Plastic House with Drip Irrigation

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY BRIEF

Introduction
Plastic house is a structure similar to a greenhouse where
enters the soil from the emitters, moving into the root zone
plants are cultivated under the semi-controlled condition to
of the plants. Drip irrigation helps to maintain the optimum
protect them from excess sunlight and rain. The plastic
level of moisture in the soil that results in better plant
house provides conducive environment to plants for early
growth. In this way, the plants are ensured with a sufficient
growth by warming the air around the plants’ canopy by
amount of water to avoid them from water stress. This
trapping the heat of sun inside the house. The plastic house
enhances the growth and development of the crops and
also protects the plants from cold waves. The plants grow
maximizes the crop yield.
healthily inside the plastic house that results in increased
production. Plastic houses are generally constructed using
locally available materials besides plastic sheet. This Plastic house and drip irrigation system are considered as
structure is primarily made up of wooden poles. A climate-smart agriculture technologies that contribute to
transparent to UV protection plastic sheet is placed on the three pillars of CSA, i.e., adaptation, mitigation and food
roof of the structure to allow sunlight inside the plastic security. Plastic house with drip irrigation technology
house. protects the plants from stress and makes water available by
minimizing the use of water per unit area thus increases
water use efficiency and ultimately leads to increase in crop
Drip irrigation system is one of the water-efficient and
yield.
micro-irrigation technologies. It helps to save the water by
dropping adequate amount of water directly into the root
zone of the plants, thus minimizing evaporation. Water
 Photo: Sagar G.C., LI-BIRD

The Selection of Appropriate plastics with different microns are available and used. The
plastic with 70 to 120 gsm can be used for plastic house
Land and Plastic construction.

Selection of Land Points to be considered during

construction of plastic house with
The land 500 to 1700 above mean sea level (msl) and area
drip irrigation:
without shade with low wind flow is appropriate for the
construction of the plastic house. The plastic house is suitable
for the places having at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, good Š The height from the sea level, temperature, relative
air circulation and irrigation facility. The land must be more humidity, air circulation direction, crops and their
than 5-metre-wide for the construction. Generally, the land varieties are utmost important while constructing
having slightly higher altitude and good drainage system are plastic house.
preferred. Š The plastic house is recommended for and should be
constructed at higher elevation as the temperature is
higher in places with low elevation/altitude.
Selection of Plastic
Š The plastic house shouldn’t be constructed on a sloppy
In Nepal, silpaulin with 45 to 90 gsm (gram per square meter) land and water logging condition.
is commonly used for plastic house. For places where there is Š The plastic house should not be constructed in shady
more air circulation and hailstone, 120 gsm silpaulin can be areas.
used. The thickness of the silpaulin is increased with increased
Š If thicker plastic is used, there will be a problem of light
elevation/altitude, but the height of plastic house is
penetration inside the plastic house so it’s important to
decreased. Nowadays, various types of ultra-violet (UV)

Plastic House and Drip Irrigation 2

 consider the thickness. adequate lateral wetting of the soil.
Š The cross ventilation should be kept while constructing Š It has been found best suited in the areas where the
the plastic house for proper air circulation. The land is steeply sloped or undulating; available water is
gummas shaped plastic house is recommended in very limited; labour is expensive; and where high-value
cold place. crops are cultivated.
Š The plastic house should not be constructed at higher
altitude as it will be difficult to control the temperature Table 1: Details of the plastic house structure
and relative humidity. The place having 5 to 6-metre with 3.8*12 m2 from Kartik to Falgun (October to
width and 10 to 25-metre length can be suitable March)
depending upon the availability of the land.
Altitude Ecological Main Side
Š To protect the crops from hailstone and water, the (m) region Pole (m) pole
slope should be maintained in the plastic house. (m)
Š In high hills of Nepal like Manang, Mustang and Humla 600 to 800 Terai and 4.4 3.3
districts, the off-season vegetable cultivation can be Inner Terai
done in semi-controlled plastic house with the use of 800 to 1100 Hill 4 3
UV plastic or poly carbonate sheet and GI pipes. 1100 to 1400 Mid Hill 3.5 2.5
Š Under the plastic house, the strings are used to support 1400 to 2000 High Hill 3 2
the crops while they are flowering and fruiting.
Š It’s recommended to construct the plastic house with Crops preferred inside the plastic
iron rod as the rod structure is more durable than house
bamboo structure and cultivation of high value crops
All types of vegetables can be cultivated inside the plastic
can fetch higher amount.
house. However, off-season vegetables and high-value crops
Š The parameters such as land topography, soil texture/ are grown so that the return from investment is assured.
types, water, crops and agro-climatic condition need to Major crops grown inside the house are tomato, cucumber,
be carefully studied before the installation of drip bean, chilly, capsicum, brinjal, okra, etc. The following crops
irrigation system. can be cultivated depending upon different seasons.
Š Similarly, drip irrigation system can be installed above
the surface or under the surface as per the necessity.
However, an expert consultation is important to install
the drip irrigation and its proper functioning should be
checked in timely manner. It requires proper
installation and maintenance.
Š However, the drip irrigation system can be installed in
clay soil too where the water can be applied slowly to
avoid waterlogging and surface run-off. In sandy soil,
emitter discharge rates need to be increased to ensure

