Estimation of water saving by aqueous fertilizer metering mechanism in comparison to traditional pre-sowing irrigation (flooding method)

The water saving was determined for three soils i.e. Loamy sand, sandy loam and loam soil. The assumed germination moisture were taken as 14%, 13% and 12% for loamy sand, 20%, 18% and 16% for sandy loam and 27%, 25% and 23% for loam soil respectively. The initial moisture was varied from 3–7% for loamy sand, 4–12% for sandy loam and 8–16% for loam soil respectively. The water saving for assumed germination moisture of 14%, ranged from 13591–21358, 27182–42715, 40774–64073 and 54365–85430 liter per hectare for the depth of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 cm respectively for the variation in initial soil moisture from 7 to 3 per cent. Similarly, for 13 per cent germination moisture, the water saving ranged from 11650–19416, 23299–38832, 34949–58248 and 46598–77664 liter per hectare for the depth of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 cm respectively for the variation in initial soil moisture from 7 to 3% and similarly, for 12% assumed germination moisture content, the water saving varied as 9708-17474, 19416–34949, 29124–52423 and 38832 liter per hectare for the depth of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 cm respectively for the variation in initial soil moisture from 7 to 3 per cent. The maximum water saving was observed as 64072 liter per hectare for the depth of 10 cm and assumed germination moisture 14%, and the minimum water saving was 9708 liter per hectare for the assumed germination moisture 12% and depth 2.5 cm and initial moisture 7 per cent. The maximum water saving was observed as 124262 liter per hectare for the depth of 10 cm and assumed germination moisture 20%, and the minimum water saving was 7766 liter per hectare for the assumed germination moisture 16% and depth 2.5 cm and initial moisture 12 per cent. The maximum saving in water was observed as 147562 liter per hectare for the depth of 10 cm and assumed germination moisture 27%, and the minimum saving in water was 13591 liter per hectare for the assumed germination moisture 23% and depth 2.5 cm and initial moisture 16 per cent.