Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan
The supply of surface water by century-old infrastructure causes substantial water loss and triggers huge abstractions of groundwater, resulting in low irrigation efficiency. We evaluated the irrigation performance (application and conveyance efficiencies) and water availability (supply-demand) from...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/3/405 |
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| author | Imran Sajid Bernhard Tischbein Christian Borgemeister Martina Flörke |
| author_facet | Imran Sajid Bernhard Tischbein Christian Borgemeister Martina Flörke |
| author_sort | Imran Sajid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The supply of surface water by century-old infrastructure causes substantial water loss and triggers huge abstractions of groundwater, resulting in low irrigation efficiency. We evaluated the irrigation performance (application and conveyance efficiencies) and water availability (supply-demand) from the field to the Mungi Distributary canal level in Punjab, Pakistan. Between April–September 2019 and 2020, we monitored water delivery in the canal network, soil moisture content in cotton fields, and the canal and groundwater quality. The crops’ actual evapotranspiration was estimated using the AquaCrop model. We found conveyance efficiencies >90% for minor distributaries, 70–89% for watercourses, and ~75% for field ditches per kilometer. Field application efficiency was >90% for drip and ~35% for flood basin, whereas for raised-bed furrow, conventional furrow, and ridge-furrow irrigation methods, it varied between 44% and 83%. The deficits of canal water supply versus demand for cotton fields ranged from 45% to 73%, whereas the Mungi Distributary canal water showed a 68.6% and 19.8% shortfall in the April–September and October–March seasons of 2018/2019, respectively. The study suggests prioritizing improvements to field water application rather than canals with better water quality; additionally, surplus water from the Mungi canal in November and December could be stored for later use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc98bf61a9bc4372bbea24214e83da16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:56:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc98bf61a9bc4372bbea24214e83da162023-11-23T18:11:10ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-01-0114340510.3390/w14030405Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab PakistanImran Sajid0Bernhard Tischbein1Christian Borgemeister2Martina Flörke3Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, GermanyCenter for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, GermanyCenter for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, GermanyEngineering Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, GermanyThe supply of surface water by century-old infrastructure causes substantial water loss and triggers huge abstractions of groundwater, resulting in low irrigation efficiency. We evaluated the irrigation performance (application and conveyance efficiencies) and water availability (supply-demand) from the field to the Mungi Distributary canal level in Punjab, Pakistan. Between April–September 2019 and 2020, we monitored water delivery in the canal network, soil moisture content in cotton fields, and the canal and groundwater quality. The crops’ actual evapotranspiration was estimated using the AquaCrop model. We found conveyance efficiencies >90% for minor distributaries, 70–89% for watercourses, and ~75% for field ditches per kilometer. Field application efficiency was >90% for drip and ~35% for flood basin, whereas for raised-bed furrow, conventional furrow, and ridge-furrow irrigation methods, it varied between 44% and 83%. The deficits of canal water supply versus demand for cotton fields ranged from 45% to 73%, whereas the Mungi Distributary canal water showed a 68.6% and 19.8% shortfall in the April–September and October–March seasons of 2018/2019, respectively. The study suggests prioritizing improvements to field water application rather than canals with better water quality; additionally, surplus water from the Mungi canal in November and December could be stored for later use.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/3/405canal irrigation systemirrigation methodscrop demandwater losses |
| spellingShingle | Imran Sajid Bernhard Tischbein Christian Borgemeister Martina Flörke Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan Water canal irrigation system irrigation methods crop demand water losses |
| title | Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan |
| title_full | Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan |
| title_short | Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan |
| title_sort | performance evaluation and water availability of canal irrigation scheme in punjab pakistan |
| topic | canal irrigation system irrigation methods crop demand water losses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/3/405 |
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