CRA Technique

MANUAL ON CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE –
WATER CONSERVING ROOT ZONE IRRIGATION TECHNIQUE

( To grow Trees / Climbers faster with less water)
(Innovation by Dr.Korlapati Satyagopal I.A.S.,)
Growth Difference
122 cm (4 feet)
Authored by
DR. K. SATYAGOPAL I.A.S.,
Additional Chief Secretary / Commissioner of Revenue Administration,
State Relief Commissioner,Government of Tamil Nadu
138 cm
Tamarindus 300 cm
indica
(Tamarind)
In
2 Years &
3 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
5 feet
&
3 Inch
Thanjavur
District,
Ammapettai
Block
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 118 cm SANDY SOIL Grow th : 280 cm
Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm)
21-10-2016 20 1 20 1
21-01-2019 138 10 300 21
Dr.Korlapati Satyagopal I.A.S. receiving the Certificate of appreciation awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the
special initiative taken in formulating an innovative watering technique useful for tree plantation from the Hon'ble Chief
M inister of Tamil Nadu on the Independence Day (15-8-2017) in the presence of the Chief Secretary to Government
Dr. K. Sa tya g o pa l, I.A.S.,
Additio na l C hie f Se c ra ta ry / C o m m isio ne r o f
Re ve nue Adm inista to n
C o m m issio ne ra te o f Re ve nue Adm inistra tio n,
C he pa uk, C he nna i 600 005.
PREFACE
C lim a te c ha ng e ha s b e c o m e a re a lity trig g e ring se rio us pitc he r irrig a tio n o r drip irrig a tio n. Ho we ve r, pitc he r irrig a tio n
im b a la nc e s in we a the r syste m s a c ro ss c o ntine nts a nd the a nd drip irrig a tio n a re a do pte d o nly fo r g ro wing Ho rtic ultura l
c o nse q ue nc e s inc lude inte r a lia c ha ng e in pre c ipita tio n fruit tre e s a s the y a re e xpe nsive a nd a re b e yo nd the re a c h o f
pa tte rns, c ha ng e s in hydro lo g y, wa te r m a ss distrib utio n, whic h the po o r fa rm e rs.The re fo re , the ne e d fo r de ve lo ping a lo w c o st
a ffe c t a ll b io lo g ic a l syste m s.The a dve rse im pa c t o f the se b ut e ffe c tive wa te ring te c hniq ue fo r g ro wing Tre e spe c ie s, a nd
c ha ng e s ha ve b e e n induc ing e xtre m e ha rdships to the po o r o the r pe re nnia ls a nd se a so na l c lim b e rs (ve g e ta b le s/ fruits)
a nd e spe c ia lly the fa rm e rs. Due to the c lim a te c ha ng e wa s c o nsta ntly e ng a g ing m y m ind.
induc e d sho rta g e s o f wa te r a nd inc re a se d te m pe ra ture s
The C lim a te Re silie nt Wa te r C o nse rving ro o t zo ne
Ag ric ulture is im pa c te d se ve re ly ra ising se rio us c o nc e rns fo r
Irrig a tio n Te c hniq ue wa s c o nc e ive d b y m e in 2016 a nd it wa s
the the sm a ll a nd m a rg ina l fa rm e rs.
e xpe rim e nte d unde r the MG NREG S Tre e pla nta tio n sc he m e
Re c o g nizing the im p o rta nc e o f a ffo re sta tio n in im ple m e nte d b y the Rura l De ve lo pm e nt De pa rtm e nt b y the
c o m b a ting the issue s o f c lim a te c ha ng e , so il e ro sio n, po llutio n, G o vt o f Ta m il Na du. To a sc e rta in the e ffic a c y o f the ne w
a nd in pre se rving the b io dive rsity a nd e c o lo g ic a l b a la nc e , te c hniq ue se e dling s/ sa pling s we re g ro wn c o m pulso rily a s pe r
G o ve rnm e nts wo rld o ve r ha ve e m b a rke d o n a m a ssive c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds a lo ng with tre a te d plo ts. This inno va tio n
pro g ra m m e o f tre e pla nta tio n unde r diffe re nt sc he m e s. Eve ry tra nsfo rm s irrig a tio n syste m s a s it q uic kly tra nsfe rs irrig a te d
ye a r a la rg e num b e r o f sa pling s a re pla nte d a nd the ir surviva l wa te r to de pths o f 2 to 3 fe e t whic h is no t po ssib le e ve n in
de pe nds inte r a lia o n fre q ue nt wa te ring during the first fe w surfa c e drip syste m s. The te c hniq ue e na b le s fa rm e rs o ve r
ye a rs o f pla nta tio n. c o m e the m a jo r im pa c ts o f c lim a te c ha ng e . The b io - m e tric
The c urre nt m e tho ds a do pte d fo r wa te ring a re e ithe r the o b se rva tio ns o f g ro wth pa ra m e te rs- he ig ht, g irth, le a f surfa c e
tra ditio na l wa y o f wa te ring the a re a surro unding the sa pling o r a re a a nd b io m a ss o b se rve d in the fie ld in c o m pa riso n with the
c o ntro l plo ts we re fo und to b e sig nific a ntly hig h. Inde pe nde nt v Wa te r Use Effic ie nc y
e va lua tio ns c a rrie d o ut a lso c o rro b o ra te d the re sults. Fa rm e rs v Wa te r C o nse rva tio n-
with la rg e ho lding s c a n b le nd the inno va tio n with drip irrig a tio n v Irrig a tio n o f the Ro o t zo ne up to 2 to 3 fe e t
whic h re duc e s wa te r a nd p o we r c o nsum p tio n a nd inc re a se
v Enha nc e d nutrie nt a b so rptio n
the yie ld s.
v Fa c ilita te s full e xpre ssio n o f the g e ne tic po te ntia l o f the
The yie ld le ve ls o f drum stic k, g o urd ve g e ta b le s (b o ttle ,
se e dling
rid g e , b itte r g o urd e tc ) a nd fruits (wa te rm e lo n) wa s hig he r
v Re sults in hig he r surviva l ra te s a nd a c c e le ra te d g ro wth –
ra ng ing fro m 3 5 % to 6 0% whic h in turn re sulte d in a dditio na l
v Enha nc e d C a rb o n se q ue stra tio n –
inc o m e to the fa rm e rs. In re spe c t o f Tre e s (inc luding spe c ie s o f
v C lim a te Re silie nc e -
m e dic ina l a nd nutritio na l va lue ). The inc re a se in he ig ht
v Dro ug ht Re sista nc e -
o ve r tre e s g ro wn a do pting c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds / drip
The inno va tio n will re d uc e vulne ra b ility to c lim a t
syste m s, ra ng e d fro m 4 fe e t to 15 fe e t o ve r a pe rio d o f 2 ye a rs it
e c ha ng e im pa c ts b y pro m o ting susta ina b le de ve lo pm e nt
se lf. The inc re a se in yie ld o f ve g e ta b le s a nd fruits o f m e dic ina l
thro ug h wa te r c o nse rva tio n, wa te r use e ffic ie nc y, e nha nc e
a nd nutritio na l va lue re sulting in a d d itio n a l in c o m e or
yie lds a nd the inno va tio n c a n b e a pplie d to re duc e ine q uity.
a dditio na l c o nsum ptio n a t the fa rm le ve l will pro m o te the
This sim ple te c hniq ue c a n a lso b e a g a m e c ha ng e r fo r a ll tho se
nutritio na l sta tus a nd he a lth o f pre g na nt / la c ta ting wo m e n a nd
De p a rtm e nts, O rg a niza tio ns a nd fa rm e rs as we ll a s
c hildre n b e lo ng ing e ve n to sm a ll ho lde r fa rm e rs a nd c a n
G o ve rnm e nt's e ffo rts to c re a te a n a dditio na l c a rb o n sink o f 2.5
stre ng the n the Fruit a nd Ve g e ta b le s fo r He a lth Initia tive o f WHO
to 3 b illio n to nne s o f C O 2 e q uiva le nt thro ug h a dditio na l fo re st
a nd FAO . The inno va tio n fulfils the o b je c tive s o f the Pa ris
a nd tre e c o ve r b y 2030 a s pa rt o f India 's Na tio na lly De te rm ine d
Ag re e m e nt to m itig a te C lim a te C ha ng e b y inc re a sing the
C o ntrib utio n.I do ho pe tha t o ve r a pe rio d o f tim e the te c hniq ue
a b ility o f fa rm e rs inc luding sm a llho lde rs to re duc e c a rb o n
will b e use d b y fa rm e rs in India a s we ll a s o the r c o untrie s a nd
e m issio ns a s we ll a s e nha nc e c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n.
re a p b e ne fits fro m this te c hniq ue .
The lo w c o st C RA te c hniq ue is uniq ue due to its a b ility to g ro w
tre e s/ c lim b e rs fa ste r with le ss wa te r a lo ng with o the rb e ne fits
whe n c o m pa re d to c o nve ntio na l surfa c e irrig a tio n a s we ll drip
irrig a tio n syste m s a s liste d b e lo w.
Dr. K. Sa tya g o pa l
Inde x
Exe c utive Sum m a ry 1
Ba c kg ro und 3
The Inno va tio n 4
The Te c hniq ue 5
Ble nding o f C lim a te Re silie nt Ag ric ulture - Wa te r C o nse rving Ro o t Zo ne Irrig a tio n Te c hniq ue & 7
Drip Irrig a tio n Syste m s–the Syne rg ic Effe c t
Expe rim e nts a nd the Bio - Me tric Re sults fro m the Fie ld 7
Adva nta g e s o f the Te c hniq ue 10
So c ia l a nd Ec o no m ic C o - Be ne fits 15
Sc a la b ility a nd Re plic a b ility 16
Re le va nc e o f the Te c hniq ue to m e e t the g o a ls o f Pa ris Ag re e m e nt 17
Re le va nc e o f the C RA Te c hniq ue to m e e t the Susta ina b le De ve lo pm e nt G o a ls 17
C o st a na lysis 18
Susta ina b ility 20
Re sults o f Fie ld Expe rim e nts a nd Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns 21
C o m pa riso n b e twe e n Drip Irrig a tio n Vs C RA Te c hniq ue 64
C RA Te c hniq ue b le nde d with Drip Irrig a tio n 69
Re sults o f Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns do ne b y MC RC 71
Re sults o f Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns do ne b y Ma no nm a nia m Sunda ra na r Unive rsity 76
Re sults o f Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns do ne b y G re a te r C he nna i - C o rpo ra tio n 80
Dro ug ht Pro o fing e xisting C o c o nut & o the r Tre e s 87
Ne w C o ve ra g e o n C RA Te c hniq ue 88
Yo uTub e link 98
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The inno va tive te c hniq ue tra nsfo rm s irrig a tio n syste m s fo r
g ro wing tre e s/ c lim b e rs b y q uic kly tra nsfe rring the irrig a te d
C lim a te c ha ng e , a re a lity, trig g e rs se rio us im b a la nc e s in
wa te r to de pths o f 2 to 3 fe e t whic h is no t po ssib le e ve n in surfa c e
we a the r syste m s re sulting in e xtre m e we a the r e ve nts
drip irrig a tio n. The te c hniq ue invo lve s fo rm a tio n o f upto 4 sa nd
unive rsa lly. The c o nse q ue nc e s o f c lim a te c ha ng e inc lude inte r
a lia c ha ng e in pre c ipita tio n pa tte rns, c ha ng e s in hydro lo g y, c o lum ns in the pits while pla nting a se e dling to tra nsfe r wa te r to
wa te r m a ss distrib utio n, whic h a ffe c t a ll b io lo g ic a l syste m s. The the e ntire ro o tzo ne c re a ting a ppro pria te e nviro nm e nt in the
a dve rse im pa c t o f the se c ha ng e s will b e m o re pro no unc e d o n rhizo sphe re to fa c ilita te wa te r a nd nutrie nt a b so rptio n b y ro o ts
Ag ric ultura l a nd Ho rtic ultura l fie ld c ro ps a s we ll a s o n Tre e a t diffe re nt le ve ls. The wa te r is tra nsfe rre d thro ug h the 4 sa nd
Spe c ie s due to sho rta g e s o f wa te r a nd inc re a se d te m pe ra ture s. c o lum ns the re b y m inim izing e va po ra tio n lo sse s a lso . The
In re spe c t o f c ro ps, the c lim a te c ha ng e is re po rte d to inno va tio n a lso a ddre sse s the ne e d fo r de ve lo ping a lo w c o st
sig nific a ntly im pa c t c ro p yie ld le ve ls ra ising se rio us c o nc e rns b ut e ffe c tive wa te ring te c hniq ue fo r g ro wing tre e s/ c lim b e rs.
fo r the fa rm e rs e spe c ia lly the sm a ll a nd m a rg ina l fa rm e rs.
The inno va tio n is a n e a sily a do pta b le so lutio n fo r g ro wing tre e s
The Pa ris Ag re e m e nt a im s to stre ng the n the re spo nse to
fa ste r with le ss wa te r, e ve n unde r lim iting c o nditio ns o f so il a nd
g lo b a l c lim a te c ha ng e b y inc re a sing the a b ility o f a ll, to a da pt
wa te r. The inte rve ntio n a lte rs the so il c ha ra c te ristic s o f the
to a dve rse im pa c ts o f c lim a te c ha ng e a nd fo ste r c lim a te
rhizo sphe re whic h is b e ne fic ia l to a wide va rie ty o f spe c ie s
re silie nc e . The g lo b a l g o a l o n a da pta tio n is: to e nha nc e
(tre e s & C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs in diffe re nt so ils .The inno va tio n is
a da ptive c a pa c ity a nd re silie nc e to re duc e vulne ra b ility, with a
vie w to pro m o te susta ina b le de ve lo pm e nt. e na b ling the pla nts to e xpre ss the ir full g e ne tic po te ntia l a s
Tre e s c a n pla y a ve ry sig nific a nt ro le in c lim a te c ha ng e e vide nc e d b y phe no m e na l inc re a se in the b io m a ss a nd

