Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan
Focusing on the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) command area, characterized by its heavy reliance on agriculture, this study addresses the critical issue of groundwater table fluctuations in response to diverse pumping scenarios. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the dynamic interplay between crop w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/34 |
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| author | Abdul Raheem Ijaz Ahmad Arfan Arshad Jinping Liu Zia Ur Rehman Muhammad Shafeeque Md Masudur Rahman Muhammad Saifullah Umar Iqbal |
| author_facet | Abdul Raheem Ijaz Ahmad Arfan Arshad Jinping Liu Zia Ur Rehman Muhammad Shafeeque Md Masudur Rahman Muhammad Saifullah Umar Iqbal |
| author_sort | Abdul Raheem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Focusing on the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) command area, characterized by its heavy reliance on agriculture, this study addresses the critical issue of groundwater table fluctuations in response to diverse pumping scenarios. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the dynamic interplay between crop water requirements and groundwater pumping within the expansive canvas of the LBDC, which is facing water shortages. Using the Penman–Monteith equation, we calculated annual average evapotranspiration for major crops—wheat, maize, cotton, rice, and sugarcane. Three-dimensional MODFLOW-based numerical modeling was used to analyze the dynamics of groundwater regimes. MODFLOW was calibrated from 2010 to 2020. Thereafter, we simulated water table changes under a 20% increase and decrease in groundwater extraction up to 2040s. Results revealed significant variations in water demands among these crops, with sugarcane requiring the highest average annual evapotranspiration at 1281 mm. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed substantial declines in the water table in the tail-end command areas, particularly Sahiwal and Khanewal where the decline was 0.55 m/year between 2010 and 2020. The upper reaches, such as Balloki and Okara, experienced milder declines. In considering management scenarios, a 20% increase in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 was projected to raise pumping to 4650 MCM/year. and decrease the net water balance to −235 MCM/year. Alternatively, a 20% decrease in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 could reduce pumping to 4125 MCM/year and increase the net water balance to 291 MCM/year. This study sheds light on major crop water requirements, spatiotemporal groundwater dynamics, and the implications of groundwater extraction in the LBDC command area. Scenarios presented here, encompassing increased and decreased groundwater extraction, offer invaluable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders seeking a balance between agricultural productivity and long-term groundwater sustainability. |
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| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:55:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-423d2ece6c754393ac825244cd8a2fbc2024-01-10T15:11:24ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-12-011613410.3390/w16010034Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, PakistanAbdul Raheem0Ijaz Ahmad1Arfan Arshad2Jinping Liu3Zia Ur Rehman4Muhammad Shafeeque5Md Masudur Rahman6Muhammad Saifullah7Umar Iqbal8Center of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, PakistanCenter of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, PakistanDepartment of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74075, USACollege of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCenter of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, PakistanClimate Lab, Institute of Geography, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, GermanyInterdisciplinary Research Center for Aviation and Space Exploration (IRC-ASE), King Fahad University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dammam 31261, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan 66000, PakistanDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanFocusing on the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) command area, characterized by its heavy reliance on agriculture, this study addresses the critical issue of groundwater table fluctuations in response to diverse pumping scenarios. Herein, we comprehensively evaluated the dynamic interplay between crop water requirements and groundwater pumping within the expansive canvas of the LBDC, which is facing water shortages. Using the Penman–Monteith equation, we calculated annual average evapotranspiration for major crops—wheat, maize, cotton, rice, and sugarcane. Three-dimensional MODFLOW-based numerical modeling was used to analyze the dynamics of groundwater regimes. MODFLOW was calibrated from 2010 to 2020. Thereafter, we simulated water table changes under a 20% increase and decrease in groundwater extraction up to 2040s. Results revealed significant variations in water demands among these crops, with sugarcane requiring the highest average annual evapotranspiration at 1281 mm. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed substantial declines in the water table in the tail-end command areas, particularly Sahiwal and Khanewal where the decline was 0.55 m/year between 2010 and 2020. The upper reaches, such as Balloki and Okara, experienced milder declines. In considering management scenarios, a 20% increase in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 was projected to raise pumping to 4650 MCM/year. and decrease the net water balance to −235 MCM/year. Alternatively, a 20% decrease in groundwater extraction up to September 2040 could reduce pumping to 4125 MCM/year and increase the net water balance to 291 MCM/year. This study sheds light on major crop water requirements, spatiotemporal groundwater dynamics, and the implications of groundwater extraction in the LBDC command area. Scenarios presented here, encompassing increased and decreased groundwater extraction, offer invaluable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders seeking a balance between agricultural productivity and long-term groundwater sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/34groundwater changesnumerical modelingirrigation requirementMODFLOWwater tableirrigated agricultural region |
| spellingShingle | Abdul Raheem Ijaz Ahmad Arfan Arshad Jinping Liu Zia Ur Rehman Muhammad Shafeeque Md Masudur Rahman Muhammad Saifullah Umar Iqbal Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan Water groundwater changes numerical modeling irrigation requirement MODFLOW water table irrigated agricultural region |
| title | Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full | Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_short | Numerical Modeling of Groundwater Dynamics and Management Strategies for the Sustainable Groundwater Development in Water-Scarce Agricultural Region of Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_sort | numerical modeling of groundwater dynamics and management strategies for the sustainable groundwater development in water scarce agricultural region of punjab pakistan |
| topic | groundwater changes numerical modeling irrigation requirement MODFLOW water table irrigated agricultural region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/34 |
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