Need for and possibility of integrating solar desalination with polyhouse in arid areas like Kutch

Abstract

Development of agriculture in arid areas like Kutch is impeded because of widespread salinity and scarcity of good quality water. In view of this and the fact that insolation is high, we examine in this paper the possibility of integrating solar stills with greenhouse. Distillate yield on one hand and water demand from plants on the other are both driven by intensity of radiation. This feature makes the still appealing as a partial source. But, requirement of large evaporation area is a deterrent. Some investigators have reported that one would need a still of same (basin) area as the crop or even more to meet the water demand. This would appear to be true. A considerable reduction in the required evaporation area is therefore needed to make such a scheme feasible.