Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance assessment of irrigation water management of heterogeneous irrigation schemes: 2. A case study

  • Published:
Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Abstract

The non-uniformity of soils, weather, fields, cropping pattern and canal systems in most surface irrigation schemes makes irrigation water management complex, but optimum performance is important particularly in irrigation schemes with limited water supply. This paper focuses on the performance of irrigation water management during the area and water allocation with a case study of an irrigation scheme in the semi-arid region of India. Often the irrigation managers or authorities of these heterogeneous irrigation schemes also need to deal with different allocation rules. The allocation plans and the corresponding water delivery schedules during the allocation process were estimated with the help of a simulation–optimisation model for different allocation rules based on cropping distributions (free and fixed), water distributions (free and fixed-area proportionate), irrigation depth (full, fixed depth and variable depth irrigation) and irrigation interval (from 14 to 35 days). The performance measures of productivity (in terms of net benefits and area irrigated), equity (in water distribution), adequacy and excess were assessed for these different allocation plans and schedules. These were further compared with the performance measures of the existing rule (fixed depth irrigation at a fixed interval). The analysis revealed that these performance measures are in some cases complimentary and in other cases conflicting with each other. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the irrigation managers to understand fully the nature of the variation in performance measures for different allocation rules prior to deciding the allocation plans for the irrigation scheme.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abderrahman, W.A., Khan, A.U. & Eqnaibi, B.S. 1989. Systems approach for irrigation management of complex projects involving a large number of farmers under severely arid regions. National Water Conference, Proceedings of the Speciality Conference, Newark, DE, USA, 398–405.

  • Afshar, A. & Marino, M.A. 1989. Optimization models for wastewater reuse in irrigation Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 115(2): 185–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Afshar, A., Marino, M.A. & Abrishamchi, A. 1991. Reservoir planning for irrigation district.Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management., ASCE 117(1): 74–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhand, N.A., Larson, D.L. & Slack, D.C. 1995. Canal irrigation allocation planning model. Transactions of ASAE 38(2): 545–550.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balasubramamiam, C., Somasundaram, M.V. & Pundarikanthan, N.V. 1996. LP analysis in a tank irrigation system for near real representation and optimal allocation of area. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 10: 143–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardo, D.J., Whittlesey, N.K., Saxton, K.E. Bassett, D.L. 1988. Irrigation optimization under limited water supply. Transactions ASAE 31(3): 712–719.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, M. & Nuss, G.S. 1982. Designing for deficit irrigation. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 108(IR2): 91–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorantiwar, S.D. 1995. A model for planning and operation of heterogeneous irrigation schemes in semi-arid regions under rotational water supply. Ph. D. Thesis, Loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK.

  • Gorantiwar, S.D. & Smout, I.K. 1995a. Water resources management of irrigation schemes in semi-arid and arid regions. Proceedings of the Regional Conference on Water Resources Management (pp. 413–422), Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, 28–30 Aug. 1995.

  • Gorantiwar, S.D. & Smout, I.K. 1995b. Optimizing the use of water in a multicrop-soil irrigation scheme. Proceedings of the XXVIth Congress of the International Association for Hydraulic Research} (Vol. 4, pp. 386–391), Institute of Civil Engineers, London, 11–15 Sept. 1995.

  • Gorantiwar, S.D. & Smout, I.K. 2004. Performance assessment of irrigation water management of heterogeneous irrigation schemes: 1. A framework for evaluation. Irrigation and Drainage Systems.

  • Gulati, H.S. & Murty, V.V.N. 1979. A model for optimal allocation of canal water based on crop production functions. Agricultural Water Management 2: 79–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hargreaves, G.H. & Samani, Z.A. 1984. Economic considerations of deficit irrigation. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 110(4): 343–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiessl, H. & Plate, E.J. 1990. A heuristic closed-loop controller for water distribution in complex irrigation systems. Water Resources Research 26(7): 1323–1333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IRD. 1992. Report of Pre-Irrigation Soil Survey of the Command of Nazare Medium Irrigation Project, Dist. Pune. Irrigation Research Development, Department of Irrigation, Pune, Maharashtra State, India.

