Soil and Water Management Research Institute, Kattuthottam, Thanjavur was established during 1972 under Agricultural Engineering wing of State Department of Agriculture and started the research work on standardizing irrigation techniques for several field crops with special emphasis on rice. On the first of April 1981, this Institute was taken over by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University as one of sub centre for carrying out water management research

Objectives

This institute has emanated technologies on soil, water and nutrient management, management practices on major crops, use of improved drum seeder, broad casting of rice seedlings, System of Rice Intensification, alternate crops for Cauvery delta, technologies for improved production in oilseeds, vegetables, cotton and pulse. Identification of efficient cropping systems for Cauvery New Delta Zone was also studied. 

Similarly, on transfer of technology also achieved a contributory level of empowerment of farming community through information Technology and Extension activities.

Apart from research and extension, this Institute is involved in production of Nucleus and Breeder Seed to have seed supply chain from Research station to farmers holdings. 

Mandate

• Improvement in knowledge and skill level among the farming community on adoption of advanced production technologies
• Sustainable Increase in productivity, production and profitability of black gram, green gram, red gram
• Reduction in cost of production
• Increase in the value of crop by value addition and better storage.
• Possibility of increase  in area in many folds under rice fallow pulses and sustainability in adoption

Technologies developed

a. In Pulses 

• Irrigating blackgram at IW/CPE ratio of 0.5 recorded maximum yield
• Blackgram allowed for second flush with 2 per cent DAP spray with one additional irrigation on 55^th day recorded increased yield
• Alternate cropping system of -  onion in Kharif followed by rice in Rabi and blackgram in summer recorded highest  yield , net income and B:C ratio

b. In Other crops:

• Rice: Improved drum seeder- Institute test verified and improved
• Seed treatment Azospirillum treated direct sown rice enhanced crop growth, yield
• Broadcasting of seedlings of 15 or 20 days old in to the puddle and leveled  soil without any reduction in grain yield with considerable labour saving and B:C ratio
• System of Rice Intensification Technology (SRI) – test verified
• Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM)- farmers can dynamically adjust and efficiently manage the nutrients application.
• Application of neem leaf blended urea gave higher yield
• Application of green leaf manure and phosphobacterium increased yield. 
• Foliar spray of DAP 2% with KCl 1% improved the seed quality and yield  
• Water saving technologies
• Summer ploughing with mould board plough reduced water requirement and weed proliferation.
• 5 cm depth, 3 days after disappearance of ponded water increased grain yield saving irrigation water.
• Maximum yield was obtained while withholding water from 68^th 81^st day. (ie  after maximum tillering stage but before panicle initiation stage)
• Sorghum superior grain yield at 0.4 IW/CPE irrigation during 19-55 DAT
• Maize Irrigation at 50% and 25% depletion at pre and post-flowering phases increased grain yield
• Groundnut: Irrigation at 50 % depletion level during pre flowering phase followed at 75 % registered highest yield.
• Sesame: Irrigation at 25 %depletion of ASM during pre flowering and  at 100 per cent depletion at post flowering registered the higher yield.
• Nipping sesame crop at 25 DAS with 35:23:23kg NPK /ha recorded more yield.
• Cotton: Irrigating at 0.6 IW/CPE during 41-80 DAS and 8-20 days prior to harvest recorded highest kappa’s yield
• Sugarcane : Higher germination in mulched plots irrigated at 25%ASM
• Irrigating the sugarcane crop at 0.9 IW/CPE ratio in the tillering phase and 0.6 IW/CPE ratio in the maturity phase has given the maximum yield.
• Alternate furrow method of irrigation in sugarcane resulted in 25 per cent   saving in irrigation water without reduction in cane yield.
• Vegetables: Productivity of Brinjal was 21 g/l applied water in 7 cm deep corrugated furrow significantly higher than wide furrow and alternate furrow .
• Higher water use efficiency in bhendi at 40 % ASM in ridges and furrows method 
• To conduct research on the improved methods of water convence, application and utilization for common crops grown in the Cauvery New Delta Zone.
• To work out the optimum irrigation methods and irrigation requirements for above crops.
• To study the soil and water interactions and their effect on the growth and yield of above crops.
• To evolve proper fertilizer and cultivation practices for the above crops in relation to the irrigation practices.
• To conduct operational research projects in the farmers fields to test verify the useful results obtained from the research station.
• To disseminate through various communication media the proven results that could be of use to the farmers and the extension personnel.