An Alternative Rotational Delivery Schedule for Improved Performance of Reservoir-based Canal Irrigation System

Abstract

Alternative delivery scheduling approaches were tried to overcome the problem of low efficiency in eastern Indian irrigation projects. The features of the existing delivery schedules in the Left Bank Feeder Canal (LBFC) system of Kangsabati irrigation project, located in the state of West Bengal, India, have been studied. Four simulation scenarios were considered in the study. These are (1) actual canal scheduling with original transplanting date (S1), (2) Integrated Reservoirbased Canal Irrigation Model (IRCIM) scheduling for usual transplanting date (S2), (3) IRCIM scheduling for 5 days advanced transplanting date (S3), and (4) IRCIM scheduling for 5 days lagged transplanting date (S4). An attempt was made to develop a year-independent alternative delivery schedule based on the analysis of 11 years simulation results with all the above scenarios. For maximum number of simulation years, model performance was better for paddy transplanted on July 24, three irrigations from the reservoir between transplanting and harvesting, and restricting the release to minimum rule curve (MRC), i.e., maintaining the stage on any day above the minimum stage actually found in 16 years period. Hence, it was proposed as the year-independent alternative delivery schedule. This alternative delivery schedule saved 18.36% irrigation water over actual schedules, but increased the crop evapotranspiration by 0.61%. The proposed alternative delivery schedule also considered both the expected dry spells as well as critical growth periods of the crop during the simulation period. Thus, it was recommended to adopt the alternative A. Bhadra et al. delivery schedule instead of existing delivery schedule in the future years for the LBFC system of Kangsabati irrigation project.

Determination of Overall Water Delivery Performance Based on Adequacy, Efficiency, Equity and Dependability in the Doroodzan Irrigation Network

“…Small and Svendsen () and Clemmens and Molden () used performance evaluation to improve system management, Bhadra et al . () and Pereira et al . () determined overall system state, Vos () and Shakir et al .…”

“…Evaluation of performance of irrigation and drainage systems has been carried out for several reasons. Small and Svendsen (1990) and Clemmens and Molden (2007) used performance evaluation to improve system management, Bhadra et al (2010) and Pereira et al (2012) determined overall system state, Vos (2005) and Shakir et al (2010) determined the parameters causing trouble in the system, and Molden et al (2007) and Zardari and Cordery (2010) compared performance of systems over time and space. The effectiveness of operation decisions to deliver water from a water source and the physical system can be described by irrigation system performance indicators (Irmak et al, 2011).…”

Strategies for Crop‐Based Scheduling of Secondary Canals: Case Study of Mirpurkhas Subdivision, Pakistan

“…In another study by Bhadra et al . (), 18.3% of water saving was estimated through alternative canal scheduling. The saving shows that scheduling of canals results in efficient use of resources and it also brings a greater degree of equity and water distribution (Evans et al ., ).…”

“…() also developed a model for canal scheduling by using the daily water balance, whereas Bhadra et al . () used different simulations for developing alternate delivery scheduling. Though a number of studies have been performed related to canal scheduling, none of the works suggests a comprehensive policy of operation of the whole canal network taking various distributaries and outlets into account (Kaur et al ., ).…”

Equitable Water Distribution in Main Irrigation Canals with Constrained Water Supply

“…In fact, significant changes in the traditional design and operation of irrigation canals are necessary to achieve higher levels of efficiency and fairness. In this context, part of the studies focus on modelling potential designs for the canals (Ghumman et al 2012;Rezapour Tabari et al 2014;van Overloop et al 2008van Overloop et al , 2010a; other studies are focused on the application of modern operational techniques in the canals (Bhadra et al 2010;Fele et al 2014;Feyen and Liu 1991;Reddy 1991;Sadowska et al 2014;Tariq and Latif 2010;van Overloop et al 2014;Zafra-Cabeza et al 2011).…”