Clay Pot Irrigation: An Ancient, Lesser-Known but Effective Technique

In India, more than half of the arable land is rain-fed, and the irrigation channels are yet to be expanded. To worsen the situation, drastic climatic changes have made it all the more difficult for farmers to cultivate their lands. A solution for this problem can be found if we go nearly 4,000 years back in time. It is believed that people in North Africa region devised a method of irrigation using unglazed clay pots (called as Ollas), which is still practiced in some nooks and corners of the world. This technique is referred to as clay pot irrigation.

What does the technique involve?

The clay pot irrigation involves the use of clay pots with a narrow neck and a broad rim. The pots are buried inside the field, leaving the mouth above or just leveled with the soil and filled with water. A terracotta lid covers the mouth. Wondering how the water from inside the pot will irrigate the soil? Here’s the answer.

Unglazed clay pots have a porous surface and use the osmosis process to provide a controlled supply of water whenever the plants need. Dry soil near the pot creates a suction force, and the roots begin to wrap around it and grow. Since the source of water is underground, there is no possibility of evaporation. Once, all the water has been used up, pots can be refilled and closed back again.

Evaluating the pros & cons

• The clay pot irrigation technique is suitable for small-scale farmers in rain-fed regions. The technique can also be used for house gardens. However, for large fields the use might not be feasible as too many pots would be required, increasing the input cost.
• In this technique, plants take only the amount of water they require, not what the farmer wants to pour onto them. This reduces water consumption by about fifty to seventy percent.
• Ollas are made with clay and are completely safe for the soil and the plants.
• Chances of pots getting damaged by animals or blocked by insects are less. Snails and slugs that grow in fields usually gather around the pot mouth and are easy to remove. Also, the precise use of water prevents the growth of weed. Laborers who were earlier put to the task of weeding can be deployed on other important works.
• The high cost of pots can be a barrier against profits unless you are making them yourself. However, a study in India reported that even after using 800 pots per hectare, the net profit was significant.
• Making and installing clay ollas can be time-consuming and they offer no flexibility once fixed. They may clog over a period of time and require cleaning, even re-firing in some cases to open the pores.

What crops can be grown using this technique?

Overall, there is a huge variety of crops that can be grown using this technique but not all of them are compatible with all topographies. In India, melons, tomatoes, corn and fruit trees have been successfully grown by some farmers using clay pot irrigation. In the other parts of the world, basil, beans, cilantro, mints, onions, peas, poppies and many others have been cultivated.

Clay pot irrigation is lesser-known irrigation solution for small-scale farmers, and for those who do not have access to other sources of water. It does have some limitations, but the benefits surely outweigh them by a substantial margin. You can try this technique for a small area of land and see if it is worth switching over to.

Hello! I am Ankit Gupta. I am in content writing field since 2008,I am working for a reputed Online B2B Marketplace based in India.