Modeling approach for the assessment of recharge contribution to groundwater from surface irrigation conveyance system

Rice–Wheat rotation system utilizes surface, ground and rain water resources conjunctively. Recent studies have shown increasing contribution of groundwater for crop irrigation. As the system utilizes water pumped from the underlying aquifer and partly seeps back, a cycle of recharge and discharge continues. Sustainability of groundwater system for the on-going drought in the country depends mainly on the recharge of the aquifer. The reported study was, therefore, carried out to measure and assess the recharge contribution of a distributary of canal in Punjab, Pakistan. Assessment of recharge through distributary was carried out using a groundwater flow “MODFLOW” model, which utilized the observed watertable, climatic, crop and soil for a period of about 1 year in addition to hydraulic conductivity, evapotranspiration and aquifer characteristics data. The requisite primary data for “MODFLOW” were collected from field and secondary data from public sector organizations dealing with water. Model calibration involved changing input parameters within reasonable limits until acceptable matches were obtained between the observed and simulated water levels for all observed hydrographs. The external inputs such as, recharge through irrigation, precipitation, stresses due to evaporation, lateral flow and stream were simulated to calculate the monthly water budget of aquifer. As concluded, recharge contribution was 16.5% of the inflow rate of the distributary. Using predicted results of the model a relationship between recharge (R) and discharge (Q) was also developed. Although, the presented results of recharge contribution were limited to one distributary of canal irrigation system, yet the developed methodology can be extended to the other canal systems of the Indus Basin.     

Combining hydrological modeling and GIS approaches to determine the spatial distribution of groundwater recharge in an arid irrigation scheme

Accurate quantification of the rate of groundwater (GW) recharge, a pre-requisite for the sustainable management of GW resources, needs to capture complex processes, such as the upward flow of water under shallow GW conditions, which are often disregarded when estimating recharge at a larger scale. This paper provides (1) a method to determine GW recharge at the field level, (2) a consequent procedure for up-scaling these findings from field to irrigation scheme level and (3) an assessment of the impacts of improved irrigation efficiency on the rate of GW recharge. The study is based on field data from the 2007 growing season in a Water Users Association (WUA Shomakhulum) in Khorezm district of Uzbekistan, Central Asia, an arid region that is characterized by a predominance of cotton, wheat and rice under irrigation. Previous qualitative studies in the region reported irrigation water supplies far above the crop water requirements, which cause GW recharge. A field water balance model was adapted to the local irrigation scheme; recharge was considered to be a fraction of the irrigation water losses, determined as the difference between net and gross irrigation requirements. Capillary rise contribution from shallow GW levels was determined with the HYDRUS-1D model. Six hydrological response units (HRUs) were created based on GW levels and soil texture using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Recharge calculated at the field level was up-scaled first to these HRUs and then to the whole WUA. To quantify the impact of improved irrigation efficiency on recharge rates, four improved irrigation efficiency scenarios were developed. The area under cotton had the second highest recharge (895 mm) in the peak irrigation period, after rice with 2,514 mm. But with a low area share of rice in the WUA of <1 %, rice impacted the total recharge only marginally. Due to the higher recharge rates of cotton, which is grown on about 40 % of the cropped area, HRUs with a higher share of cotton showed higher recharge (9.6 mm day^?1 during August) than those with a lower share of cotton (4.4 mm day^?1). The high recharge rates in the cotton fields were caused by its water requirements and the special treatment given to this crop by water management planners due to its strategic importance in the country. The scenario simulations showed that seasonal recharge under improved irrigation efficiency could potentially be reduced from 4 mm day^?1 (business-as-usual scenario) to 1.4 mm day^?1 (scenario with maximum achievable efficiency). The combination of field-level modeling/monitoring and GIS approaches improved recharge estimates because spatial variability was accounted for, which can assist water managers to assess the impact of improved irrigation efficiencies on groundwater recharge. This impact assessment enables managers to identify options for a recharge policy, which is an important component of integrated management of surface and groundwater resources.     

Salinity assessment of groundwater for irrigation to prevent soil salinization

Electrical conductivity( EC) is considered as the most important indicator for assessment of groundwater quality. Determination of suitable interpolation method for derivation of groundwater quality variables map such as EC is dependent on region conditions and existence of enough data. For determining groundwater EC,341 groundwater samples were randomly collected from the central regions of Guilan province,paddy soils,in northern Iran. Interpolation methods including inverse distance weighting( IDW),global polynomial interpolation( GPI),local polynomial interpolation( LPI),radial basis function( RBF),ordinary kriging( OK) and empirical Bayesian Kriging( EBK) were used to generate spatial distribution of groundwater EC. The results indicate that EBK is a superior method with the least RMSE,MAE and the highest R2. The generated maps can be used to identify the regions in the studied area where groundwater could be allowed to be extracted and utilized by farmers to reduce adverse effect of the scarcity of surface water.     

A model for conjunctive use of groundwater and surface waters for control of irrigation salinity