m itig a tio n b y a c ting a s c a rb o n sinks. The sun's e ne rg y is utilize d e nha nc e d yie lds.
to c a pture c a rb o n a nd c o nve rte d into trunks, b ra nc he s, ro o ts This sim ple lo w c o st inno va tio n tha t c a n re duc e ine q uity is
a nd le a ve s thro ug h the pro c e ss o f pho to synthe sis. C a rb o n is a n o rig ina l wo rk a nd first o f its kind in India a s we ll a s
sto re d in this "b io m a ss" until b e ing re turne d b a c k into the e lse whe re .The inno va tio n is a n e a sily a do pta b le so lutio n fo r
a tm o sphe re , whe the r thro ug h na tura l pro c e sse s o r hum a n g ro wing tre e s/ c lim b e rs fa ste r with le ss wa te r, e ve n unde r
inte rfe re nc e , thus c o m ple ting the c a rb o n c yc le . lim iting c o nditio ns o f so il a nd wa te r. This inno va tio n tra nsfo rm s
C urre ntly tre e s/ c lim b e rs a re g ro wn e ithe r thro ug h
irrig a tio n syste m s a s it q uic kly tra nsfe rs irrig a te d wa te r to de pths
tra ditio na l surfa c e irrig a tio n a ro und the sa pling o r thro ug h
o f 2 to 3 fe e t whic h is no t po ssib le e ve n in surfa c e drip syste m s.
pitc he r irrig a tio n/ drip irrig a tio n b y whic h wa te r c a n pe rc o la te
The te c hniq ue e na b le s fa rm e rs o ve rc o m e the m a jo r im pa c ts o f
up to a b o ut ha lf to a m a xim um o f o ne fo o t o nly. Mo re o ve r,
c lim a te c ha ng e . The b io - m e tric o b se rva tio ns o f g ro wth
pitc he r irrig a tio n a nd drip irrig a tio n a re e xpe nsive a nd a re
pa ra m e te rs - he ig ht, g irth, le a f surfa c e a re a a nd b io m a ss
b e yo nd the re a c h o f po o r fa rm e rs.
1
o b se rve d in the fie ld in c o m pa riso n with the c o ntro l plo ts we re irrig a tio n a s we ll drip irrig a tio n syste m s a s liste d b e lo w.
fo und to b e sig nific a ntly hig h. Inde pe nde nt e va lua tio ns c a rrie d 1. Wa te r Use Effic ie nc y - The te c hniq ue pro m o te s fa ste r
o ut a lso c o rro b o ra te d the re sults. Fa rm e rs with la rg e ho lding s g ro wth o f tre e s a s we ll a s yie lds with le ss wa te r.
c a n b le nd the inno va tio n with drip irrig a tio n whic h re duc e s 2. Wa te r C o nse rva tio n- Wa te r re q uire m e nt is re duc e d
wa te r a nd po we r c o nsum ptio n a nd inc re a se yie lds.The yie ld sig nific a ntly b e side s m inim izing e va po ra tio n lo sse s
le ve ls o f drum stic k, g o urd ve g e ta b le s (b o ttle , ridg e , b itte r g o urd a sso c ia te d with surfa c e irrig a tio n. The fre q ue nc y o f
irrig a tio n c a n a lso b e re duc e d.
e tc ) a nd fruits (wa te r m e lo n) wa s hig he r ra ng ing fro m 35% to
3. Irrig a tio n o f the Ro o t zo ne up to 2 to 3 fe e t whic h is no t
60% whic h in turn re sulte d in a dditio na l inc o m e to the fa rm e rs. In
po ssib le in c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds o r in drip irrig a tio n
re spe c t o f Tre e s (inc luding spe c ie s o f m e dic ina l a nd nutritio na l
with surfa c e drips.
va lue ) the inc re a se in he ig ht o ve r tre e s g ro wn a do pting
4. Enha nc e d nutrie nt a b so rptio n- the g ro wing ro o ts ha ve
c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds/ drip syste m s, ra ng e d fro m 4 fe e t to 15
a c c e ss to the nutrie nts a nd wa te r e ve n a t lo we r de pths
fe e t o ve r a pe rio d o f 2 ye a rs itse lf.
a nd a b so rb the m to fa c ilita te he a lthy a nd sturdy
The inc re a se in yie ld o f ve g e ta b le s a nd fruits o f m e dic ina l
g ro wth.
a nd nutritio na l va lue re sulting in a dditio na l inc o m e o r a dditio na l
5. Fa c ilita te s full e xpre ssio n o f the g e ne tic po te ntia l o f the
c o nsum ptio n a t the fa rm le ve l will pro m o te the he a lth o f
se e dling - Ensure s ta lle r a nd he a lthie r g ro wth o f sa pling s
pre g na nt / la c ta ting wo m e n a nd c hildre n b e lo ng ing e ve n to
Inc re a se d Le a f Surfa c e Are a - Enha nc e d Pro duc tivity
sm a llho lde r fa rm e rs a nd c a n stre ng the n the Fruit a nd Ve g e ta b le
a nd yie lds-
fo r he a lth initia tive o f WHO a nd FAO . The inno va tio n fulfills the
6. Re sults in hig he r surviva l ra te s a nd a c c e le ra te d
o b je c tive s o f the Pa ris Ag re e m e nt to m itig a te C lim a te C ha ng e
g ro wth –
b y inc re a sing the a b ility o f fa rm e rs inc luding sm a llho lde rs to
7. Enha nc e d C a rb o n se q ue stra tio n –Due to inc re a se d
re d uc e c a rb o n e m issio ns a s we ll a s e nha nc e c a rb o n b io m a ss m o re c a rb o n will b e se q ue ste re d tha n tre e s
se q ue stra tio n. g ro wn a do pting c o nve ntio na l / drip m e tho ds..
The inno va tio n will re duc e vulne ra b ility to c lim a te c ha ng e 8. C lim a te Re silie nc e - e nha nc e s a da pta b ility a nd
im pa c ts b y pro m o ting susta ina b le de ve lo pm e nt thro ug h wa te r re silie nc e to C lim a te c ha ng e im pa c ts
c o nse rva tio n, wa te r use e ffic ie nc y, e nha nc e yie lds a nd the 9. Dro ug ht Re sista nc e - Fa ste r G ro wth e nsure s dro ug ht
inno va tio n c a n b e a pplie d to re duc e ine q uity. re sista nc e during the initia l c ritic a l g ro wing pha se
The uniq ue fe a ture o f the lo w c o st C RA te c hniq ue is its 10. Re d uc e d c a rb o n e m issio ns d ue to re d uc tio n in
a b ility to g ro w tre e s/ c lim b e rs fa ste r with le ss wa te r a lo ng with pum ping o f g ro und wa te r fo r c o nve ntio na l o r drip
m ultiple b e ne fits whe n c o m pa re d to c o nve ntio na l surfa c e irrig a tio n.
2
The Te c hniq ue is c urre ntly a do pte d b y The Pa ris Ag re e m e nt a im s to stre ng the n the re spo nse to
1. Rura l De ve lo pm e nt &Pa nc ha ya t Ra j De pa rtm e nt Ta m il g lo b a l c lim a te c ha ng e b y inc re a sing the a b ility o f a ll, to a da pt
Na du the a dve rse im pa c ts o f c lim a te c ha ng e a nd fo ste r c lim a te
2. Ag ric ulture De pa rtm e nt Ta m il Na du re silie nc e . The g lo b a l g o a l o n a da pta tio n is: to e nha nc e
3. Ho rtic ulture & Pla nta tio n C ro ps De pa rtm e nt Ta m il Na du a da ptive c a pa c ity a nd re silie nc e to re duc e vulne ra b ility, with a
4. Na tio na l Ba nk fo r Ag ric ulture a nd Rura l De ve lo pm e nt vie w to pro m o te susta ina b le de ve lo pm e nt.
Ta m il Na d u Re g io n in the ir Trib a l De ve lo p m e nt Tre e s c a n pla y a ve ry sig nific a nt ro le in c lim a te c ha ng e
Pro g ra m m e m itig a tio n b y a c ting a s c a rb o n sinks. The sun's e ne rg y is utilize d
5. Sriniva sa n Se rvic e s Trust – a No n- G o ve rnm e nta l to c a pture c a rb o na nd c o nve rte d into trunks, b ra nc he s, ro o ts
O rg a nisa tio n spre a d a c ro ss So uth India a nd le a ve s thro ug h the pro c e ss o f pho to synthe sis. C a rb o n is
6. Shri AMM Murug a ppa C he ttia r Re se a rc h C e ntre (MC RC ) sto re d in this "b io m a ss" until b e ing re turne d b a c k into the
7. Unive rsitie s in Ta m il Na du a tm o sphe re , whe the r thro ug h na tura l pro c e sse s o r hum a n
8. Ado ptio n b y Fa rm e rs - the suc c e ss is a ttra c ting the m to inte rfe re nc e , thus c o m ple ting the c a rb o n c yc le .
a do pt the te c hniq ue in Ta m il Na du.
Re c o g nizing the im p o rta nc e o f a ffo re sta tio n in
c o m b a ting the issue s o f c lim a te c ha ng e , so il e ro sio n, po llutio n,
INTRO DUC TIO N
a nd in pre se rving the b io dive rsity a nd e c o lo g ic a lb a la nc e ,
G o ve rnm e nts wo rld o ve r ha ve e m b a rke d o n a m a ssive
C lim a te c ha ng e , a re a lity, trig g e rs se rio us im b a la nc e s in
pro g ra m m e o f tre e pla nta tio n unde r diffe re nt sc he m e s. Tre e s
we a the r syste m s re sulting in e xtre m e we a the r e ve nts
a re a lso pla nte d a s a pa rt o f the e ffo rts to re sto re na tura l fo re sts
unive rsa lly. The c o nse q ue nc e s o f c lim a te c ha ng e inc lude inte r
a s we ll a s in a g ro fo re stry, whic h invo lve s inc re a sing tre e c o ve r
a lia c ha ng e in pre c ipita tio n pa tte rns, c ha ng e s in hydro lo g y, o n a g ric ultura l la nd a nd pa sture s. Eve ry ye a r a la rg e num b e r o f
wa te r m a ssdistrib utio n, whic h a ffe c t a ll b io lo g ic a l syste m s. The sa pling sa re pla nte d a nd the ir surviva l de pe nds inte r a lia o n
a dve rse im pa c t o f the se c ha ng e s will b e m o re pro no unc e d o n fre q ue nt wa te ring during the first fe w ye a rs o f pla nta tio n.
Ag ric ultura l a nd Ho rtic ultura l fie ld c ro ps a s we ll a s o n Tre e The c urre nt surfa c e m e tho ds a do pte d fo r wa te ring a re
Spe c ie s due to sho rta g e s o f wa te r a nd inc re a se d te m pe ra ture s. e ithe r the tra ditio na l surfa c e wa te ring the a re a surro unding the
In re spe c t o f c ro ps, the c lim a te c ha ng e is re po rte d to sa pling o r pitc he r irrig a tio n o r drip irrig a tio n. Ho we ve r, pitc he r
sig nific a ntly im pa c t c ro p yie ld le ve ls ra ising se rio us c o nc e rns irrig a tio n a nd drip irrig a tio n a re a do pte d o nly fo r g ro wing
fo r the fa rm e rse spe c ia lly the sm a ll a nd m a rg ina l fa rm e rs. Ho rtic ultura l fruit tre e s a s the y a re e xpe nsive a nd a re b e yo nd
3
the re a c h o f the po o r fa rm e rs. The tre e pla nting a c tivitie s unde r ve sse l wa s q uite hig h a nd will no t b e in the re a c h o f the po o r
va rio us pro g ra m m e s fa c e m a jo r c ha lle ng e s in a re a s with fa rm e rs. Effo rts we re a lso m a de to use PVC pipe s to ta ke wa te r to
lim ite d wa te r a va ila b ility. This is a m a jo r c ha lle ng e to fa rm e rs, de pths o f 2 fe e t, b ut ha d to b e g ive n up due to hig h c o sts
who re so rt to pe re nnia l a nd se a so na l ve g e ta b le a nd fruit c ro ps invo lve d.
tha t a re c lim b e rs/ c re e pe rs. The re fo re , the re is a ne e d fo r THE INNO VATIO N

de ve lo ping a lo w c o st b ut e ffe c tive wa te ring te c hniq ue fo r A ve ry sim ple , lo w c o st a nd ve ry e ffe c tive te c hniq ue tha t
g ro wing Tre e spe c ie s, o the r pe re nnia ls a nd se a so na l c lim b e rs e nha nc e s c lim a te re silie nc e ha s b e e n de ve lo pe d b y m e in
(ve g e ta b le s/ fruits).
2016 a nd its e ffic a c y te ste d during the No rth Ea st Mo nso o n 2016
The Pre c urso r Fo r Inve ntio n O f A Ne w Te c hniq ue
in diffe re nt distric ts unde r MG NREG S a nd fo rm a lly a do pte d b y
No tic ing tha t the pitc he r irrig a tio n a do pte d unde r Ag ric ultura l a nd Ho rtic ultura l De pa rtm e nts during 2017.The ne w
diffe re nt ho rtic ultura l pro g ra m m e s will no t ta ke wa te r to lo we r
te c hniq ue is b e ing a do pte d in a ffo re sta tio n pro g ra m m e s a nd
de pths due to the sha pe o f the po t, I fe lt tha t the re is a ne e d to
b y fa rm e rs g ro wing G o urds & o the r c lim b e rs/ c re e pe rs.The
im pro vise the pitc he r irrig a tio n syste m to ta ke wa te r to de pths o f
te c hniq ue is po pula rly c a lle d b y the fa rm e rs a s C RA te c hniq ue
two fe e t so tha t se e dling will e sta b lish q uic kly & g ro w fa ste r. To
(C RA is the a b b re via tio n o f the po st C o m m issio ne r o f Re ve nue
o ve rc o m e the sho rtc o m ing s o f pitc he r irrig a tio n, a tub ula r
Adm inistra tio n he ld m e ). The C RA Te c hniq ue (C lim a te Re silie nt
e a rthe n ve sse l wa s de sig ne d b y m e to g ro w 9,000 se e dling s o f
A g ric u ltu re - W a te r C o n s e rv in g Ro o t Zo n e Irrig a tio n
Ba m b o o in Distric t Live sto c k Fa rm a t Ma tha g iri,Ho sur in the ye a r
Te c hniq ue )he lps to g ro w tre e s fa ste r with le ss wa te r. This
1989- 90. Mud Tub ula r Ea rthe n ve sse ls o f two fe e t le ng th
inno va tio na ddre sse s the im pa c ts o f C lim a te C ha ng e a nd is
de sig ne d b y m e we re spe c ia lly fa b ric a te d in lo c a l po tte ry to
pro vide im pro vise d Pitc he r Irrig a tio n a nd to e na b le spe e dy e m e rg ing a s a sim ple a nd e a sily a do pta b le te c hniq ue . The
m o ve m e nt o f wa te r to the ro o t zo ne e a sily upto 2 fe e t a nd to te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d b y e ve n po o r fa rm e rs a c ro ss the
susta in the Ba m b o o se e dling s. The Ma tha g iri fa rm no w ha s fully g lo b e to ra ise a g ro fo re stry/ ho rtic ultura l/ silvic ultura l a nd
g ro wn de nse Ba m b o o pla nta tio n a s a re sult o f the no ve l pitc he r c lim b e r a nd c re e pe r spe c ie s a nd thus will m e e t the re q uire m e nt
irrig a tio n whic h he lpe d the surviva l o f Ba m b o o pla nts. Ho we ve r, o f so m e o f the Susta ina b le De ve lo pm e nt G o a ls a s we ll a s the
this inno va tio n wa s no t pursue d furthe r a s the c o st fo r e a c h o b je c tive o f Pa ris Ag re e m e nt.
4
THE TEC HNIQ UE
2. No w fo ur PVC pipe s o f 3 fe e t le ng th a nd 3 to 4 inc h dia m e te r

a re pla c e d in the c o rne rs o f the pit.
1. To b e g in with a pit o f 2 fe e t *2 fe e t * 2 fe e t is dug a s do ne in

c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds. Fo r ho rtic ultura l sa pling s a dditio na l
ho le s c a n b e drille d up to 1 fo o t de pth in the c o rne rs o f the pit
using a ug uro rc ro wba rde pe nding o n so il type
3. Sie ve d Ve rm i- c o m po st o r Ma nure is m ixe d with rive r sa nd o r

re d so il a nd a pplie din the b o tto m o f the pit to a he ig ht o f ½ fo o t
a s pre sc rib e d in c o nve ntio na l m e tho d.
5
4. The n the pit is fille d with re m o ve d so il m ixe d with Ve rm i- 6. The sa pling is no w pla nte d in the pit a fte r a dding so m e m o re
c o m po st o r m a nure , up to the surfa c e e nsuring tha t the PVC q ua ntity o f unsie ve dVe rm ic o m po st o r Ma nure a nd the pit is
pipe s a re ve rtic a lly po sitio ne d. fille d fully.
5. Ea c h o f the PVC pipe is fille d up to ½ a fo o t with Ve rm i- 7. No w the PVC pipe s a re c a re fully re m o ve d so tha t in e a c h
c o m po st o r Ma nure a nd the n it is fille d with rive r sa nd up to the pit, fo ur sa nd c o lum ns a re c re a te d.
surfa c e o f the pit.
6
BLENDING O F C LIMATE RESILIENT AG RIC ULTURE- WATER Expe rim e nts a nd the Bio - Me tric
Re sults fro m the Fie ld
C O NSERVING RO O T ZO NE IRRIG ATIO N TEC HNIQ UE & DRIP
IRRIG ATIO N SYSTEMS–THE SYNERG IC EFFEC T The te c hniq ue wa s e xpe rim e nte d while pla nting
The ne w te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d a s sta nd- tre e s in se ve ra l d istric ts in Ta m il Na d u b y Rura l
De ve lo pm e nt De pa rtm e nt. Diffe re nt spe c ie s we re g ro wn

a lo ne te c hniq ue o r c a n e ve n b e b le nde d with o the r hig h
to study the e ffic a c y o f the te c hniq ue a nd it ha s b e e n
c o st drip syste m s to g a in a dditio na l a dva nta g e s.The
fo und to b e ve ry b e ne fic ia l. Ba se d o n the re sults, the
te c hniq ue c a n c o m ple m e nt Drip Irrig a tio n fo r c ultiva ting
te c hniq ue wa s fo rm a lly a do pte d in 2017 b y Ag ric ulture
Ho rtic ulture Tre e C ro ps a s we ll a s C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs. De pa rtm e nt fo r g ro wing o il se e ds a nd c lim b e rs.In a ll the
Fa rm e rs c a n a do pt the ne w m e tho d while pla nting a nd plo ts, a lo ng with tre e s g ro wn a do pting C RA te c hniq ue ,
c re a te 2 to 4 sa nd c o lum ns &the n drip irrig a tio n syste m tre e s we re a lso g ro wn a d o p ting C o nv e ntio na l
m e tho d s/ Drip syste m s. The d iffe re nc e in g ro wth

c a n b e insta lle d b y pla c ing the drippe rs a b o ve the sa nd
pa ra m e te rs suc h a s he ig ht, g irth, (Pe rim e tre ) le a f surfa c e
c o lum ns. Big fa rm e rs a nd O rg a niza tio ns who c a n a ffo rd
a re a a nd b io m a ss we re o b se rve d in the fie ld in
drip irrig a tio n c a n b le nd the ne w te c hniq ue with drip
c o m p a riso n with tre e s/ c lim b e rs g ro wn in c o ntro l
syste m s sinc e b le nding with drip syste m s ha s sho wn plo ts/ ro ws.
syne rg ic e ffe c ts in inc re a sing the b e ne fits o ve r drip In th e c a se of s h o rt d u ra tio n c ro p s
syste m s. Ble nding a lso e nha nc e s c lim a te re silie nc e a nd C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs yie ld o f ve g e ta b le s (ridg e g o urd, a sh
c o ntrib ute s to susta ina b le d e ve lo p m e nt thro ug h g o urd e tc ) & fruits(wa te r m e lo n) wa s hig he r a nd the
inc re a se in yie ld wa s re po rte d in the ra ng e o f 35% to 60%

inc re a se d c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n a nd re sults in a dditio na l
whic h inturn re sulte d in a dditio na l inc o m e to the fa rm e rs.
inc o m e fo r the fa rm e rs.
The b io m e tric o b se rva tio ns a re furnishe d in Ta b le 1- 8.
7
TABLE – 1 : Inc re a se in he ig ht - Fruit Be a ring Tre e s
M easurement M easurement Difference in
Name of the
Sr.No. Name of the Plant at the time of on the date of at the time on the date of height
Districts Plantation evaluation of plantation evaluation
Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm)
Difference in 2 Years & 5 M onths
Naval
1 Thanjavur (Syzygium cumini 20 215 20 435 7.3 ft
Tamarind
2 Thanjavur 20 138 20 300 5.4 ft
(Tamarindus indicus)
Kodukapuli
3 Thanjavur
(Pithecellobium dulce)
30 355 30 473 3.10 ft
Jack (Artocarpus
4 Pudukottai
heterophyllus) 25 100 25 215 3.9 ft
Guava
5 Tiruvarur (Psidium guajava) 30 200 30 345 4.9 ft
Drumstick
6 Tiruchirappalli (M oringa oleifera)
30 308 30 404 3.2 ft
Difference in 1 Years
M ango
7 M CRC-Chennai (M angifera indica)
94 118 102 240 4. ft
Difference in 8 M onths
Cashew
8 Pudukkottai (Anacardium 30 116 30 218 3.4 ft
occidentale)
Pappaya
9 M adurai (Carica Papaya) 30 240 30 310 2.4 ft
8
TABLE – 2 : Inc re a se in he ig ht - O il Se e d Spe c ie s
Normal M ethoed CRA Technique
M easurement M easurement
Name of the Difference in
Sr.No Name of the Plant height
Districts at the time on the date of at the time on the date of
of plantation evaluation of plantation evaluation
Difference in 1 year & 11 months

Pungan
1 Tirupur
(Pongamia glabra)
40 205 40 350 4.9 ft
Difference in 1 year & 1 months
Neem
2 Tirunelveli
(Azadirachta indica)
30 200 30 377 5.10 ft
Pungan
3 Tirunelveli
(Pongamia glabra)
30 85 30 220 4.5 ft
Coconut
4 M CRC-Chennai
(Cocos nucifera)
49 208 49 335 4.2 ft
Pungan
5 Tirunelveli
(Pongamia glabra)
30 124 30 249 4.1 ft
Neem
6 Tirunelveli
30 185 30 306
4.ft
Difference in 6 months
Neem
7 Coimbatore
(Azadirachta indica) 60 220 52 334 4.ft
9
TABLE – 3 : Inc re a se in he ig ht - Tim b e r Spe c ie s

Name of the Difference in

Sr.No. Name of the Plant height
Districts at the time of on the date of at the time of on the date of
Plantation evaluation Plantation evaluation

M ahogany
1 Tiruvarur (Sw ietenia
mahagoni)
30 230 30 685 14.11 ft
Difference in 1 Years 5 M onths to 1 year 11 M onths
Etti
(Strychnosnux
2 Coimbatore
Vomica)
24 250 24 725 14.10 ft
Teak
3 Tiruvannamalai 36 250 36 540 9.6 ft
(Tectona grandis)
Arasan
4 Tirupur (Ficus religiosa)
30 185 30 287 3.4 ft
Arasan
5 Tirupur
(Ficus religiosa)
50 585 50 685 3.3 ft
Difference in 1 Years
Kumil
6 M CRC - Chennai 89 240 89 668 14.1 ft
(Gmelina arborea)
10
TABLE – 4 : Inc re a se in he ig ht - Me dic ina l Spe c ie s
Difference in
Name of the at the time of on the date of at the time of on the date of
Sr.No. Name of the Plant height
Districts Plantation evaluation Plantation evaluation

Neermaruthu
1 Tiruvarur (Terminalla arjuna) 30 180 30 550 12.2 ft
Difference in 1 Years 1 M onths to 1 year 11 M onths
Golden rain tree
2 Tirunelveli (Cassia siamea) 30 184 30 399 7.1 ft
Vangai
3 Tirupur
(Pterocarpus marsupium)
50 350 50 540 6.3 ft
Vangai
4 Coimbatore (Pterocarpus marsupium) 35 345 35 540 6.5 ft
Soursop 20 150 20 230
5 Erode
(Annona muricata) 2.7 ft
Difference in 8 M onths
Silk Cotton
6 M adurai
(Ceiba pentandra) 30 150 30 530 12.6 ft
M alaivembu
7 Villupuram 40 267 42 366 3.2 ft
(M elia dubia)
11
TABLE – 5 : Inc re a se in he ig ht - Flo we ring Spe c ie s

Difference in
Name of the
Sr.No. Name of the Plant at the time of on the date of at the time on the date of height
District
Plantation evaluation of plantation evaluation
Height (cm) Height (cm) Height Height
Difference in 1 Years 6 M onths 1 year 11 months

Coimbatore M ay flower
1
(Peedampalli) (Delonix regia)
43 340 43 690 11.6 ft
Coimbatore M ay flower
2
(Sulur) (Delonix regia)
70 660 70 890 7.7 ft
Difference 8 M onths
M aiil Vagai
3 M adurai
(Albizia lebbeck)
30 250 30 400 4.11 ft
12
TABLE – 6 : Inc re a se in Le ng th o f le a ve s
Normal
CRA Technique
M ethod M easurement Increase in Age of Tree
Name of the M easurement
Sr.No. Name of the Plant Length of
District
Leaves (cm)
Leaf lenght Leaf lenght
(cm) (cm) (Year / M onths)
Teak
1 Tiruvannamali 44 55 11 9 months
(Tectona grandis)
Neem
2 Virudhunagar 26 32
(Azadirachta indica) 3 months
Pungan 8
3 Virudhunagar
(Pongamia glabra)
13 5 3 months
4 Neem 3 months
Virudhunagar 14
18 4
5 Tiruvallur JACK (Artocarpus 12.5

heterophyllus)
15 2.5 1 year 1 month
13
TABLE – 7: Inc re a se in Num b e r o f Bra nc he s
Normal
CRA Technique
M ethod Increase in Age of Tree
Name of the M easurement
Sr.No. Name of the Plant M easurement Number of
District
No of Branches (Year /
No of Branches M onths)
Branches
Cashew
1 Pudukkottai 7 15 8 8 months
(Anacardium occidentale)
2 JACK (Artocarpus 6 12
M CRC-Chennai 6 1 Year
heterophyllus)
Tiruchirappalli Drumstick 1 Year,

