIDA).
Salinity and water logging problems were detected following the
introduction of irrigation to the Chambal Command Area (CCA) in the 1960s. By
1972, an area of approximately 20,000 ha, showed evidence of soil salinity. By the
1970s, about 160,000 ha land showed evidence of water logging of which about
25,000 ha was affected by salinity problems.
In the 1970, an On-Farm Development program (OFD) was initiated to
increase irrigation efficiency to mitigate the impacts of water logging. This
program introduced precision land leveling, surface drain improvement and farm
boundary alignment with approximately 167000 ha completed to date.

Subsurface Drainage
The RAJAD project area was selected primarily on the basis of the extent
and severity of salinity and water logging problems on irrigated lands where onfarm development had taken place. Ten drainage blocks totaling 53,000 ha, were
initially chosen for further assessment regarding their suitability for the SSD
research and implementation.

Subsurface Drainage Research

It was recognized from the projects beginning that a progressive research and
implementation plan was necessary to reach the goal of successful, cost-effective,
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large scale installation of SSD as a result, an intensive research program was

initiated at the beginning of the project to determine the SSD design requirements
for the CCA.
The initial research program carried out in 1991-92 established research test sites
at representative locations throughout the RAJAD project area of the Chambal
Command Area. A total of seven test sites, covering an area of 410 ha, ware chosen
to best represent the irrigation, Soil, Salinity and waterlogging conditions of the
area. Intensive motoring and evaluation was carried from 1991 to 1995 to,
Evaluate the applicability of theoretical SSD design criteria for this part of
India.
Determine the capability of SSD to reclaim and control salinity and
waterlogging in the irrigated agricultural lands in the CCA.
Evaluate the effects of SSD during the monsoon season.
Determine changes in crop yields as a result of SSD.
Assess the capability of SSD to increase the area currently being cropped.
Assist in the development of SSD design criteria for the CCA.
Identify the requirements for SSD installation, operation and maintenance.
Evaluate the availability of installation and support equipment in the region.
Demonstrate to government staff the techniques, logistical requirements and
benefits of SSD.
Assess the potential impacts of SSD on the economic and social quality of
life in the CCA. and
Demonstrate to farmers the requirements and benefits of SSD.
In 1993, SSD was installed at five additional test sites, using a high speed
trench less plow imported from Canada and operated by Canadian contractors.
The objective of the SSD installation at these sites were to.
Evaluate the applicability of the trench trenchless plow equipment for SSD
installation in the CCA, during both the Rabi and Kharif seasons.
Determine the expected SSD installation speed which could be sustained on
a seasonal basis.
Demonstrate the speed and accuracy of modern SSD installation equipment
to government staff and farmers. and
Demonstrate the logistical requirements (pipe supply, transportation, access
to land) necessary to sustain SSD installation with high speed equipment.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Test Sites

An intensive research program was implemented from 1992 to 1994 to evaluate
and test various SSD parameters in order to help develop SSD design criteria
for the CCA. Specific research was conducted at the test sites to:
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 Determine the overall effectiveness of the SSD in lowering and

controlling the water table during irrigation and monsoon events.
Determents the effectiveness of the SSD to reclaim saline soils and
control salinity at a depth that allows for optimum crop production.
Monitor changes in farming practices and crop production as a result of
SSD installation.
Determine the leaching requirements needed during the irrigation season
in view of the excess rainfall if occurs during the monsoon season.
Evaluate and select the optimum subsurface drainage depth and spacing
relative to soil characteristics and the presence of the calcium carbonate
(kankar) layer.
Evaluate existing SSD design equations and determine the most
appropriate equation for the CCA.
Assess the need for SSD fitter envelope material and. if so, identify the
most appropriate material for the CCA.
Determine the water and salt balance of the test sites through
measurement of climate factors, irrigation and SSD characteristics.
Monitor SSD effluent quality to assess the protential impacts of fSSD on
surface water quality characteristics in the CCA.
The monitoring program developed to collect the required data included
factors such as physical and chemical soil properties, water table
fluctuations. SSD flow and performance and SSD effluent quality.
Results of SSD Research
Intensive monitoring of the test sites clearly showed that SSD was successful in
reclaiming saline and waterlogged lands within 2-5 year after SSD was
installed. It is projected that reclamation of about 60 percent of the saline areas
in the project area will be reclaimed within 2-3 years, and 90-95 percent of the
affected areas should be reclaimed within 3-4 years. While the RAJAD SSD
was designed specifically to control salinity during the Rabi season, the SSD
was also successful in controlling some of the water table during the Kharif
season.

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SSD Benefits:Agronomic Factors

Soil Reclamation

Extent of Reclamation

Remarks

Reduce ECe from 4-8 dS/m to < 2-3 years

4 dS/m
Reduce ECe from 8-16 dS/m to 3-4 years
< 4 dS/m
Reduce ECe from >16 dS/m to >4 Years
< 4 dS/m
20-40 cm draw down in 3-4
Water Table Control
years
6-10 days
Soil Traffic ability

Crop Yield
Cropping intensity

Soyabean 56 % increase
Wheat 55% increase
Increase from 170% to 190 %

SSD Installation:SSD was installed on a total of 14925 ha of land from 1991 to 1999.
Financial Analysis:The RAJAD project has shown that installation of SSD will result in an increase
in the incremental income to farmers. Gross income on SSD lands will increase
by about 13400 Rs/ha after four years while for non SSD lands income will
decline over time.
Financial assessment of SSD in Chambal command area
Parameter
Value
Benefit Cost Ratio
2.27
Net Present Worth/ha
Rs 44787
Pay back period
5 Years
Internal Rate of Return
29 %

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