TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED

WRRC, Islamabad

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a separation process by means of pressure exerted through semi permeable membrane. The required pressure is achieved by means of pump to increase the energy level of the more concentrated solution. As a result water flows from higher energy (more concentration solution) to lower energy (diluted solution) through the membranes by separating 95% salts and organics. It is designed to produce purified water.

PCRWR has developed a prototype low cost reverse osmosis unit having a capacity of 300 litre/hour to purify the saline water of 5000 TDS at the cost of approximately Rs.1,30,000. This technology will be applied for the provision of safe drinking water to the inhabitants of Cholistan, where water is scarce commodity.

DRC, Tando Jam

Tile Drainage

Tile drainage technology is developed under varied soil and water conditions. The farmers in province of Sindh have used this technology for reclamation of waterlogged and saline soils.

It is more suitable in areas where groundwater is saline and water table is shallow. Its main advantage is that the system is laid underground.

Drainage Effluent Disposal

Injection well is the most recent intervention.

Trickle Irrigation

The technology is more suitable for production of vegetable crops 40-60% saving in watering is achieved. Yield increase and fertilizer saving are added benefits. Brakish water can also be utilized. The technology is cost intensive. Farmers are reluctant to use this technology because of initial high capital cost. However, progressive farmer have adopted the technology. The Govt. of Sindh has appreciated a project for extension of this technology, at the farmer's field.

Sprinkler Irrigation

Under this technology wheat and cotton can be grown 30 percent. Water saving can be achieved. Again the technology is cost intensive and requires further research to decrease the capital cost.

Skimming Well

The farmers have greatly benefited from this technology for irrigation and drainage of their lands. The cost is much less than the scavenger well. It costs about rupees hundred thousand. Farmers have installed skimming wells at their farms and DRC has extended advisory services.

Land Reclamation

-• Reclamation of saline soils through continuous leaching.

-• Reclamation of saline-sodic soils by inorganic substances like gypsum.

-• Reclamation of saline-sodic soils by organic substances like press mud and rice husk.

-• Reclamation of saline soils by cultural and physical practices.

-• Reclamation of saline soils by biological means through jantar, kallar grass and barseem.

-• Use of saline drainage effluent by mixing and cycling.

Establishment of Irrigation Scheduling

DRC has established irrigation water scheduling technique of wheat, cotton and sugarcane crops for lower Sindh. The irrigation water scheduling of the above crops is based on the research conducted in lysimeters and under field conditions. The scheduling are as under:

-• Wheat

Soaking dose = 75 mm (3 inches), then 4 subsequent irrigations each 75 mm depth after 3,6,11 and 15 weeks after sowing (Total = 375 mm = 15 inches).

-• Cotton

Soaking dose = 100 mm (4 inches), then 6 subsequent irrigations each 75 mm depth after 4,7,10,13,15 and 18 weeks after sowing (Total = 550 mm = 22 inches).

-• Sugarcane

Soaking dose = 100 mm (4 inches), then 20 subsequent irrigations each 100 mm depth after 1,2,5,11, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34,35,36,38,39,41,43,46,49 and 51 weeks after sowing (Total = 2100 mm = 84 inches).

Construction of Buried Pipe Water Carrier

DRC has established the water saving technology through buried pipe water carrier at the farm. About 26% and 12% saving in irrigation water is achieved in this technology as compared to earthen and brick lined watercourses respectively. Besides, other benefits such as 30% land saving control on over topping, less delivery time and less maintenance cost are achieved. The technology could be introduced for the awareness among the farming community for its adaptation and implementation

WRRC, Bahawalpur

Rainwater harvesting and storage: This has been developed at Dingarh Field Research Station in Cholistan desert. By this technology about 50000 cubic metre rainwater is collected annually. This amount of water is used for drinking of human population of Dingarh village. Water is also used for drinking of some livestock and wildlife. The surplus water is utilized for growing trees and income generating plants. Similarly more than 300 million m3 rainwater in Cholistan can be harvested annually for developing economic resources.

Sand dune fixation and stabilization under conjunctive use of water resources provides guideline that mobile sand dunes in desert causing wind erosion problem resulting abundance of good agricultural lands, settlements etc. can be converted into good forest and range lands, if management practices are adopted scientifically. More than 80 hectares dune land at Dingarh has been stabilized by planting trees and increasing vegetation cover. The area presents good picture of botanical garden and on this pattern extensive area in deserts can be converted into productive lands.

Fodder production under saline water irrigation technology developed at Dingarh provides practical experience for converting degraded lands into good grasslands for increasing livestock production in desert area by using local water resources. The technology developed at Dingarh revealed that livestock carrying capacity can be enhanced more than 10 times as compared to natural grazing lands.

The plantation of income generating plants technology in deserts proved that Jojoba cultivation could be successful and profitable source of income in deserts if it is grown on sand dunes and sandy soils under conjunctive use of fresh and saline water. One acre Jojoba plantation can give income more than one lac.

Salt Resistant Species range development technology under planting drought developed at Dingarh by establishing Atriplex Spp. showed that carrying capacity of ranges in deserts can be increased by introducing such plant species which would increase livestock production in deserts to provide meat and milk on national level.

The technology of agro-forestry in deserts developed at Dingarh revealed that sandy soils in deserts can be utilized for growing useful trees along with cash and fodder crops under conjunctive use of fresh and saline water. This practice can be useful for creating stable environmental system in deserts for developing economic resources.

Desertification control technology developed at Dingarh reveal that deserts can be converted into green cover just by adopting management practices on scientific lines.

WRRC, Lahore

Soil Moisture Instruments

Tensiometer

It is used to monitor soil moisture tension in the root zone in wet range. It predict when and how much to irrigate. Its working range is 0-80 cb. Four types of tensiometers viz; Mercury, Gauge, Three Colour and Three Light System are being prepared.

Gypsum Block

It is used for monitoring soil moisture tension in dry range. Each unit needs to be calibrated either in pressure membrane apparatus or by some other method. A read-out meter (resistivity meter) is needed to take reading of a gypsum block. Its working range is 1-15 bar.

Soil Water Extractor

The soil water extractor has been designed to collect insitu soil water sample directly from the root zone without taking soil sample.

Water Level Indicator

It has been designed to monitor groundwater level as and when needed.