3 4 10 6
(M oringa oleifera) 6 nonths
M CRC-Chennai
M ango
4 5 10 5 1 Year
(M angifera indica)
M CRC-Chennai
Guava
5 8 12 4 1 Year
(Psidium guajava)
JACK (Artocarpus 1 Year,
6 Tiruvallur 5 8
heterophyllus) 3 1 months
14
TA BLE – 8 : Inc re a se in G irth
No rm a l
C RA
Me tho d
Te c hniq ue Diffe re nc e A g e o f Tre e
Sr. Na m e o f the Na m e o f the Me a sur
M e a sure m e nt in G IRTH
No Distric t Pla nt e m e nt
(c m )
G irth
G irth (c m ) ( Ye a r / Mo nths)
(c m )
Fruit Be a ring Tre e s
1 Tha nja vur Na va l 11 33 22 2 ye a r, 3 m o nths
2 Tha nja vur Ta m a rind 10 21 11 2 ye a r, 3 m o nths
3 Tha nja vur Ko duka p uli 20 31 11 2 ye a r, 3 m o nths
4 Pud ukko tta i Ja c k 9.5 15.5 6 2 y e a r, 5 m o nths
5 Ma dura i Pa pa ya 4 7 3 8 m o nths
O il Se e d Sp e c ie s
6 Tirup u r Pu n g a n 16 28 12 1 y e a r, 1 1 m o nths
7 Tirun e lv e li Ne em 9 17 8 1 y e a r, 1 m o n th s
Tim b e r Sp e c ie s
8 Tiruv a rur M a ho g a ny 14 31 17 2 y e a r, 2 m o n th s
9 Tirup u r A ra sa n 33 42 9 1 y e a r, 1 1 m o nths
M e d ic in a l Sp e c ie s
10 M a d u ra i Silk C o tto n 1 .8 8 6 .2 8 m o n th s
11 Tiruv a rur N e e rm a ruth u 11 30 19 2 y e a r, 2 m o n th s
12 V illup u ra m M a la iv e m b u 1 1 .6 2 7 .1 1 5 .5 1 1 m o n th s
13 Tirup u r V a ng a i 18 30 12 1 y e a r, 1 1 m o nths
Flo w e rin g Sp e c ie s
C o im b a to re
14 M a y flo w e r 4 5 .5 1 .5 1 y e a r, 1 1 m o nths
(Su lu r)
15 M a d u ra i M a y ilv a g a i 3 .2 5 1 .8 8 m o n th s
15
Adva nta g e s o f the Te c hniq ue o ve r c o nve ntio na l irrig a tio n is re duc e d, le a ding to furthe r sa ving s in
wa te r re q uire m e nt. It is o b se rve d tha t wa te r
m e tho d/ drip irrig a tio n
re q uire m e nt is re d uc e d whe n c o m p a re d to
A study wa s unde rta ke n to do c um e nt the c o nve ntio na l surfa c e irrig a tio n as we ll a s in
b e ne fits/ a dva nta g e s o f the ne w te c hniq ue in c o m pa riso n c o m pa riso n with drip irrig a tio n syste m s.
with tre e s/ c lim b e rs g ro wn a d o p ting c o nve ntio na l v Wa te r Use Effic ie nc y

m e tho ds a s we ll a s tho se g ro wn with the a id o f surfa c e drip
Inspite o f the re duc e d re q uire m e nt o f wa te r, the
irrig a tio n syste m s. The study c o nduc te d o ve r diffe re nt
te c hniq ue pro m o te s fa ste r g ro wth o f tre e s a nd
a re a s a nd o n diffe re nt spe c ie s re ve a le d phe no m e na l
pro m o te s e ffic ie nc y o f wa te r use d.
a dva nta g e s o f the inve ntio n. The uniq ue fe a ture o f the
v Enha nc e d nutrie nt a b so rptio n
te c hniq ue is its a b ility to g ro w tre e s fa ste r with le ss wa te r a t
lo w c o st. Ado ptio n o f the inve ntio n ha s re sulte d in flo w o f Due to m o isture re te ntio n in the ro o t zo ne up to 2 to 3
the fo llo wing b e ne fits fe e t, the g ro wing ro o ts ha ve a c c e ss to the nutrie nts

a nd wa te r e ve n a t lo we r de pths a nd a b so rb the m to
v Irrig a tio n o f the Ro o t zo ne up to 2 to 3 fe e t –
fa c ilita te he a lthy a nd sturdy g ro wth.
Ensure s tha t wa te r is ta ke n up to 2 to 3 fe e t de pth,
v Fa c ilita te s full e xpre ssio n o f the g e ne tic po te ntia l o f
whic h is no t po ssib le in c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds o r in
the se e dling
drip irrig a tio n with surfa c e drips.
ü Ensure s ta lle r a nd he a lthie r g ro wth o f sa pling s
v Wa te r C o nse rva tio n-
The inc re a se in he ig ht ra ng e d fro m 4 to 14 fe e t o ve r
Sinc e the wa te r pe rc o la te s up to 2 fe e t, it is re ta ine d in
a pe rio d o f 1 to 2 ye a rs.
the ro o t zo ne . Due to re te ntio n o f so il m o isture in the
ro o t zo ne the re q uire m e nt o f wa te r is re duc e d ü Inc re a se d Le a f Surfa c e Are a -
sig nific a ntly b e side s m inim izing e va po ra tio n lo sse s Ensure s tha t the surfa c e a re a o f the le a f a nd le a f
a sso c ia te d with surfa c e irrig a tio n a nd thus pro m o te s le ng th is m o re tha n tha t o f the le a ve s o f tre e s g ro wn a s
wa te r c o nse rva tio n. C o nc o m ita ntly, the fre q ue nc y o f pe r c o nve ntio na l m e tho d.
16
ü Enha nc e d Pro duc tivity a nd yie lds- nutrie nts p ro vid e d e nha nc e s a d a p ta b ility a nd
The te c hniq ue trig g e rs ra pid g ro wth o f the se e dling s re silie nc e to C lim a te c ha ng e im pa c ts
a nd re sult in e nha nc e d pro duc tivity in b io m a ss a nd v Dro ug ht Re sista nc e -

yie ld. Inc re a se in yie ld wa s ra ng ing fro m 35 to 60 % Fa ste r G ro wth e nsure s dro ug ht re sista nc e during the
wa s re c o rde d in Ve g e ta b le s & se a so na l fruit c ro ps initia l c ritic a l g ro wing pha se
(C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs) whe n c o m pa re d with plo t with v Lo w C o st a nd Ea sy to Ado pt –
drip irrig a tio n tha t to o with le sse r wa te r c o nsum ptio n. The te c hniq ue is a lo w c o st &e a sily a do pta b le e ve n
v Re sults in hig he r surviva l ra te s a nd a c c e le ra te d b y the po o r, sm a ll a nd m a rg ina l fa rm e rs.
g ro wth v Ea sy a va ila b ility o f re q uire d m a te ria ls lo c a lly
The a c c e le ra te d g ro wth a nd hig he r surviva l ra te s will v Po ve rty Re duc tio n-
inc re a se g re e n c o ve r fa ste r.Ensure s fa ste r g ro wth
The lo w c o st te c hniq ue b e side s sa ving wa te r,
whe n c o m pa re d with c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds/ drip
inc re a se s yie ld s a nd re sults in g e ne ra tio n of
syste m s.
a dditio na l inc o m e fo r the fa rm e rs.
v Enha nc e d C a rb o n se q ue stra tio n
v Re d uc e d C a rb o n e m issio ns- Re d uc e d p o we r
The Inno va tive te c hniq ue re sults in inc re a se d b io - c o nsum ptio n due to re duc e d ho urs fo r pum ping
m a ss a s we ll a s in inc re a se d le a f size . Due to wa te r whe n the te c hniq ue is use d a s a sta nd- a lo ne
in c re a s e d b io m a s s m o re c a rb o n w ill be a nd a lso in c o m b ina tio n with drip irrig a tio n. This in turn
se q ue ste re d.Pla nta tio ns c a n g ro w re la tive ly ve ry fa st,
re duc e s c o nsum ptio n o f fo ssil fue ls re q uire d fo r
thus a b so rb ing C o 2 a t hig he r ra te s tha n tre e s g ro wn
p o w e r g e ne ra tio n a nd re d uc e s c a rb o n
a do pting c o nve ntio na l / drip m e tho ds. The ne wly
e m issio ns.
pla nte d tre e s c a n c o ntinue to a b so rb c a rb o n fo r
v Pro m o te s fa vo ura b le e nviro nm e nt in the Rhizo sphe re
30–50 ye a rs o r m o re .
By this inte rve ntio n a ppro pria te e nviro nm e nt is
v C lim a te Re silie nc e -
c re a te d in the rhizo sp he re fa c ilita ting wa te r
Re te ntio n o f m o isture in the ro o t zo ne a nd the
a b so rptio n a t diffe re nt le ve ls a lo ng with nutrie nt
17
supplie d a t the tim e o f pla nting . The sa nd c o lum ns c o st drip syste m s to g a in a dditio na l a dva nta g e s. The
a lso fa c ilita te pro pe r a e ra tio n a nd the q uic k g ro wth o f te c hniq ue c a n c o m p le m e nt Drip Irrig a tio n fo r
the ro o ts (a s e vide nc e d by sho o t g ro wth).The c ultiva ting Ho rtic ulture Tre e C ro p s a s we ll a s
inte rve ntio n a lso a lte rs the so il c ha ra c te ristic s o f the C lim b e rs/ C re e p e rs. Ho w e v e r, w hile p la nting
rhizo sphe re whic h a ppe a rs to be b e ne fic ia l in c lim b e rs in the 2 x 2 x 2 fe e t pit, 2 inc h dia m e te r PVC
diffe re nt so ils a nd a c ro ss a wide va rie ty o f spe c ie s pipe s a re suffic ie nt inste a d o f 3 inc h dia m e te r
(tre e s & C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs).The suita b le rhizo sphe re (re q uire d fo r Ho rtic ultura l tre e c ro ps) fo r c re a ting
e nviro nm e nt is e na b ling the pla nt to e xpre ss its full sa nd c o lum ns a nd the re is no ne e d fo r c re a ting
g e ne tic po te ntia l a s e vide nc e d b y phe no m e na l a dditio na l ho le s in the pit. The a dva nta g e s o f
inc re a se in the b io m a ss a nd e nha nc e d yie lds whe n b le nding this ne w te c hniq ue with drip irrig a tio n
c o m pa re d with the c o ntro l e ve n tho ug h a ll o the r fa c ts syste m a re :
re m a ine d ide ntic a l e xc e pt the fo rm a tio n o f sa nd a ) Sig nific a nt re duc tio n in e le c tric ity c o nsum ptio n
c o lum ns fo r ta king wa te r up to a de pth o f two fe e t a nd c o nse q ue nt re duc tio n in C o 2 e m issio ns.
The te c hniq ue c a n b e use d in a ll type s o f so ils a nd (sinc e m o stly fo ssil fue l b a se d po we r is use d fo r
c a n b e sc a le d up to Na tio na l & G lo b a l le ve ls with pum ping wa te r)
e a se . This inno va tio n will b e e xtre m e ly use ful in a ll b ) Wa te r fro m the drip syste m c a n b e ta ke n up to 2 to
a re a s a nd a b o o n in dro ug ht pro ne a re a s fo r g ro wing 3 fe e t de pth im m e dia te ly thro ug h the fo ur sa nd
tre e s a nd c lim b e rs. The princ iple c a n b e a do pte d c o lum ns fro m surfa c e to the de e pe r la ye rs o f the
e ve n fo r e xisting tre e s to sa ve the m fro m wa te r stre ss. ro o t zo ne whic h is no t po ssib le with surfa c e drip
Adva nta g e s o f b le nding o f C lim a te Re silie nt Ag ric ulture - irrig a tio n syste m . This will e nsure a va ila b ility o f
Wa te r C o nse rving Ro o t zo ne Irrig a tio n Te c hniq ue & Drip m o isture in the ro o t zo ne e ve n with le sse r q ua ntity
Irrig a tio n Syste m s o f wa te r.
The ne w te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d a s sta nd- a lo ne c ) Pre ve nts e va po ra tio n lo sse s.
te c hniq ue o r c a n e ve n b e b le nde d with o the r hig h

d) Re duc tio n in re q uire m e nt o f wa te r.
18
rhizo sphe re fa c ilita ting wa te r a b so rptio n a t diffe re nt le ve ls
e ) Ro o t zo ne m o isture in de e pe r la ye rs a ids in fa ste r
a lo ng with nutrie nt supplie d a t the tim e o f pla nting . The
a nd he a lthie r tre e g ro wth.
sa nd c o lum ns a lso fa c ilita te pro pe r a e ra tio n a nd the q uic k
f) Fe rtig a tio n is fe a sib le in de e pe r la ye rs a lso .
g ro wth o f the ro o ts (a s e vide nc e d b y sho o t g ro wth). The
g ) Re duc tio n in c o st o f c ultiva tio n due to re duc tio n in inte rve ntio n a lso a lte rs the so il c ha ra c te ristic s o f the
irrig a tio n c o sts rhizo sphe re whic h a ppe a rs to b e b e ne fic ia l in diffe re nt