Plastic House and Drip Irrigation

3
Table 2: Crops that can be cultivated under plastic house

Months Crops Preferred

15 March-15 July Š Tomato, Capsicum, Akabari Chilli
Š Cucumber, Squash, Pumpkin, Bitter gourd, Tane bodi
Š Relay cropping – Bean, Kidney bean,
16 July- 15 December Š Tomato, Capsicum, Akabare Chilli
Š Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chaumase bean,
Š Relay cropping – Onion, Garlic, Bean, Coriander, Radish (40 Days)
16 December-15 March Š Zucchini Squash, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Pea
Š Cauliflower, Broccoli, Cabbage, Rayo (Broad leaf mustard), Spinach (Palungo),
Chamsur

Cost Estimation

Table 3: Materials required for construction of 12 m*6 m plastic house associated with drip irrigation

S.N. Particulars Unit Quantity Price/Unit (NRS) Total amount

(NRS)
1 Silpaulin Plastic (70 No. 1 5600 5200
GSM)
2 Bamboo (20 ft) No. 15 200 3000
3 Labour charge No. 4 800 3200
4 Drip Irrigation set No. 1 4500 4500
5 Plastic rope kg 1 120 120
6 Thumbnail kg 0.5 100 50
7 Mobil or Bitumen l 1 100 100
8 Wire kg 1 150 150
9 Transportation cost/ Lump sum 500 500
others
Total 17,220
Note: The price mentioned above depends upon the quality of materials and place .

Plastic House and Drip Irrigation 4

Table 4: The cost of the materials required for construction of 11 m*5 m plastic house with iron rod
associated with drip irrigation set

S.N. Particulars Unit Quantity Price/Unit Total

(NRS) amount
(NRS)
1 5 m long, 2 mm round iron pipe No. 8 1100 8800
2 6 m long, 2 mm square pipe No. 14 1300 18200
3 Labour charge (pipe fixing, fitting) No. 5 800 4000
4 Drip Irrigation set No. 1 4500 4500
5 Cement Sack (50 kg) 1 850 850
6 Gravel kg 8 120 960
7 Silpaulin Plastic (120 GSM) No. 1 5600 5600
8 Aluminum wire gauze kg 7 140 950
9 Transportation cost/others Lump sum 1000 1000
Total 44,890
Note: The price above depends upon the quality of materials and place.

Figure 1: Model of temporary structure of plastic house with drip irrigation

9 ft.
10 ft.

6 mtr.

12 mtr.

Plastic House and Drip Irrigation

5
Advantages of Plastic House Advantages of Drip Irrigation
System
Š The plants will be protected from cold waves.
Š It helps in cultivation of crops throughout the year and Š This technology utilizes efficient amount of water and
hence profit can be maximized per unit area. saves plants from drought.
Š It provides favourable environment for proper growth Š Fertilizers and chemicals can be provided through the
and development of the crops which helps in better drip system thus minimizing the loss and increasing its
return from the investment. efficiency.
Š The soil and other foliage remain dry which helps in Š It helps to prevent weed growth while controlling soil
reducing the risks of diseases such as late blight. erosion.
Š Through the plastic house, it is possible to maintain Š It helps to minimize the risk of diseases as the leaves
crop diversification and guarantee food security and and soil around the plants are less wet.
add more income. Š It helps to reduce the drudgery of women by
Š It is less labour-intensive once it is installed; utilizes decreasing the time required to irrigate the plants.
locally available materials and protects plants from
heavy wind as well.
Š It provides income to women and also reduces their
drudgery.

