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TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED AND IMPROVED BY PCRWR |
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Water Management |
Tile Drainage |
The 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 watertable is shallow. Its main advantage is that the system is laid underground. Injection well is the most recent intervention for the disposal of drainage effluent.
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Installation of tile drainage
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Land Reclamation
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Various techniques have been developed for the reclamation of saline soils through following:
- Inorganic substances like gypsum;
- Organic substances like press mud and rice husk;
- Cultural and physical practices;
- Biological means i.e. jantar, kallar grass and barseem;and
- Saline drainage effluent by mixing and cycling.
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Drainage and reclamation Project
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Skimming Well |
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Improvement in the design and operation of skimming well technology has been introduced. 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. |
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Double bore skimming well |
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Zero Tillage |
| Zero tillage is the direct placement of seed in the undisturbed soil through the mulch layer with the help of a seed drill. Several kinds of seed drills have been developed for the purpose. Weed control is necessary for zero-tillage. The cultural practices, green manuring, mulching and crop rotation keep the weeds minimum. Direct seeding increases the fertility, organic matter, infiltration and moisture retention.Zero
tillage saves time, labour, cost of cultivation besides conserving the soil. It eliminates the destruction of soil structure and allows build up of soil microbial activities and less soil compaction. The elimination of mixing weed seeds with soil. |
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Wheat Cultivation on Zero Tillage Technology |
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Establishment of Irrigation Scheduling/ Lysimetric Studies
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The irrigation water scheduling of the 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).
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lysimeter Station |
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Sugarcane crop grown
on lysimeter station
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Buried Pipe Water Carrier
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A water conservation technology has been introduced through buried pipe water carrier at the farm. About 26% and 12% saving in irrigation water is achieved in this technique 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.
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Soil Moisture Instruments
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Soil Moisture Instruments
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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. |
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Gypsum Block |
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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.
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3.
Soil Water Extractor
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The soil water extractor has been designed to collect insitu soil water sample directly from the root zone without taking soil sample.
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4.
Water Level Indicator
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It has been designed to monitor groundwater level as and when needed. The instrument has the facility for selecting audio or video out-put signal according to convenience of the user.
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Salinity Sensor
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This is used for insitu monitoring soil salinity. Before installation each unit is calibrated. A conductivity or resistivity meter is needed to read a salinity sensor.
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6.
Bubbler
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This is useful for directly irrigating root zone of a fruit tree. In this way the wastage due to conveyance, seepage or evaporation is minimized.
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Water Sampler
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This has been specially designed to collect samples from rivers, ponds, industrial wastes etc. These samplers are used in environmental research. |
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Rainwater harvesting and Desertification Control |
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Rainwater Harvesting and Storage in Deserts |
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The Pakistan Council of Research in Water
Resources has provided drinking water for human and livestock population in the
vast desert of Cholistan through the establishment of efficient rainwater harvesting
system consisting of network of more than 92 water reservoirs at distance of 10
15 km between one to another pond through out the desert covering 26000 sq.km.
The optimum size and design of rainwater harvesting storage reservoir has been established
after extensive research in the Cholistan Desert. The reservoir/pond has the storage capacity of 15000 cubic meters having catchment of 20 to 30 hectares with minimum and optimum runoff of 20 mm and 60 mm respectively. The main channel and steps in the reservoir are constructed with concrete material. The seepage losses are minimized by keeping the bed of the reservoir on the impervious clay layer and by spreading polyethylene sheets on the bed and covering with 15 cm thick compacted layer of dense clay. The evaporation losses from the reservoir surface are reduced by decreasing surface area and increasing depth. The system has successfully solved the problem of drinking
water for human and livestock in the hot sandy desert. It is a success story and
may be replicated in similar deserts to solve drinking water issues promptly and
economically. |
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A specially designed rainwater harvesting
pond constructed in the desert for provision of water
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Desertification Control
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The Pakistan Council of Research in
Water Resources has developed desertification control technology in Cholistan and
Thar deserts successfully. More than 200 hectares degraded lands have been made
desertification free though the application of integrated technologies i.e. sand
dune fixation and stabilization, grassland development, range management, arid horticulture,
agroforestry and saline agriculture.
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Sand Dune Fixation and Stabilization
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More than 50
hectares mobile sandy area has been fixed by creating micro-barrier fences in the
checker boards form by using dead material of plants and micro-wind breaks prior
to plantation of vegetation. The vegetation in the area has increased from 10 to
75 percent. Now the same area is free from wind erosion.
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Grassland Development |
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An excellent grassland in Cholistan
desert has been established on more than 50 hectares barren area by using rain water
and saline ground water. The grasses species grown are: wild millet, cenchrus, sindicus,
panicum and elusine etc. The production of this grassland is more than 10 to 35
times as compared to natural grazing desert land. |
Range Management |
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More than 50 hectares poor rangeland
has been converted in to excellent rangeland by adopting management techniques.