so ils a nd a c ro ss a wide va rie ty o f spe c ie s (tre e s &
Re le va nc e o f C RA Te c hniq ue in the c o nte xt o f C lim a te
C lim b e rs/ C re e pe rs). Th e s u ita b le rh iz o s p h e re
C ha ng e
e nviro nm e nt is e na b ling the pla nt to e xpre ss its full g e ne tic
The C RA Te c hniq ue , tho ug h sim ple is hig hly ve rsa tile
po te ntia l a s e vide nc e d b y phe no m e na l inc re a se in the
a nd e nsure s C lim a te Re silie nc e , C lim a te Mitig a tio n &
b io m a ss a nd e nha nc e d yie lds whe n c o m pa re d with the
C lim a te Ada pta tio n. It a lso tra nsfo rm s the irrig a tio n a nd
c o ntro l e ve n tho ug h a ll o the r fa c to rs re m a ine d ide ntic a l
a g ro no m ic pra c tic e s re sulting in so c io - e c o no m ic a nd
e xc e pt the fo rm a tio n o f sa nd c o lum ns fo r ta king wa te r up
na tio na l se c urity. Due to its sim p lic ity, sc a la b ility,
to a de pth o f two fe e t.
re plic a b ility a nd susta ina b ility a ttrib ute s it ha s the po te ntia l
to b e a via b le te c hniq ue fo r a c hie ving the g o a ls o f Pa ris The inno va tio n will tra nsfo rm e xisting irrig a tio n
Ag re e m e nt o n C lim a te C ha ng e a nd the o b je c tive s o f syste m s fo r g ro wing tre e s a nd c lim b e rs. The sim ple , lo w
Susta ina b le De ve lo pm e nt G o a ls. c o st te c hniq ue c a n b e re plic a te d e a sily a nd sc a le d up
C lim a te Re silie nc e q uic kly to b e ne fit the sm a ll ho ld e r / wo m e n a nd
The C RA te c hniq ue pro m o te s C lim a te re silie nc e b y indig e no us fa rm e rs. Ado ptio n o f the inno va tio n re duc e s
e nha nc ing the a b ility to (1) a b so rb stre sse s a nd fa c ilita te e va po ra tio n lo sse s, pro m o te s wa te r c o nse rva tio n a nd
wa te r use e ffic ie nc y, inc re a se s c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n,
g ro wth o f tre e s/ c lim b e rs e ve n in the fa c e o f e xte rna l
re duc e s c a rb o n e m issio ns a nd inc re a se s yie lds. The
stre sse s im po se d upo n it b y a nd (2) a da pt to the c ha ng e s
inno va tio n c a n he lp in re sto ring de g ra de d la nds a nd
a nd im p ro ve the a ffo re sta tio n a nd ho rtic ultura l
wa te r stre sse d e c o syste m s b y g ro wing tre e s b e side s
pro g ra m m e s.C lim a te re silie nc e is e na b le d b y c re a ting
re sulting in so c io - e c o no m ic , nutritio na l a nd he a lth
fa vo ura b le e nviro nm e nt in the Rhizo sphe re . By this
b e ne fits to the fa rm e rs. The te c hniq ue c a n b e use d in a ll
inte rve ntio n a ppro pria te e nviro nm e nt is c re a te d in the
19
Re duc tio n in c a rb o n e m issio ns-
type s o f so ils a nd c a n b e sc a le d up to Na tio na l & G lo b a l
le ve ls with e a se . This inno va tio n will b e e xtre m e ly use ful in The sig nific a nt b e ne fits inc lude e nha nc e d wa te r use
a ll a re a s a nd a b o o n in dro ug ht pro ne a re a s fo r g ro wing e ffic ie nc y & wa te r c o nse rva tio n, re duc tio n in e va po ra tio n
tre e s a nd c lim b e rs. The princ iple c a n b e a do pte d e ve n fo r lo sse s a s a re sult o f whic h the wa te r re q uire m e nt is
e xisting tre e s to sa ve the m fro m wa te r stre ss. sig nific a ntly le ss tha n in plo ts with drip irrig a tio n syste m s.
C lim a te Mitig a tio n Re d uc tio n in wa te r c o nsum p tio n re d uc e s p o we r

The te c hniq ue is inno va tive a nd e a sily a do pta b le c o nsum ptio n fo r pum ping wa te r re sulting in re duc e d
so lutio n fo r g ro wing tre e s fa ste r with le ss wa te r, e ve n unde r c o nsum ptio n o f fo ssil fue ls a nd in turn le sse r c a rb o n
lim iting c o nditio ns o f so il a nd wa te r. The te c hniq ue e m issio ns. The e a se with whic h the te c hniq ue c a n b e
e na b le s fa rm e rs (who re so rt to c ultiva tio n o f pe re nnia l sc a le d up a nd re plic a te d c a n b ring in la rg e sc a le b e ne fits
tre e s a nd se a so na l ve g e ta b le a nd fruit c ro ps like a nd it c a n b e a g a m e c ha ng e r due to the m ultiple b e ne fits
c lim b e rs/ c re e pe rs) o ve rc o m e the m a jo r c lim a te c ha ng e tha t a c c rue to fa rm e rs c utting a c ro ss g e nde r, c la ss a nd
im pa c ts. re g io ns.
Enha nc e d C a rb o n Se q ue stra tio n- C lim a te Ada pta tio n
Tre e s p la y a ve ry im p o rta nt ro le in c a rb o n The inno va tio n c a n fulfil the o b je c tive s o f the Pa ris
se q ue stra tio n. The Inno va tive te c hniq ue re sults in Ag re e m e nt to m itig a te C lim a te C ha ng e b y inc re a sing the
inc re a se d b io - m a ss( inc re a se in he ig ht ra ng e d fro m 4 to 15
a b ility o f fa rm e rs inc luding sm a llho lde rs to re duc e c a rb o n
fe e t o ve r a pe rio d o f 1 to 2 ye a rs), inc re a se d g irth, m o re
e m issio ns a s we ll a s e nha nc e c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n a t
b ra nc he s , m o re le a ve s, inc re a se d le a f size a nd e nha nc e d
fa rm le ve l a nd whe n sc a le d up it c a n b e ne fit o n a la rg e
pro duc tivity a nd yie lds whe n c o m pa re d o ve r plo ts e ve n
sc a le . The inno va tio n will a lso re duc e vulne ra b ility to
with drip irrig a tio n tha t to o with le sse r wa te r c o nsum ptio n.
c lim a te c ha ng e im p a c ts b y p ro m o ting susta ina b le
Due to inc re a se d b io m a ss a nd inc re a se d le a f surfa c e a re a
de ve lo pm e nt thro ug h wa te r c o nse rva tio n, wa te r use
m o re c a rb o n will b e se q ue ste re d a t hig he r ra te s tha n tre e s
e ffic ie nc y a nd e nha nc e d c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n. The
g ro wn a do pting c o nve ntio na l / drip m e tho ds. The ne wly
inno va tio n c a n inc re a se the g re e n c o ve r fa ste r a nd
pla nte d tre e s will a c t a s c a rb o n sinks fo r 30–50 ye a rs o r
re duc e so il e ro sio n a nd pro te c t fro m flo o ds.
m o re .
20
So c ia l &Ec o no m ic C o - Be ne fits wa s in the ra ng e o f 4 to 15 fe e t within a pe rio d o f 1 to 2
ye a rs, inc re a se d g irth a nd inc re a se d b ra nc he s, m o re
The sm a llho lde r fa rm e r c a n a do pt the te c hniq ue
le a ve s a nd inc re a se d le a f surfa c e a re a . The inve ntio n
a nd de rive full b e ne fits e ve n tho ug h he / she c a nno t a ffo rd
e nha nc e s c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n, re d uc e s c a rb o n
drip syste m s. O n the o the r ha nd the fa rm e rs who c a n a ffo rd
e m issio ns, wa te r use e ffic ie nc y a nd wa te r c o nse rva tio n
drip syste m s c a n b le nd it with the inno va tio n a nd b e ne fit.
b e ne fiting the fa rm e rs a nd the e nviro nm e nt.
Due to e ffic ie nt utiliza tio n o f sc a rc e wa te r re so urc e s,
fa rm e rs/ O rg a niza tio ns c a n g ro w tre e s/ C lim b e rs in wa te r Sc a la b ility a nd Re plic a b ility
stre sse d a re a s a nd de rive m ultiple b e ne fits inc luding
The te c hniq ue is a n inno va tive a nd e a sily a do pta b le
inc re a se d yie lds whic h in turn re sults in a dditio na l wa g e
so lutio n fo r g ro wing tre e s fa ste r with le ss wa te r, e ve n unde r
e m plo ym e nt in pro c e ssing a nd pa c ka g ing a c tivitie s.
lim iting c o nditio ns o f so il a nd wa te r. The te c hniq ue
Fa rm e rs c a n a lso a do pt this te c hniq ue to g ro w Drum stic k,
o ve rc o m e s the m a jo r c lim a te c ha ng e im pa c ts fa c e d b y
Pa pa ya a nd Ve g e ta b le c lim b e rs a nd de rive a dditio na l
fa rm e rs, c ultiva ting tre e s a nd se a so na l ve g e ta b le a nd fruit
yie lds e nric hing the ir nutritio na l a nd he a lth sta tus. Fa rm e rs
c ro ps (c lim b e rs/ c re e pe rs). The sm a ll ho lde r/ indig e no us
who a do pte d the inno va tio n fo r c ultiva ting ve g e ta b le s
fa rm e rs (who c a nno t a ffo rd drip syste m s) c a n a do pt the
(ridg e , b o ttle , b itte rg o urd, c uc um b e rs e tc ) a nd fruits
ne w te c hniq ue to de rive full b e ne fits, sinc e the te c hniq ue
(wa te r m e lo n) ha ve re po rte d a dditio na l yie lds ra ng ing
is sim ple ,lo w c o st, na ture b a se d a nd re lie s o n lo c a l
fro m 30% to 60% o ve r plo ts with drip irrig a tio n. Mo re o ve r
re so urc e s .
the fre q ue nc y o f irrig a tio n in plo ts with drip wa s o nc e in To
2 4 da ys a nd in the plo ts tha t a do pte d the inve ntio n, The initia l c o st inc urre d fo r fo rm ing sa nd c o lum ns
irrig a tio n wa s do ne o nc e in 5 to 10 da ys. re duc e s the c o st o f c ultiva tio n due to re duc tio n in wa te r
c o nsum ptio n a nd po we r c o nsum ptio n. Mo re o ve r the
Fa rm e rs/ Ag e nc ie s who a re g ro wing fruit b e a ring
fa rm e rs will e a rn a dditio na l inc o m e thro ug h inc re a se d
tre e s/ tim b e r/ m e dic ina l/ o il se e ds e tc b y a pplic a tio n o f yie lds (inc re a se o f 35 to 60% re po rte d b y fa rm e rs).The
inve ntio n ha ve re po rte d phe no m e na l inc re a se in b io - inno va tio n re duc e s the vulne ra b ility o f the po o r fa rm e rs to
m e tric pa ra m e te rs o f tre e s whe n c o m pa re d with tre e s c lim a te c ha ng e . Fa rm e rs with lim ite d wa te r re so urc e s c a n
g ro wn with c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds. The he ig ht inc re a se a lso b e ne fit fro m the inno va tio n.
21
The fa rm e rs ha ving la rg e ho lding s a nd a g e nc ie s Ea se o f Ado ptio n o f the C RA Te c hniq ue
(g o ve rnm e nt & Priva te ) a do pting drip syste m s c a n a do pt The Te c hniq ue is e a sily a do pta b le b y a ll fa rm e rs
the inno va tio n to b le nd it with drip syste m s a nd de rive
b e c a use
b e ne fits b e side s c o ntrib uting to the c a use o f c lim a te
m itig a tio n (e nha nc e d c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n, re duc e d
v It is a Na ture b a se d so lutio n
c a rb o n e m issio ns, wa te r use e ffic ie nc y a nd wa te r v It use s lo c a lly a va ila b le m a te ria ls
c o nse rva tio n). v It is a sim ple te c hniq ue a nd
The inno va tio n is b e ing re plic a te d in Ta m il Na du
v It is a Lo w C o st Te c hniq ue
c urre ntly b y fo llo wing o rg a nisa tio ns.
1. Rura l De ve lo pm e nt &Pa nc ha ya t Ra j De pa rtm e nt, Pro m o tio n o f C lim a te Re silie nc e b y the C RA Te c hniq ue
Ta m il Na du thro ug h
2. Ag ric ulture De pa rtm e nt, Ta m il Na du v Wa te r C o nse rva tio n
3. Ho rtic ulture & Pla nta tio n C ro ps De pa rtm e nt, Ta m il Na d
v Wa te r use e ffic ie nc y
4. Na tio na l Ba nk fo r Ag ric ulture a nd Rura l De ve lo pm e nt,
v Enha nc e d C a rb o n Se q ue stra tio n
Ta m il Na du Re g io n in the Trib a l De ve lo pm e nt
Pro g ra m m e v Dro ug ht Re sista nc e
5. Sriniva sa n Se rvic e s Trust – a No n- G o ve rnm e nta l v Re duc tio n o f c a rb o n e m issio ns
O rg a nisa tio n spre a d a c ro ss So uth India a nd
v Enha nc e d Pro duc tivity
6. Shri AMM Murug a ppa C he ttia r Re se a rc h C e ntre
Re le va nc e o f the C RA Te c hniq ue to m e e t the
(MC RC )
Susta ina b le De ve lo pm e nt G o a ls
7. Unive rsitie s in Ta m il Na du
Re le va nc e o f the Te c hniq ue to m e e t the g o a ls o f
v End hung e r, a c hie ve fo o d se c urity a nd im pro ve d
Pa ris Ag re e m e nt nutritio n a nd pro m o te susta ina b le a g ric ulture (G o a l 1)
v Stre ng the n the g lo b a l c lim a te c ha ng e re spo nse b y v Po ve rty re duc tio n (G o a l no .2)
inc re a sing the a b ility o f a ll fa rm e rs to fo ste r c lim a te v Ac tio n to c o m b a t c lim a te c ha ng e a nd its im pa c ts
re silie nc e a s we ll a s o ve rc o m ing the a dve rse im pa c ts o f (G o a l 13)
c lim a te c ha ng e .The ne w te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d b y
v Susta ina b ly m a na g e fo re sts, c o m b a t de se rtific a tio n,
e ve n b y sm a ll ho lde r fa rm e rs a c ro ss the g lo b e a nd c a n
ha lt a nd re ve rse la nd de g ra da tio n, ha lt bio dive rsity lo ss
re duc e the ir vulne ra b ility a nd c o ntrib ute to g o a ls o f Pa ris
(G o a l 15)
Ag re e m e nt due to :
22
Re le va nc e o f the C RA Te c hniq ue to m e e t the G o a ls o f Fruits C o st Ana lysis :
& Ve g e ta b le s fo r He a lth Initia tive o f WHO & FAO
The Sta te Rura l De ve lo pm e nt ha s a do pte d the
The b io –m e tric re sults ha ve re ve a le d sig nific a nt
te c hniq ue fo r tre e pla nta tio n a s pa rt o f the MG NREG S sinc e
inc re a se in the o ve ra ll b io m a ss o f fruit b e a ring tre e s whe n
2017. Whe re ve r the C RA Te c hniq ue wa s fo llo we d it wa s
c o m pa re d with the c o ntro l plo ts a nd it ha s a lso b e e n
e nsure d tha t c o ntro ls a s pe r c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds a re
re c o rde d tha t the fruit b e a ring tre e s suc h a s Sa po ta ,
a lso la id a nd c o nc urre ntly m o nito re d.
Po m e g ra nite a nd G ua va sta rte d yie lding fruits within o ne
The C RA Te c hniq ue invo lve s a dditio na l c o st a t the tim e o f
a nd ha lf ye a rs whe n the y a re g ro wn a do pting C RA
pla nting a s no te d b e lo w
Te c hniq ue .
Sim ila rly it ha s b e e n o b se rve d tha t fa rm e rs g ro wing a ) C o st to wa rds the PVC pipe s fo r fo rm ing sa nd
ve g e ta b le s like Drum Stic k, a nd va rie tie s o f G o urds a nd c o lum ns (The pipe s a re re m o ve d im m e dia te ly a fte r
the sa nd c o lum ns a re c re a te d in e a c h pla nt a nd
fruits tha t g ro w o n C re e pe rs a nd C lim b e rs ha ve se c ure d
a dditio na l yie lds ra ng ing fro m 35% to 60% c o m pa re d to re use d num b e r o f tim e s, a m inim um o f 1000 use s
c o ntro l plo ts.This will e na b le the fa rm e rs to g a in a dditio na l a re a ssum e d pe r o ne se t o f pipe s). The pipe s
inc o m e a s we ll a s c o nsum e a po rtio n o f the surplus yie ld m a y ra ng e fro m 2 inc h dia to 4 inc h dia a s pe r
whic h will e nsure b e tte r nutritio n fo r the fa rm e r's fa m ily. site c o nditio ns.
Re sults o f Fie ld Expe rim e nts a nd Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns
Ø Fo r c re a ting 4 num b e rs o f Sa nd C o lum ns with 4
This te c hniq ue wa s e xp e rim e nte d b y va rio us inc h dia PVC pipe s, the pro ra ta c o st o f pipe pe r
o rg a nisa tio ns a t fie ld a nd inde pe nde ntly e va lua te d b y
pla nt will b e Rs. 0.89
Murug a ppa C he ttia r Re se a rc h C e ntre , C he nna i a nd
Ø Fo r c re a ting 4 num b e rs o f Sa nd C o lum ns with 2
Ma no nm a nia m Sunda ra na r Unive rsity (MSU),Tirune lve li
inc h dia PVC pipe s, the pro ra ta c o st o f pipe s
a nd Sriniva sa n Se rvic e s Trust in Ye la g iri Hills, Trib a l
pe r pla nt will b e Rs.0.60 (fo r c lim b e rs)
De ve lo pm e nt pro je c t im ple m e nte d b y Na tio na l Ba nk fo r
Ag ric ulture a nd Rura l De ve lo pm e nt. The re sults a re Ø The c o st will c o rre spo nding ly c o m e do wn if o nly
pre se nte d fro m pa g e 29 two sa nd c o lum ns a re fo rm e d pe r pla nt.

23
b ) C o st o f Rive r / Stre a m Sa nd o r a ny wa te r a b so rb ing g e l Tho ug h a n a dditio na l c o st o f a b o ut Rs.10 to 16 ha s to
Ø Fo r 4 num b e rs o f Sa nd C o lum ns with 4 inc h dia b e inc urre d a t the tim e o f pla nting / tre e , the re will b e a
sa ving o f a b o ut Rs 10/ tre e in the first ye a r itse lf. The to ta l
PVC pipe s, the c o st o f sa nd pe rpla nt will be Rs.5.74
sa ving fo r thre e ye a r pe rio d will b e Rs 159 / tre e .
Ø Fo r 4 num b e rs o f Sa nd C o lum ns with 2 inc h dia
PVC pipe s, the c o st o f sa nd pe r pla nt will b e The o the r a dva nta g e o f C RA Te c hniq ue o ve r the
Rs.3.00 (fo r c lim b e rs) C o nve ntio na l Me tho ds o f tre e Pla nta tio n is the hig he r
Ø The c o st o f sa nd will c o rre spo nding ly c o m e do wn surviva l ra te o f pla nta tio ns. The a ve ra g e surviva l ra te s o f
if o nly two sa nd c o lum ns a re fo rm e d pe r pla nt. tre e s pla nte d unde r c o nve ntio na l m e tho d is 75% a nd the
C RA Te c h n iq u e 85% as p e r re p o rts fro m th e
c ) Additio na l wa g e c o st due to a dditio na l tim e re q uire d
Ka nc he e pura m Distric t Adm inistra tio n. Due to inc re a se d
fo r pla nting Pe r pla nt Rs. 1.71
surviva l ra te s the re c a n b e furthe r sa ving s o f Rs 2698 sinc e
Sa ving s due to a do ptio n o f C RA Te c hniq ue
re pla nting is no t re q uire d fo r e ve ry 100 tre e s pla nte d
Ado ptio n o f the C RA te c hniq ue re duc e s wa te r
c o nsum ptio n a nd re ta ins m o isture fo r lo ng e r tim e the re b y Be sid e s hig he r surviva l ra te s the b io m e tric
re duc e s the fre q ue nc y o f irrig a tio n a nd re duc e s c o st o f o b se rva tio ns sho w e no rm o us diffe re nc e in b io m a ss whe n
c o m pa re d with the pla nts g ro wn no rm a lly re sulting in
irrig a tio n a s no te d b e lo w:
hig he r c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n a s we ll a s wa te r c o nse rva tio n
Re duc tio n in Wa g e c o st due to re duc e d & re duc e d c o nsum ptio n o f po we r fo r pum ping wa te r.
wa te ring da ys –first ye a r Rs.19.60/ pla nt. Diffe re nc e c o uld b e se e n in He ig ht, G irth, num b e r o f
Sa ving s in We e ding a nd Mulc hing b ra nc he s a nd num b e rs & size o f le a f. The c um ula tive
–first ye a r Rs.4.95/ Pla nt a dva nta g e o f the se b e ne fits, a nd the g re a te r q ua ntum o f
Re duc tio n in Wa g e c o st due to re duc e d c a rb o n se q ue stra tio n & wa te r c o nse rva tio n whe n
wa te ring da ys –se c o nd ye a r Rs.49/ pla nt.
c o m pa re d to the c o nve ntio na l m e tho ds ha ve no t b e e n
Re duc tio n in Wa g e c o st due to re duc e d q ua ntifie d while a sse ssing the e c o no m ic b e ne fits o f
wa te ring da ys –third ye a r Rs.78.40/ pla nt.
a ffo re sta tio n b y a do pting C RA Te c hniq ue .
24
Table
CRA Technique.
Conventional Method in
CRA Technique. ( An Innovation by
Conventional Method in MGNREGS
( An Innovation by Ac tivities Dr.KorlapatiSatyagopal IAS)
MGNREGS
Ac tivities Dr.KorlapatiSatyagopal IAS)
Qty Rate Amount Qty Rate Amount
Qty Rate Amount Qty Rate Amount (Cum) (in Rs) ( in Rs) (Cum) (in Rs) ( in Rs)
(Cum) (in Rs) ( in Rs) (Cum) (in Rs) ( in Rs)
Se c o nd Ye a r- Wa te ring 68 2.45 166.60 48 2.45 117.60
Earthwo rk in Hard soil for
Plantting for plantatio n 0.216 344.37 74.38 0.216 344.37 74.38 We e ding a nd Mulc hing 2 4.95 9.90 2 4.95 9.90
wo rk. (0.60*0.60*0.60)
App lic a tio n o f Ma nuring 2 5.24 10.48 1 5.24 5.24
Planting 0 0 11.32 0 0 11.32
Tota l Ma intena nc e c o st
373.96 236.08
Applic atio n o f Manure Se c o nd a nd Third Ye a r
(Manure will be supplie d Third Ye a r- Wa te ring
1 5.24 5.24 1 5.24 5.24 68 2.45 166.60 36 2.45 88.20
at fre e o f c ost fro m SWM da ys
site )
We e ding a nd Mulc hing 2 4.95 9.90 2 4.95 9.90
Additional labour c o st 0 0 0.00 0 0 1.71 App lic a tio n o f Ma nuring 2 5.24 10.48 1 5.24 5.24
Tota l Cost inc luding
PVC pipe c o st for o ne 647.63 488.32
0 0 0.00 4x1.00 m 110.9 0.89 Thre e Ye a r Ma inte na nc e
use
Sa ving s in Wa te r C onse rving Ro ot Zone Irrig ation Te c hnique pe r pla nt for
159.32
Re quire me nt of Sand to Thre e Ye a rs
be filled in pipe
0 0 0 0.01 574.30 5.74
( with maximum le ad o f No te : The De p a rtme nt o f Rura l De ve lo p me nt a na lyse d
50 kms ) a nd se nt p ro p o sa ls to G o ve rnme nt fo r a p p ro va l o f re vise d
Cost per Plant 91.94 100.29 ra te s.
First Year : Wate ring Susta ina b ility
(Twic e in a we e k during The te c hniq ue c a n b e ne fit fa rm e rs g lo b a lly sinc e it

summe r; Onc e in a we e k 68 2.45 166.60 60 2.45 147.00
during no rmal se aso n & is a sim ple , lo w c o st m e tho d pro viding so lutio n to
No wate ring during rainy
se aso n) o ve rc o m e the like ly im pa c ts o f c lim a te c ha ng e . The
Wee ding and Mulc hing 2 4.95 9.89 1 4.95 4.95 m e tho d he lp s e nviro nm e nta l c o nse rva tio n, wa te r
c o nse rva tio n a nd im p ro ve s g re e n c o ve r b e sid e s
Applic atio n o f Manuring 1 5.24 5.24 0 5.24 0.00
e nha nc ing yie lds a nd inc o m e fo r the fa rm e rs, b e ne fiting
Sa ving pe r pla nt fo r pla nting & 1st ye a r m a inte na nc e 9.50 the so c ie ty.
25
BIO - METRIC O BSERVATIO N O F
FRUIT BEARING TREES
26
Date
Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) No of Branches Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) No of Branches
25-04-2017 95 2 2 105 1 3
28-04-2019 189 13 10 310 21 14
28
29
JACK 215 cm
100 cm
(Artocarpus
heterophyllus)
In
2 Years
&
5 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
3 feet
&
9 inch
Pudukottai
District –
Veerapatti -
Thantriswaram ,
SOIL TYPE
CLAY

Date
04-08-2016 25 2.5 25 2.6
01-02-2019 100 9.0 215 15.5
30
Guava 310 cm
180 cm (Psidium
guajava)
In
1 Year
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
4 feet
&
3 inch
Tiruvarur District,
Ammaiyappan
Growth : 150 cm Panchayat
Growth : 280 cm
Normal Method CRA Technique
14.10.2016 Date of Plantation 14.10.2016
30 cm Height (cm) of the plant at the time of plantation 30 cm
Date on which current height of both plants are
24.10.2017 24.10.2017
measured
31
M anilkara 230 cm
90 cm
Zapota
(Sappotta)
In
2 Years
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
4 feet
7 inch
Kancheepuram
District ,
M adurantakam
Grow th : 60 cm Grow th : 200 cm
Block

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) No of Branches No. of Leaves Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) No of Branches No. of Leaves
25-04-2017 30 3 3 30 3 3
28-04-2019 90 14 13 230 22 19
32
O IL SEED SPEC IES
33
Pongamia
350 cm
pinnata
Pungan
In
2 Years
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
4 feet
&
9 inch
Tiruppur
District,
Palladam
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 165 cm RED SOIL Grow th :310 cm

Date
15-11-2016 40 2 40 2
15-10-2018 205 16 350 28
34
Azadirachta
430 cm
indica 650 cm
(NEEM )
In
2 Years
&
8 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
7 feet
&
2 inch
Perambalur
Dist rict –
Alat hur Block
M elamat hur
Grow th : 355 cm Village Grow th : 575 cm