Plastic House and Drip Irrigation 6

Limitations Lessons Learnt and
Emerging Issues
Š The plastic house is not appropriate technology in Terai
region especially in summer season as the temperature LI-BIRD has supported the
inside the house goes relatively higher during the construction of the plastic
house and drip irrigation
summer season and is not appropriate for its growth.
system through different
Š It’s not recommended to construct plastic house and projects implemented in
install drip irrigation in sloppy and terrace land. Nepal. LI-BIRD has
supported more than 1,500
plastic house and more
Contribution to Climate than 700 drip irrigation Rajendra Prasad Acharya
sets and provided
Smart Agriculture technical trainings in different districts like Kaski,
Dhading, Udayapur, Dolakha, Humla, Siraha,
Plastic house and drip irrigation system are considered to be Sindhupalchowk, Khotang, Ramechhap, Nawalpur,
Okhaldhunga, Dang, Bardiya and so on.
climate-smart agriculture technologies. The plastic house
protects the plants from rain and water, and provides
favourable temperature to the plants. It helps in minimizing Rajendra Prasad Acharya, a resident of Belaka
Municipality-2, Tapeswori, Udayapur district is one of the
the damage caused by insects and diseases hence promotes
beneficiaries of LI-BIRD, who was supported with plastic
crops growth and helps in maximizing the crop yields. Plastic
house and drip irrigation. He shared his experience: “It’s
house helps in maintaining soil fertility under semi-controlled easy to grow vegetables inside the plastic house and drip
environmental condition thereby contributing to food and irrigation makes it easier to water the plants. Once drip
nutritional security. The drip irrigation system provides year- irrigation is installed, we don’t need to wait for irrigating
round irrigation to the plants for proper growth and plants, and it helps to efficiently irrigate the plants in the
root zone where the water is required.”
development. It increases the efficiency of water usage of the
plants which helps farming communities to grow plants in
water-limited and drought conditions. The drip irrigation Similarly, Ministry of Land
Management, Agriculture
system can be directly connected with the irrigation source or
and Cooperatives
required water can be poured from water tank into the drum.
(MoLMAC), Gandaki
The cow urine and other chemical fertilizers can also be province through Chief
directly applied through drip irrigation by localized application Minister Environment
that helps in reducing leaching of the fertilizers and mitigates Friendly Model Agriculture
the emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, the cost of Village Programme

fertilizers and intercultural operation can be drastically (CMEFMAVP) has Shankhar Prasad Rijal
supported 556 plastic
reduced.
houses with 332 drip irrigation systems in 36 electoral
sites in FY 2075/76. This has helped smallholder farmers
to cultivate vegetables and increase their income.
Shankar Prasad Rijal, one of the beneficiaries of
CMEFMAVP of Kushma Municipality-1 Pang, shared his
experience: “I have been able to earn 1 lakh [NPR] from the
vegetables cultivated inside the plastic house with drip
irrigation and mulch. This technology has made it easier
to cultivate crops and consume fresh vegetables. The drip
irrigation technology has helped to reduce unnecessary
water flow and helped plants from drought and stress.”
Plastic House and Drip Irrigation
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Further Readings
FAO. 2013. Tunnel Farming for Off-season Vegetable Cultivation in Nepal.

Kafle. A., L.K. Shrestha. 2017. Economics of Tomato Cultivation Using Plastic house: A case of Hemja VDC,
Kaski, Nepal.

http://www.fao.org/3/s8684e/s8684e07.htm

Prepared By
Aastha Bhusal, Narayan Prasad Pathak, Sagar G.C. and Laxman Khatri

For More Information

Provincial Government Local Initiatives for Biodiversity,
Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture Research and Development (LI-BIRD)
& Co-operative PO Box No. 324, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal
Artworks & Design: www.growinnova.com

Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal Phone: +977 061 526834, 535357

Phone: +977 061 467885 Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Website: www.libird.org

Provincial Government
Ministry of Land Management,
Agriculture & Co-operative
Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal