Assessment of operational strategies for logical and optimal use of irrigation water in a downstream control system

Abstract

Pakistan is endowed with one of the largest contiguous irrigation systems in the world. Considerable food production per unit area and per unit of water is inevitable to meet present-day needs. The optimal use and effective management of water resources may lead to a significant increase in food production. The present study evaluates two different operational strategies for optimal and economical use of water in a downstream control irrigation system of the Upper Swat Canal in the North West Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Firstly, the computerized weekly rotational scheduling was determined by using the Crop Based Irrigation Operation (CBIO) software developed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Secondly, the application of CBIO coupled with closing the canals at night was simulated using the Canal Management Model (CanalMan).Maps of the command area and primary data used for simulations were collected from various sources. Maps were digitized using a geographical information system to determine accurate data. It is observed that there is oversupply to the system as compared to the crop water requirements during periods of low demand. Significant savings of irrigation water were found by using CBIO and night-time closure of canals. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RÉ SUMÉLe Pakistan est doté de l'un des plus grands systèmes d'irrigation contigu dans le monde. Une importante production alimentaire par unité de surface et par unité d'eau est nécessaire pour répondre aux besoins actuels. Un usage optimal et une gestion efficace des ressources en eau peut conduire à une augmentation significative de la production alimentaire. La présente étude évalue deux types de stratégies opérationnelles pour une utilisation optimale et économique de l'eau dans un système d'irrigation en contrôle par l'aval du canal Upper Swat dans la province du Nord-Ouest du Pakistan. Tout d'abord la rotation hebdomadaire informatisée a été déterminée en utilisant Crop Based Irrigation Operation (CBIO), logiciel développé par l'International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Deuxièmement, l'application de CBIO couplée avec la fermeture des canaux pendant la nuit a été simulée en utilisant Canal Management Model (CanalMan).Les cartes du périmètre et les données primaires utilisées pour les simulations ont été recueillies auprès de différentes sources. Les cartes ont été numérisées en utilisant un système d'information géographique pour déterminer des données précises. Il est observé qu'il ya une suralimentation du système par rapport aux besoins en

Role of Sediment Transport in Operation and Maintenance of Supply and Demand Based Irrigation Canals: Application to Machai Maira Branch Canals

“…The flow is always maintained more than 80% of the design discharge of the canal because the irrigation canals have been designed based on the proportional water distribution concept. In this flow control system, if flow drops below 80% of the design discharge or full supply discharge then the water distribution is does not remain equitable and sedimentation takes place in the canal (Ghumman et al, 2008). It is the general rule of canal operation in IBIS that the irrigation canals are always operated above 80% of the design discharge in order maintain equitable water distribution and to avoid sedimentation.…”

Comparative Evaluation of Implementing Participatory Irrigation Management in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Several researchers (Ghumman et al ., , ; Latif and Tariq, ; Rahman et al ., ) have addressed irrigation system management issues in Pakistan. Ghumman et al .…”

“…Ghumman et al . (, ) investigated the possibility of water saving by closing canals at night. Latif and Tariq () indicated improvement in the irrigation system of Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Province in Pakistan as a result of transfer of management from government to farmers.…”

“…Several researchers (Ghumman et al, 2006Latif and Tariq, 2009;Rahman et al, 2012) have addressed irrigation system management issues in Pakistan. Ghumman et al (2006Ghumman et al ( , 2010 investigated the possibility of water saving by closing canals at night. Latif and Tariq (2009) indicated improvement in the irrigation system of Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Province in Pakistan as a result of transfer of management from government to farmers.…”

Design and evaluation of control systems for a real canal

“…Canal automation has been evolving for several decades, to the point where most new canal designs and canal modernization projects include some level of automation [2,3].…”