Date
23.01.2017 75 75
17.09.2019 430 30 650 34
36
TIMBER SPEC IES
37
Tectona
440 cm grandis
(Teak)
In
2 Years
&
6 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
10 feet
&
2 inch
Tiruvannamalai
District,
Vnnankulam
Village
Grow th : 714 cm

Date
April - 2017 36 36
20.09.2019 440 20.3 750 30.3
38
Tectona
345 cm grandis 570 cm
(Teak)
In
2 Years
&
6 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
7 feet
&
4 inch
Tiruvannamalai
District,
Vnnankulam
Grow th : 309 cm Village
Grow th : 534 cm

Date
April - 2017 36 36
20.09.2019 345 14.1 570 25.2
39
Tectona
160 cm 360 cm
grandis
(Teak)
In
2 Years
&
6 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
6 feet
&
6 inch
Tiruvannamalai
District,
Vnnankulam
Grow th : 124 cm Village Grow th : 324 cm

Date
April - 2017 36 36
20.09.2019 160 10 360 17.5
40
Swietenia
230 cm Mahaghany 685 cm
In
2 Years
&
2 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
14 feet
&
11 inch
Tiruvarur
District -
Ammaiyappan
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 200 cm Red sandy Grow th : 655 cm

Date
14-10-2016 30 30
04 01 2019 250 14 685 31
41
Tiruvannamalai District,
Vnnankulam Village In 1 year & 6 months Tectona grandis (Teak)
540 cm
250 cm
Growth Difference 290 cm

( 9 feet 6 inch )
Growth : 214 cm Growth : 504 cm

April-2017 Date of Plantation April-2017
05-09-2018 Date on w hich current height of both plants are measured 05-09-2018
42
MEDIC INAL PLANTS
43
160 cm Phyllanthus 344 cm
emblica
AMLA
In
6 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
6 Feet
Thanjavur
Kumbakonam
Sub Division
Srinivasanallur
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 140 cm SANDY CLAY Grow th : 324 cm
Normal M ethod Water Conserving Rootzone Irrigation Technique

Date
12-02-2018 20 1 20 1
25-02-2019 160 9.5 344 18.4
44
180 cm Neermaruthu
550 cm
( Terminalia
arjuna )
In
2 Years
&
2 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
12 feet
&
1 inch
Tiruvarur
District -
Sithanvalur
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 150 cm Sandy Clay Grow th : 520 cm

Date
14-10-2016 30 30
04-01-2019 180 11 550 30
45
350 cm
Albizia 540 cm
Lebbeck
Vagai
Black Shirish
In
1 Year,
11 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
6 feet
&
3 inch
Tiruppur District,
Uthukuli Block
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 300 cm RED SOIL Grow th : 490 cm

Date
15-11-2016 50 1 50 1
15-10-2018 350 18 540 30
46
M adurai District – M adurai East Block In 8 months Bombax ceiba
Silk Cotton/ Kapok
Normal M ethod
SOIL TYPE
RED SOIL ( 12 feet 6 inch ) CRA Technique
Normal Root Zone
Date Height of Circumstance M ain & Sub Avg. Leaf Height of Circumstance M ain & Sub Avg. Leaf
Branch of Size (L x B) Plant Branch of Size (L x B)
Plant of Girth Plant in mm of Girth Plant in mm
14.02.2018 30 cm 1 cm 1 10 x 4 30 cm 1 cm 1 10 x 4
15.10.2018 120 cm 1.8 cm 20 80 x 30 500 cm 8.0 cm 33 250 x 100
47
FLO WERING TREES
48
Coimbatore District,
Peedampalli Panchayat
In 1 year & 6 months Epigaea repens (M ay Flower)
340 cm 690 cm

14-02-2017 Date of Plantation 14-02-2017
25-08-2018 Date on w hich current height of both plants are measured 25-08-2018
49
Cassia fistula
405 cm (Sarakondrai) 640 cm
In
2 Years
&
8 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
7 feet
&
7 inch
Perambalur
Dist rict –
Alat hur Block –
M elamat hur
Grow th : 330 cm Village
Grow th : 565 cm

Date
23.01.2017 75 75
17.09.2019 405 30 640 47
50
M imosa 400 cm
250 cm
speciose
(M ayil vagai )
In
8 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
4 feet
&
11 Inch
M adurai,
M adurai (E)
SOIL TYPE
SANDY Clay
Grow th : 220 cm Loam Grow th : 370 cm

Date
14-02-2018 30 1 30 1
15-10-2018 250 3.2 400 5
51
Biometric Observations- Leaf size
52
53
Biometric Observations- overall Biomass
Pithecellobium
355 cm 473 cm
dulce
(KODUKKAPULI)
In
2 Years and
3 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
3 feet
&
10 inch
Thanjavur
District,
Ammapettai
Block
SOIL TYPE
SANDY SOIL Grow th : 443 cm

Date
21-10-2016 30 1 30 1
21-01-2019 355 20 473 31
54
Punica granatum
270 cm ( POMOGRANITE) 330 cm
In
1 Year
11 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
3 feet
&
7 Inch
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 230 cm Grow th : 340cm
RED SOIL

Date
15-11-2016 50 1.7 50 1.7
15-10-2018 385 17 480 26
55
COMPARISON BETWEEN
NORMAL METHOD (3 YEARS)
&
CRA TECHNIQUE (2 YEARS)
56
270 cm Terminalia 440 cm
catappa
(BADAM )
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
5 feet
&
4 inch
(162 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block
Grow th : 238cm Grow th : 400cm

Date Date
27-06-2016 32 9 29-06-2017 40 11
13-05-2019 270 25 13-05-2019 440 35
57
Epigaea
210 cm repens 670 cm
(M AY FLOWER)
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
14 Feet
&
4 inch
(438 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block
Grow th :167 cm Grow th : 605cm

Date Date
27-06-2016 43 3 29-06-2017 65 14
13-05-2019 210 12 13-05-2019 670 50
58
Ficus religiosa
ROYAL WOOD
305 cm 485 cm
(ARASA M ARAM )
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
5 Feet
&
10 inch
(177 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Grow th :263 cm Sulur Block Grow th : 440 cm
Date Normal M ethod Date CRA Technique

plantation Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm) plantation Height of Plant (cm) Girth (cm)
27-06-2016 42 4 29-06-2017 45 9
13-05-2019 305 12 13-05-2019 485 25
59
Strychnos
125 cm nux-vomica 730 cm
(ETTI)
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
18 Feet
&
10 Inch
( 575 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Grow th : 101 cm Sulur Block Grow th : 676 cm

27-06-2016 24 2 29-06-2017 54 10
13-05-2019 125 8 13-05-2019 730 40
60
Syzygium
180cm 500 cm
cumini
(NAVAL)
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
11 Feet
&
2 inch
(340 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Grow th :130 cm Grow th : 470cm
Sulur Block

27-06-2016 50 2 29-06-2017 30
13-05-2019 180 7 13-05-2019 500 40
61
M adhuca
120 cm longifolia 450 cm
(ILUPPAI)
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
11 Feet
(335 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block

27-06-2016 30 2 29-06-2017 25 8
13-05-2019 120 8 13-05-2019 450 30
62
200 cm
Thespesia 315 cm
populnea
(POOVARASU)
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method in
3 Years
(CRA
Technique
2 years )
3 Feet
&
6 inch
(107 cm)
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block
Date Normal M ethod Date Water Conserving Rootzone Irrigation Technique

27-06-2016 27 3 29-06-2017 35 12
13-05-2019 200 9 13-05-2019 315 45
63
RESULTS FROM HILL ARES
64
Avacado
In
17 Months
Increase
in Growth over
Normal method
54cm height
32cm breadth&
1cm girth
Nilgiri District,
Kotagiri Block
SOIL TYPE Growt h : 120 cm

Growt h : 66 cm
LATERITE SOIL

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm) Girth (cm) Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm) Girth (cm)
06-01-2018 30 10 0.5 30 10 0.5
04-06-2019 96 92 2.0 150 125 3.0
65
Acid Lime
(Bush plant)
In
17 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
95cm
height
&
34cm
breadth
Nilgiri District ,
Kotagiri Block
Grow t h-50 cm SOIL TYPE Grow t h-145 cm

LATERITE SOIL

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm) Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm)
06-01-2018 20 5 20 5
04-06-2019 70 109 165 143
66
Peaches
(Bush plant)
In
17 Months
Increase
in Growth over
Normal method
57cm height
&
63cm breadth
Nilgiri District ,
Kotagiri Block
SOIL TYPE
LATERITE SOIL

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm) Height of Plant (cm) Breadth (cm)
06-01-2018 45 15 45 15
04-06-2019 186 127 235 190
67
CRA TECHNIQUE IN
COMPARISON WITH DRIP IRRIGATION
68
Tiruvarur District, Nannilam Block, Kothavasal Village
Name of the Farmer: Thiru. Kaliyamoorthi s/ o. Thandavarayan
Watermelon
7300 Kgs. per Acre

Yield Difference
SOIL TYPE
Sandy Clay
Control Method (Drip Irrigation) CRA Technique

21.05.2018 Date of Observation 21.05.2018
5 days Irrigation Interval 9 days Percentage
5 Inter Nodal No. of Flowers 7 of increase
the yield
0.05 Cultivated Area (in Acre) 0.25
610 Total Yield (in Kgs.) 4875 60 %
12200 Yield Per Acre (in Kgs.) 19500
69
Tiruvarur District, Nannilam Block, Kurungulam Village
Name of the Farmer: Thiru. U. Pakkirisamy s/ o. Ulaganathan Pumpkin
4000 Kgs. per Acre

Yield Difference
SOIL TYPE
Sandy Clay

of increase
4 Inter Nodal No. of Flowers 6
the yield
70
Tiruvarur District, Kottur Block, Thirumakkottai Village
Snake Gourd
Name of the Farmer: Thiru. Subramanian s/ o. M unusamy
3300 Kgs. per Acre

Yield Difference
SOIL TYPE
Sandy Clay

of increase
the yield
44
71
Tiruvarur District, Tiruvarur Block, Pallivaramangalam Village Ash gourd
Name of the Farmer: Thiru. S. Sekar s/o. Subramaniyan
3100 Kgs. per Acre

Yield Difference
SOIL TYPE
Sandy Clay

2 days Irrigation Interval 7 – 10 days Percentage
of increase
the yield
72
Tiruvarur District, Thiruthuraipoondi Block, Sekal Village
Cucumber
Name of the Farmer: Thiru. R. Balachandran s/ o. Ramaiya
1612 Kgs. per Acre

Yield Difference

26.05.2018 Date of Observation 26.05.2018 Percentage
2 days Irrigation Interval 7 days of increase
5 Inter Nodal No. of Flowers 8 the yield
0.01 Cultivated Area (in Acre) 0.33 38 %
73
BLENDING CRA TECHNIQUE –
WITH
DRIP IRRIGATION
74
CRA Technique with Drip Irrigation
116cm
cm
Anacardium 218cm
cm
116 116
occidentale
(Cashew)
In
17 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
5 feet
State
Horticulture
Farm,
Vallathirakkottai.
Pudukkottai,
SOIL TYPE
Red Laterite
Drip Irrigation Drip Irrigation and CRA Technique

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Branches Height of Plant (cm) Branches
22-03-2018 30 30
14-09-2019 195 7 244 16
75
RESULTS OF INDEPENDENT EVALUATION
DONE BY
SHRI A.M.M. MURUGAPPA CHETTIAR RESEARCH
CENTRE (MCRC), A NON-GOVERNMENTAL VOLUNTARY
RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, CHENNAI.
76
Mangifera
indica
(Mango)
In
1 Year
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
4 feet
MCRC
campus,
Taramani,
Chennai
SOIL TYPE
CLAY

Initial plant height (jan 18) - 94 cm Initial plant height (jan 18) - 102 cm
after 1 yr (Jan 19) - 118 cm After 1 yr (Jan 19) - 240 cm
No of branches (jan 19) - 5 No of branches -8
77
78
Gmelina
arborea
(KUM IL)
In
1 Year
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
14 feet
MCRC
campus,
Taramani,
Chennai
SOIL TYPE
CLAY
Initial plant height (jan 18) - 89 cm Initial plant height (jan 18)- 98 cm
after 1 yr (Jan 19) - 240 cm After 1 yr (Jan 19) - 668 cm
No of branches (jan 19) - less No of branches - more
80
DONE BY
MANONMANIAM SUNDARANAR UNIVERSITY,
TIRUNELVELI
81
184 cm Golden rain 399 cm
tree
(Cassia siamea )
In
1 Year &
1 M onth
Increase
in Grow th
over Normal
method
7 feet
&
1 Inch
Manonmaniam
Sundaranar
University,
Tirunelveli

Date
20-12-2017 5 13
26-01-2019 184 10 399 21
82
185 cm 306 cm
NEEM
(Azadirachta
indica )
In
1 Year &
1 M onth
Increase
in Grow th
over Normal
method
4 feet
Manonmaniam
Sundaranar
University,
Tirunelveli

Date
20-12-2017 7 12
26-01-2019 185 9 306 17
83
185 cm PUNGAN 306 cm
(Pongamia
pinnata)
In
1 Year &
1 M onth
Increase
in Grow th
over Normal
method
4 feet
&
1 Inch
Manonmaniam
Sundaranar
University,
Tirunelveli

Date
20-12-2017 6 12
26-01-2019 124 8 249 18
84
DONE BY
GREATER CHENNAI CORPORATION,
GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU
85
Peltophorum
320 cm 600 cm
In
1 Year
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
9 feet
&
2 Inch
Greater
Chennai
Corporation,
Greams Road
( Zone-9)