  • Keller, J., Sivanappan, R.K. & Varadan K.M. 1992. Design logic for deficit drip irrigation of coconut trees.Irrigation and Drainage Systems 6: 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loftis, J.M. & Houghtalen, R.J. 1987. Optimizing temporal water allocation by irrigation ditch companies. Transactions of ASAE 30(4): 1075–1082.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mainuddin, M., Gupta, A.D. & Onta, P.R. 1996. Optimal crop planning model for an existing groundwater irrigation project in Thailand. Agricultural Water Management 33: 43– 62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maji, C.C. & Heady, E.O. 1978. Intertemporal allocation of irrigation water in the Mayurakshi Project (India): An application of chance-constrained linear programming.” Water Resources Research 14(2): 190–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannocchi, F. & Mecarelli, P. 1994. Optimization analysis of deficit irrigation systems. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 120(3): 484–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matanga, G.B. & Marino, M.A. 1979. Irrigation planning 1. Cropping pattern. Water Resources Research 15(3): 672–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matanga, G.B. & Marino, M.A. 1977. Application of optimization and simulation techniques to irrigation management. Water Science and Engineering Paper No. 5003, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayya, S.G. & Prasad, R. 1989. System analysis of tank irrigation: I. Crop staggering. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 115(3): 384–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales, J.C., Marino, M.A. & Holzapfel, E.A. 1987. Planning model of irrigation district. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 113(4): 549–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onta, P.R., Loof, R. & Banskota, M. 1995. Performance based irrigation planning under water shortage. Irrigation and Drainage Systems, 9: 143–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paudyal, G.N. & Gupta, A.D. 1990. Irrigation planning by multilevel optimization. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 116(2): 273–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, S., Panda, S.N. & Nagesh Kumar, D. 2000. Optimal irrigation allocation: A multilevel approach. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 126(3): 149–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, R. & Mayya, S.G. 1989. System analysis of tank irrigation: II. Delayed start and water deficit. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 115(3): 406–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, N.H., Sarma, P.B.S. & Chander, S. 1990. Optimal multicrop allocation of seasonal and intraseasonal irrigation water. Water Resources Research 26(4): 551–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahoo, G.B., Loof, R., Abernethy, C.L. & Kazama, S. 2001. Reservoir release policy for large irrigation system. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 127(5): 302–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salokhe, V.M. & Raheman, H. 1989. Optimum utilization of land and water for Bhargabi delta (India). Journal of Agricultural Engineering XXVI(3): 229–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shyam, R., Chauhan, H.S. & Sharma, J.S. 1994. Optimal operation scheduling model for a canal system. Agricultural Water Management 26: 213–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R., Soni, B. & Changkakoti, A.K. 1987. Optimal utilization of irrigation water in Garufella catchment in Assam, India. Irrigation and Water Allocation, Proceedings of an International Symposium held during XIX th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics} (pp. 195–205), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 9–22 August 1987, IAHS Publication No. 169.

  • Sritharan, S.I., Clyma, W. & Richardson, E.V. 1988. On-farm application system design and project-scale water management. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 114(4): 622–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stofkoper, J. & Tilak, M.B.G. 1992. A Report on Action Research Program in Nazare Medium Irrigation Project, Maharashtra State. Pune Irrigation Division, Pune, Maharashtra State, India.

  • Sunantara, J.D. & Ramirez, J.A. 1997. Optimal stochastic multicrop seasonal and intraseasonal irrigation control. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE 123(1): 39–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thandaveswara, B.S., Srinivasan, K., Babu N.A. & Ramesh S.K. 1992. Modelling an overdeveloped irrigation system in South India. Water Resource Research 8(1): 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trava, J., Heermann, D.F. & Labadie, J.W. 1977. Optimal on-farm allocation of irrigation water. Transactions of ASAE 20: 85–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trimmer, W.L. 1990. Applying partial irrigation in Pakistan. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 116(3): 342–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vedula, S., & Mujumdar, P.P. 1992. Optimal reservoir operation for irrigation of multiple crops. Water Resources Research 28(1): 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardlaw, R. & Barnes, J. 1999. Optimal allocation of irrigation water supplies in real time. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 125(6): 345–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Windsor, J.S. & Chow, V.T. 1971. Model for farm irrigation in humid areas. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE 97(IR3): 369–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaron, D. & Dinar, A. 1982. Optimum allocation of farm irrigation water during peak seasons. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 64 (November): 681–689.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water, Engineering and Development Centre, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

    I. K. Smout (Director) & S. D. Gorantiwar (Academic Visitor)

Authors
  1. I. K. Smout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. D. Gorantiwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. K. Smout.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smout, I.K., Gorantiwar, S.D. Performance assessment of irrigation water management of heterogeneous irrigation schemes: 2. A case study. Irrig Drainage Syst 19, 37–60 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-005-2971-8

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-005-2971-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation