Improved Methods for Conducting the Cadastre of Meliorative Condition in Irrigated Areas Subject to Climate Change

Abstract

In 1982, the Ministry of melioration and water industry (now called the Ministry of agriculture and water industry) began conducting the cadastre of meliorative condition of irrigated areas and technical condition of hydrameliorative systems. This cadastre is still performed according to methods created during the former USSR. Today, these methods do not meet requirements of practice under conditions of increasing deficiency of water resources, their deterioration, and climate change. In this study, the acceptable depth to ground water (LGW) for different hydrogeologic and soil conditions is investigated. Methods for ensuring that a sufficient water supply exists for irrigated areas are developed based on irrigation and climatic factors and degree of area drainage. In the assessment of meliorative condition indicators, we suggest that investigators analyze the evolution over the most recent 3–5 years taking into account their degree of stability during and crop capacity. To justify the repair-and-renewal operations and construction work on irrigational-drainage systems, the new methods are based on actual fluid-and-electrolyte balances and engineering of the hydraulic structures.