Water Conservation in the Field: Zero-Cost Practices that Work

Rainfall is free storage — the farm that captures and holds it needs less pumping through the season. Simple field practices compound into serious water savings.

• •Mulch rows with straw or residue to cut evaporation by 30%+
• •Build and maintain field bunds to trap every rainfall
• •Irrigate in cool hours — early morning or evening
• •Practise deficit irrigation during non-critical stages

The critical crop stages for water are establishment, flowering, and fruit filling. Protect these first when water is short. Watering at 'easy' stages while skipping the critical ones wastes both water and yield.