To improve water use efficiency, BISA developed a sub-surface drip laying machine prototype. It has the capacity of saving about 70% of irrigation water and can reduce the risks of the increasing weed population.
The precision water management practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), Tensiometers, Laser Land Levelling – LLL (for wheat), and raised beds (for wheat and maize) were also customized, evaluated, and disseminated through BISA farms for improving water usage.
In addition, BISA conducted participatory research on precision nutrient management in farmers’ fields, focussing on the ‘4R’ Nutrient Stewardship (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place).
GreenSeeker, a handheld sensor that measures Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) was also used for in-season nitrogen management in cereals. Nutrient Expert ® is a decision support system developed by IPNI in collaboration with CIMMYT that can rapidly provide nutrient recommendations for individual fields even in the absence of soil testing data.
A machine prototype for laying driplines at precise depth and spacing for sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI) system was also developed.