Water requirement for crop in Aquaculture and agriculture by B.pdf

Water requirements for Aquaculture and agricultural crops
Technological innovations for promoting per drop more crops, efficient sustainable farming and conservative precision farming practices

2. The water requirement to grow I kg offi significantly by technology, rangi
from mately 100 liters in intensive ** Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
here water is constantly fe reused, 10 around 7,650 liters or more in semi-intensive

ond systems where water is lost through evaporation and seepage, Other systems like raceways

an use vast amounts of naturally flowing water, while ind aquaponies offer fune
water conservation by recycling nutients or integrating plant growth,

3. Water Requirement: Rou

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Aquaponics
Water Requirement

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Water Requirement

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Raceways

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Biofloe Systems

Water Requirement: No
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How it works

7. Paddy Farming requires significantly more water, consuming 23,750 10 over 91,300 m of water
per hectare for a 6-month season, primarily for crop water demand and evaporation unde
conventional irrigation, In contrast, integrated fish culture with paddy only requires the existin
paddy field water, supplemented by a small volume forthe fish trenches, making its water
demand much lower and more efficient, The overall water footprint for integrated paddy-fish

ming is largely determined by the tice crop water needs, while the fish component adds
minimal additional blue water requirements

Water Requirement for Paddy Farming (1 ha for 6 months)

High Water Use:

‘Conventional paddy cultivation requires substantial water for crop growth and to maintain

waterlogged conditions, which is crucial fo ice.

Volume:

For a 6-month period, a paddy field can use between approximately 23,750 m? and

over 91,300 m? of water per hectare,

Factors:
This high demand is due 1 the water needs of the rice plants and significant losses through
evaporation, percolation, and runoff ina flooded environment

Water Requirement for Fish Culture (Integrated with Paddy)

Low Additional Water:

Fish culture in existing paddy fields does not require new ponds or extensive water

sources, Instead, it uilizes the water that is already present for the rice crop.

Water Depth:

A small volume of water, such as 60 em in depth for trenches, can be maintained, allowin
a omo

-grated paddy-fish system is a water-efficient method because the same water serves

both erops and fish, reducing the total blue water footprint compared to separate systems.

Comparison

Paddy-Only:

8. rated into the

+ Efficiency
The integrated system is a more sustainable and efficient use of water resources, addressing

food and nutritional security simultaneously with reduced water usage, according

artment of Fishy 1

9. Both paddy farming and fish culture (aquaculture) require wate, but their water usage pattems

diffe. Here's a comparison for a I-hectare area over a six-month period

1. Paddy (rice) farming

High water dependency: Rice isa water-intensive crop, especially in conventional flood

‘water losses: A major portion ofthe water applied in conventional imigation systems

10 low water use efficiency
Water requirements (6 months)

Conventional method: An average of 23,750 cubic meters of water is consumed in a season (110-

120 days) under conventional inigation methods, according to Jin Irrigation Systems

Drip irrigation (precision farming): A 110-120 day growing period requires 3694 m*1o 6166 m"
water per hectare to produce 5-7 tonnes per hectare yield under drip-fertigaton assisted precision

farming.

Water scarcity concerns: Rice cultivation consumes a significant portion of irrigation water

raising concerns about water seareity especially with climate change impacts on water

availability

2. Fish culture (aquaculture)

Variable water requirements: The water needed for fish culture varies significantly depending on
the type of aquatic species, the farming syste and factors like evaporation and seeps

losses from the ponds,
Direct water use components: Direct water use in aquaculture includes:
Evaporation losses: Water evaporating from the pond surface

age losses: Water infiltrating into the soil from the pond,

ges: Water added or removed for management practices,

10. Water requirements (6 months):

Estimation: To estimate the amount of water needed to compensate for seepage and evaporation

losses during a six-month period, you need to consider the pond area, soil type, and climate,
Example (loam soil, 1 ha pond)
Seepage losses (after puddling): Approximately 810 m? over six months

Evaporation losses: If he total evaporation for the period (April-September) is 319 mm, then for

1 ha (10,000 m?) pond, the loss would be 3190 m, according to the FAO.

Total losses: Adding the Wo values gives an indication ofthe total water needed to compensate

Water for filling: Initial filling and puddling of a 1 ha (10,000 m?) pond, with a loam soil, could

require around 4500 nv, according 10 the FAO.

Water productivity: Water productivity in aquaculture can vary greatly, with recirculating

aquaculture systems (RAS) being highly efficient (up to 0.71-2 kg of fishin of water

Integrated rie-fish farmin

‘Synergistic approach: Combining paddy cultivation and fish farming in an integrated system

offers benefits like water conservation and increased overall productivity

Higher water efficiency: Rice-fish farming can enhance water use efficiency by effectively
‘utilizing both blue (surface and groundwater) and green (rainwater and soil moisture) water

Potential chale water quantity and qualit, selecting appropriate fish species,

14 controlling diseases and pests are some challenges in integrated systems

In conclusion, while both paddy farming and fish culture require substantial amounts of water

rice farming, especially with traditional methods, tends to consume more water. Integrated rce-
fish farming, however, offers a more water-fficient and sustainable approach o food
roduction