As a result carrying capacity of ranges has increased manifold for more livestock
production per unit area. |
Arid Horticulture |
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The orchard of zizyphus fruit trees
has been developed on more than 20 hectares by adopting irrigation management techniques
in the Cholistan desert. |
Cropland under Saline Water Irrigation |
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The salt tolerant crops for grain, oil
and fodder production have been introduced, tested and selected for the desert land
cultivation by using saline water for irrigation e.g. barley, mustard, wild oats
and millet etc. for obtaining sustainable production. |
Agroforestry |
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The agroforestry for the use of desert
land has been introduced for multi-scale application. The trees usable as fodder,
producing timber and fuel would have been planted along with cultivation of drought
resistant grasses and salt tolerant crops. |
Development of Germ Plasm |
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The species of native grasses from natural
rangelands are vanishing due to long spells of drought and overgrazing practices.
Therefore, germ plasm of various grasses like Lasairus sindicus, Cenchrus cilarius,
Sporobolus locladus etc.
were established on area of 10 hectares. |
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COST EFFECTIVE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT SOLUTIONS |
Arsenic mitigation requires a sequence of practical steps involving review of available
technologies and development of new technology based on economical, social and friendly
approach for its use. In general, two technological options acceptable by the scientists
for arsenic mitigation are (a) switch to alternative arsenic-free water sources;
or (b) remove arsenic from the source. Alternatives in the first category include
development of arsenic-free aquifers, use of surface water and rainwater harvesting;
alternatives in the second category involve household-level or community-level arsenic
removal technologies. For each option there will be a wide range of design specifications
and associated costs. All the available technologies for arsenic removal are complicated and expensive. Therefore, a simple and low cost technology for the removal of arsenic
from water was badly needed.
Considering the socio-economic background of rural and urban population of these
areas, it was needed to develop simple and affordable household filtration system
to combat the arsenic contamination. In this connection, PCRWR has taken several
initiatives by development, distribution and promotion of low cost household and
community level arsenic removal technologies enlisted below:
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1. CLAY PITCHER ARSENIC REMOVAL FILTER: |
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A suitable, user friendly and cost effective arsenic removal technology was urgently
needed to save thousands of people of Southern Punjab and Central Sindh from arsenic
poisoning. In this regard, PCRWR has developed a clay pitcher arsenic removal technologies
based on adsorption and filtration processes. This filter was designed, developed,
and monitored in the laboratory for a period of more than one year to gauge its
effectiveness in reducing the arsenic up to a “safe” level. The monitoring parameters
included composition of pre and post filtered water, life of arsenic removal media,
flow rates, trace element distribution, microbiological effectiveness and estimated
cost of each technology. About 400 units of this filter were installed in District
Rahim Yar Khan to provide the people with arsenic free water. |
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Clay Pitcher Arsenic Removal Filter |
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2. ARSENIC REMOVAL WATER TREATMENT UNIT |
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To safeguard the public health specifically in arsenic affected areas, PCRWR has developed water treatment unit for the removal of arsenic, turbidity and bacteriological pollutants for the provision of safe drinking water at the community level. Capacity of this unit is 250 gallons per/8 hours. These units have been installed in about
300 Primary Girls School in the arsenic affected areas in Sindh and Punjab Provinces. |
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Arsenic Removal Water Treatment Unit |
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3. SAFE WATER HOUSEHOLD FILTER |
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PCRWR has made another breakthrough by development of household, easy to use and
user’s friendly Arsenic Removal Safe Water Filter (ARSWF) which was monitored for
a period of more than two years to gauge its effectiveness in reducing the bacteria,
arsenic and turbidity up to a “Safe” level. This filter has been evaluated for pre
and post filtration, flow rates, physico-chemical parameters, trace element distribution
and microbiological assessment. Based on observations, it is concluded that Arsenic
Removal Safe Water Filter (ARSWF) is most feasible technology with respect to bacteria,
turbidity and arsenic removal efficiency, simplicity and easiness. Therefore, it
is highly recommended to promote this technology in the arsenic affected areas with
the collaboration and cooperation of national and international agencies. The sustainability
of these filters requires more than its production and distribution which will require
commercialization through further product development. |
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Safe Water Household Filter |
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COST EFFECTIVE WATER QUALITY TESTING KITS |
1. LOW COST FIELD TESTING KIT FOR ARSENIC |
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A low cost kit for arsenic determination has successfully been developed to provide a convenient way to non-scientists to check arsenic contamination in their drinking water using simple test. Low cost arsenic field-testing kit is a great break through with a minimum detection limit of 1 ppb. These kits are being provided to several organizations for field testing trials. |
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Cost-Effective Arsenic Testing Kit |
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2. LOW COST FIELD TESTING KITS FOR BASIC WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS |
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In developing countries, most of the people from rural and urban communities are unaware of quality of drinking water. This is partially due to inadequate as well as lack of water testing facilities in most of areas. Therefore, it was highly needed to develop water-testing kit with great emphasis on its accuracy, simplicity and cost. Development and evaluation of this kit for eleven basic water quality parameters (microbiology, pH, TDS, EC, hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, carbonate and chlorine) has been completed and now these kits being promoted in the country. |
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Cost-Effective Bacteria Testing Kit (Presence-Absence Technique) |
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