New drainage technologies for salt-affected waterlogged areas of southwest Punjab, India

New drainage techniques, viz. multiple well-point system, conjunctive use of canal water (CW) and poor quality groundwater, biodrainage and conventional drainage system, were conceived, developed, demonstrated and adopted by a large number of farmers in the salt-affected waterlogged areas of southwest Punjab. The multiple well-point system constitutes a number of well points installed in a line connected with each other at about 1 m below land surface, pumped or siphoned centrally. Different treatments using CW and tubewell water (TW) were applied in various sequences to irrigate sodic soils. The performance and improvement in soil characteristics and grain yield under irrigation treatment using CW only and cyclic use of two CW (2CW) followed by one TW (1TW) were compared. The biodrainage system consists of raised bunds covered with polythene sheet buried at about 15 cm below soil surface on which eucalyptus plants were planted after applying soil amendments farm yard manure, etc. Presence of polythene sheet prevented capillary salinization. The drainage studies were also carried out for planning, design and installation of subsurface drainage system (SSDS) for the 787 ha area of Muktsar district. The SSDS was laid using a drain laying machine in 160 ha area of Jamuana village in Muktsar district.