Date
Height of Plant (cm) Height of Plant (cm)
2018 150 150
2019 320 600
86
450 cm
Tapepuia 550 cm
rossea
In
1 Year
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
3 feet
&
3 Inch
Greater
Chennai
Corporation,
Greams Road
( Zone-9)
Grow th : 330 cm
Grow th : 430 cm

Date
24.02.2018 120 120
15.02.2019 450 550
87
Peltophorum
180 cm 450 cm
In
8 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
8 feet
&
10 Inch
Greater
Chennai
Corporation,
Dr. Natesan
Park
( Zone-10)

Date
19.01.2018 120 120
19.09.2018 180 450
88
Spathodea
150 cm 300 cm
campanulata
In
6 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
4 feet
&
11 inch
Greater
Chennai
Corporation,
Dr.
Visveswaraya
Tower Park
(Zone-8)

Date
24.02.2018 90 90
23.08.2018 150 300
89
Lagcrstromia
210 cm florcginca 330 cm
In
5 Months
Increase
in Growth
over
Normal
method
3 feet
&
11 inch
Greater
Chennai
Corporation,
TNHB
Quarters Park
( Zone-11)

Date
24.02.2018 120 120
23.08.2018 210 330
90
DROUGHT PROOFING EXISTING
COCONUT & OTHER TREES
91
DRO UG HT PRO O FING EXISTING C O C O NUT & O THER TREES
Famers Who adopted the CRA CRA Tecnique in existing
Coconut Pantations in Tiruppur District observed that ;
Ø Premature Button Shedding has reduced
Ø The Plants looked Greenish even during Drought
Ø 30 - 40 % water Saving was reported
Ø The technique is found to be suitable to well grown up trees under water stress.
Ø More trees can be saved with limited quantity of water
under extreme moisture stress & drought conditions
92
NEWS COVERAGE
ON CRA TECHNIQUE
93
94
Article on CRA Technique
appeared in
Agroone
Marathi News Paper
Dated : 10.09.2019
95
96
97
98
99
17.08.2017
https:/ / www.the hindu.c o m / ne ws/ c itie s/ c he nna i/ a - sim ple - c ure - to - sa ve -

dro ug ht- hit- tre e s/ a rtic le 19505430.e c e
100
101
FARMERS REJOICE AS ROOT ZONE IRRIGATION PROVES
A ROARING SUCCESS IN TIRUVARUR
Pub lishe d: Se p 25,201807:45 AM b y C S Ko tte swa ra n C he nna i
Farm e rs in de lta re g io n, p artic ularly Tiruvarur distric t, who trie d the Ro o t Zo ne Irrig atio n te c hniq ue de sig ne d b y se nio r IAS o ffic e r K Sathy ag o p al, are
all sm ile s as the y ie ld in ve g e tab le and ho rtic ulture c ro p s has do ub le d.
The c o st- e ffe c tive te c hniq ue is se t to g o g lo b a l a s the o ffic e r, a lso the Sta te c o m m issio ne r o f disa ste r m a na g e m e nt, is sc he dule d to spre a d
this m e tho d in Afric a , whe re the fa rm e rs a re e xplo ring c o st e ffe c tive te c hniq ue s.
Sa thya g o pa l wa s re c e ntly invite d b y RIMES (Re g io na l Inte g ra te d Multi Ha za rd Ea rly Wa rning Syste m fo r Afric a a nd Asia ), a n o rg a nisa tio n tha t wo rks
with UN o n sub je c ts like c lim a te c ha ng e .
“The b a sic c o nc e pt o f the te c hniq ue is to e nsure tha t sa pling s a re g ro wn b y

pro viding wa te r a nd no urishm e nt dire c tly to the ro o ts using sa nd m a nure . Unde r this
syste m , the wa te r will re a c h the ro o ts fa ste r a nd the m a nure a nd c o c o nut pith ke pt
ne a r the ro o ts susta in the m o isture ,” e xpla ins Sa thya g o pa l.
“Afte r the suc c e ss in de lta , the pro je c t will no w b e e xte nde d to o the r distric ts o f the
sta te . It will he lp fa rm e rs to sa ve b ig o n m a inte na nc e c o sts. A fe w c o lle c to rs in TN
a re a lso po pula rising the te c hniq ue a m o ng fa rm e rs a s it sa ve s wa te r b y m o re tha n
50 pe r c e nt a nd whe n c o uple d with the drip irrig a tio n m e tho d, the m a inte na nc e will
c o m e do wn b y 60 pe r c e nt,” sa ys Sa thya g o pa l.
La st ye a r, the te c hniq ue wa s e xpe rim e nte d in Tiruva rur whe re sa pling s o f
Po ng a m ia Pinna ta a nd tim b e r sho we d g o o d re sults. This ye a r, ve g e ta b le s we re
g ro wn using the sa m e te c hniq ue a nd the re sults we re e nc o ura g ing , sa id a re ve nue
o ffic ia l in the de lta re g io n.
Ac c o rding to the o ne - ye a r o b se rva tio n, the pla nts ra ise d unde r ro o t zo ne m e tho d
g re w fa ste r a nd with b e tte r g irth. In the c a se o f tim b e r, the re sults we re e nc o ura g ing
with the re g ula r pla nt g ro wing 130 c m in he ig ht, whe re a s tho se g ro wn thro ug h ro o t
zo ne m e a sure d 570 c m .
“This ye a r, we trie d the ro o t zo ne m e tho d with c uc um b e r, a sh g o urd, sna ke g o urd,
pum pkin a nd the yie ld ha s do ub le d,” a dds a re ve nue o ffic ia l. “La st ye a r, I lo st two ha rve sts a s m y ve g e ta b le c ro ps die d due to inunda tio n a nd
wa te r sho rta g e . This ye a r, I trie d c uc um b e r using the ro o t zo ne irrig a tio n a nd it pro duc e d e xc e lle nt re sults,” sa id Sing a ra m , a fa rm e r fro m
Thiruthura ipo o ndi.
“Pum pkin yie ld using ro o t zo ne m e tho d is e nc o ura g ing a nd the wa te r de m a nd thro ug h the ne w m e tho d is m inim a l. Ea rlie r we will wa te r the c ro ps
o nc e in fo uro rfive da ys. Unde rthe ne w m e tho d, we wa te rthe pla nts o nly o nc e in 10 da ys,” M Ba la krishna n o f Sunda ra ko tta i villa g e in Ma nna rg udi sa id.
htt ps:/ / w w w.dt next .in/ News/ TopNews/ 2018/ 09/ 25071625/ 1089788/ Farmers-rejoice-as-Root -Zone-Irrigat ion-proves-a-roaring-.vpf
102
STATE DROUGHT MONITORING CENTRE
The Sta te Dro ug ht Mo nito ring C e ntre e sta b lishe d
in the C o m m issio ne ra te o f Re ve nue a dm inistra tio n is
e ng a g e d in the sc ie ntific a sse ssm e nt o f situa tio ns tha t
le a d to Dro ug ht o n a dyna m ic b a sis with the use o f
inp uts fro m Ind ia n Me te o ro lo g ic a l De p a rtm e nt,
Na tio na l Re m o te Se nsing C e ntre , Na tio na l C ro p
Fo re c a sting C e ntre Sta te Wa te r Re so urc e s, Ag ric ulture ,
Ho rtic ulture , Anim a l Husb a ndry.
The The prim a ry o b je c tive o f the Sta te Dro ug ht
Mo nito ring C e ntre is to a ssist the sta te b y pro viding
sc ie ntific a na lysis a nd e a rly wa rning info rm a tio n o n
dro ug ht .
The c e ntre will pro vide a na lytic a l re po rts a nd
sug g e st the sho rt- te rm a nd lo ng - te rm d ro ug ht
m itig a tio n m e a sure s to b e initia te d pe rio dic a lly to the
C o m m issio ne r o f Re ve nue Adm inistra tio n fo r pla c ing it
to the Ta m il Na d u Sta te Disa ste r Ma na g e m e nt
Autho rity.
The re c e nt e ffo rts a re dire c te d to wa rds “C a pa c ity
Building o f fa rm e rs a nd fie ld le ve l func tio na rie s” in
unde rsta nding , m a na g ing dro ug ht a nd a do pting
C lim a te re silie nt b e st pra c tic e s.
The c urre nt pub lic a tio n b ring s o ut a n inno va tio n
tha t re c e ive d C e rtific a te o f Appre c ia tio n fro m G o vt o f
Ta m il Na du will he lp sm a ll a nd m a rg ina l fa rm e rs to
g ro w tre e c ro ps a nd ve g e ta b le s g ro wn o n c lim b e rs /
c re e pe rs with le ss wa te r .
103
Punica granatum
270 cm ( POMOGRANITE) 330 cm
In
1 Year
11 Months
Increase
in Growth
over Normal
method
3 feet
&
7 Inch
Coimbatore
District,
Sulur Block
SOIL TYPE
Grow th : 230 cm Grow th : 340cm
RED SOIL

Date
15-11-2016 50 1.7 50 1.7
15-10-2018 385 17 480 26

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MANUAL ON CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE –

WATER CONSERVING ROOT ZONE IRRIGATION TECHNIQUE

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

The Inno va tio n 4

Adva nta g e s o f the Te c hniq ue 10

Sc a la b ility a nd Re plic a b ility 16

Re le va nc e o f the Te c hniq ue to m e e t the g o a ls o f Pa ris Ag re e m e nt 17

Re le va nc e o f the C RA Te c hniq ue to m e e t the Susta ina b le De ve lo pm e nt G o a ls 17

Susta ina b ility 20

C o m pa riso n b e twe e n Drip Irrig a tio n Vs C RA Te c hniq ue 64

C RA Te c hniq ue b le nde d with Drip Irrig a tio n 69

Re sults o f Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns do ne b y MC RC 71

Re sults o f Inde pe nde nt Eva lua tio ns do ne b y G re a te r C he nna i - C o rpo ra tio n 80

Dro ug ht Pro o fing e xisting C o c o nut & o the r Tre e s 87

Tre e s c a n pla y a ve ry sig nific a nt ro le in c lim a te c ha ng e e vide nc e d b y phe no m e na l inc re a se in the b io m a ss a nd

who re so rt to pe re nnia l a nd se a so na l ve g e ta b le a nd fruit c ro ps invo lve d.

tha t a re c lim b e rs/ c re e pe rs. The re fo re , the re is a ne e d fo r THE INNO VATIO N

m o ve m e nt o f wa te r to the ro o t zo ne e a sily upto 2 fe e t a nd to te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d b y e ve n po o r fa rm e rs a c ro ss the

2. No w fo ur PVC pipe s o f 3 fe e t le ng th a nd 3 to 4 inc h dia m e te r

1. To b e g in with a pit o f 2 fe e t *2 fe e t * 2 fe e t is dug a s do ne in

3. Sie ve d Ve rm i- c o m po st o r Ma nure is m ixe d with rive r sa nd o r

The ne w te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d a s sta nd- tre e s in se ve ra l d istric ts in Ta m il Na d u b y Rura l

De ve lo pm e nt De pa rtm e nt. Diffe re nt spe c ie s we re g ro wn

m e tho d s/ Drip syste m s. The d iffe re nc e in g ro wth

syne rg ic e ffe c ts in inc re a sing the b e ne fits o ve r drip In th e c a se of s h o rt d u ra tio n c ro p s

inc re a se in yie ld wa s re po rte d in the ra ng e o f 35% to 60%

Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm)

Difference in 1 year & 11 months

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Name of the Difference in

Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm) Height (cm)

Difference in 2 Years & 2 M onths

Difference in 2 Years & 2 M onths

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Height (cm) Height (cm) Height Height

Difference in 1 Years 6 M onths 1 year 11 months

5 Tiruvallur JACK (Artocarpus 12.5

Tiruchirappalli Drumstick 1 Year,

with tre e s/ c lim b e rs g ro wn a d o p ting c o nve ntio na l v Wa te r Use Effic ie nc y

the fo llo wing b e ne fits fe e t, the g ro wing ro o ts ha ve a c c e ss to the nutrie nts

The te c hniq ue trig g e rs ra pid g ro wth o f the se e dling s re silie nc e to C lim a te c ha ng e im pa c ts

a nd re sult in e nha nc e d pro duc tivity in b io m a ss a nd v Dro ug ht Re sista nc e -

c a n b e sc a le d up to Na tio na l & G lo b a l le ve ls with pum ping wa te r)

Irrig a tio n Syste m s o f wa te r.

The ne w te c hniq ue c a n b e a do pte d a s sta nd- a lo ne c ) Pre ve nts e va po ra tio n lo sse s.

te c hniq ue o r c a n e ve n b e b le nde d with o the r hig h

irrig a tio n c o sts rhizo sphe re whic h a ppe a rs to b e b e ne fic ia l in diffe re nt

C lim a te Mitig a tio n Re d uc tio n in wa te r c o nsum p tio n re d uc e s p o we r

Enha nc e d C a rb o n Se q ue stra tio n- C lim a te Ada pta tio n

pre se nte d fro m pa g e 29 two sa nd c o lum ns a re fo rm e d pe r pla nt.

First Year : Wate ring Susta ina b ility

(Twic e in a we e k during The te c hniq ue c a n b e ne fit fa rm e rs g lo b a lly sinc e it

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Normal M ethod CRA Technique

Growth Difference 290 cm

Normal Method CRA Technique

Normal M ethod Water Conserving Rootzone Irrigation Technique

Grow th : 150 cm Sandy Clay Grow th : 520 cm

1. To b e g in with a pit o f 2 fe e t 2 fe e t 2 fe e t is dug a s do ne in