Changes in the hydrologic balance in many irrigation areas, including those in the Murray Basin, Australia, have resulted in high watertables and salinity problems. However, where suitable aquifers exist, groundwater pumping and subsequent irrigation application after mixing with surface waters (referred to as conjunctive water use) can control salinity and watertable depth and improve productivity of degraded land. In order to assess where conjunctive water use will successfully control salinity, it is necessary to estimate the effects of pumped groundwater salinity on rootzone salinity. A simple steady rate model is derived for this purpose from mass conservation of salt and water. The model enables an estimate to be made of rootzone salinity for any particular salinity level of the groundwater being used in conjunction with surface water; this enables calculation of the required crop salt tolerance to prevent yield reductions. The most important input parameters for the model are groundwater salinity, the annual depth of class A pan evaporation, the annual depth of rainfall, the salinity of irrigation water, and a leaching parameter. For model parameters nominated in this paper, where groundwater salinity reaches 5 dS/m a crop threshold salt tolerance greater than 1.6 dS/m is required to avoid yield reductions. Where groundwater salinity approaches 10 dS/m, a crop threshold tolerance of 3 dS/m is required. Whilst the model derived indicates that rootzone salinity is sensitive to groundwater salinity, rootzone salinity is insensitive to leaching for leaching fractions commonly encountered (0.1 to 0.4). The insensitivity to leaching means that it could be expected that similar yields could be attained on heavy or light textured soils. This insensitivity also implies that there is no yield penalty from increasing the mass of pumped salt by pumping to achieve maximum watertable control in addition to leaching. The model developed is also used to estimate yield reductions expected under conjunctive use, for any particular levels of groundwater salinity and crop salt tolerance.     

地下水灌溉水质评价的对数型幂函数指数方法

为了科学合理、简便有效地评价灌溉水质,提出了一个灌溉水质评价的指数公式,并采用粒子群算法优化公式中的参数,得出优化后适用于多指标的灌溉水质评价公式.以新疆阿拉尔垦区、尉犁县和宁夏平罗县的水质资料为例进行验证.结果表明,该公式与综合危害系数法、模糊综合评价、突变理论的评价结果基本一致.新疆阿拉尔垦区和宁夏平罗的地下水适合农业灌溉,而尉犁县平原灌区浅层地下水不宜长期直接灌溉.灌溉水质评价公式具有简单便捷的优点,可以快速地得出灌溉水质评价结果,为灌溉水质评价提供了新的有效途径.     

基于GIS灌溉系统的应用研究

GIS与实时控制系统集成是GIS的重要应用之一。本文以MAPINFO作为GIS平台，采用MAPINFO的DDE技术通过高级编程语言Delphi实现了与PLC的链接，完成了两者的集成。并在灌溉系统中得到应用。     

Infiltration parameters from surface irrigation advance and run-off data

A computer model was developed to employ runoff data in the calculation of the infiltration parameters of the modified Kostiakov equation. The model (IPARM) uses a simple volume balance approach to estimate the parameters from commonly collected field data. Several data sets have been used to verify the procedure. Infiltration parameters were calculated using both advance and runoff data combined and advance data alone. Simulations of each example using SIRMOD were compared to the measured data to identify the possible benefits of the procedure. The inclusion of runoff did not compromise the ability to reproduce the advance curve however the simulations are more capable of reproducing the measured runoff rates and volumes and therefore offer better estimations of the total volume applied to the soil (in one case a reduction in error of the total infiltration from 22% to 1%). This procedure will be of most benefit where the infiltration parameters are expected to represent soil hydraulic characteristics for times greater than the completion of the advance phase. Further analysis has shown that the infiltration parameters are more sensitive to runoff than the advance highlighting the requirement for accurate field measurement and a weighting factor between the advance and runoff errors.     

Decision support framework for assessment of non-point-source pollution of groundwater in large irrigation projects

Agriculture is the main non-point polluter of groundwater in irrigated areas as fertilizers and other agrochemicals are the main contaminants in the water that drains out of the root zone to recharge the aquifer. Nitrates from fertilizers, dissolved in percolation losses from rice fields, are the source of pollution considered. The concentration of nitrates in the percolated water depends on the distributed field water and nitrogen balances over the area. Its concentration in the groundwater depends on the total recharge, pollution loading, groundwater flow and solute transport within the aquifer. The development and application of a GIS based decision support framework that integrates field scale models of these processes for assessment of non-point-source pollution of groundwater in canal irrigation project areas is presented. The GIS is used for representing the spatial variations in input data over the area and map the output of the recharge and nitrogen balance models. The latter are used to provide the spatially distributed recharge and pollutant load inputs to the distributed groundwater flow and transport models, respectively. Alternate strategies for water and fertilizer use can be evaluated using this framework to ensure long-term sustainability of productive agriculture in large irrigation projects. The development and application of the framework is illustrated by taking a case study of a large canal irrigation system in India.     

地下水与地表水联合调度智能监控系统

以控制地下水位在合理范围为目的的地下水与地表水联合调度智能监控系统,由相对独立的地下水与地表水联合调度数值模拟和计算机监控两部分组成,数据交换通过Access数据库实现.系统的内部体系与运行流程分为信息采集层、调度决策层和决策执行层3个层次,外部结构由一个数据分析处理中心站和若干个设置于监控现场的控制子站组成,中心站与各个子站采用无线数据传输.先由计算机监控部分采集相关数据,然后就不同的井渠配水比例和灌溉模式分别通过地下水与地表水联合调度数值模拟系统进行模拟与预测,以人机交互的方式确定最优配水方案,再通过计算机屏幕上虚拟的操作面板发出控制指令,由计算机监控部分实施具体灌溉.构成了集信息采集、数据分析、优化调度和可视化操作于一体的模块化设计、分布式、人机交互的智能监控系统.监控系统子站的CPU采用睡眠唤醒模式工作,以减少受干扰概率.触点采样施加100 V,25 mA交流电,以提高在潮湿环境下长期工作的可靠性.系统设计理念先进,结构合理.经试验,系统工作稳定、可靠,可为同类系统的设计提供借鉴与参考.     

Development of an adaptive surface irrigation system

Cablegation is a simple system for automating surface irrigation in small- and medium-sized fields using a gated pipe. In this work, a Programmable Logic Control, PLC, was used to develop an adaptive cablegation system capable of establishing the infiltration equation in real time and then adjusting the irrigation times to the infiltration rate and field geometry. A controlling program was developed for the on-field determination of the infiltration equation, simulation of advance in each furrow, and the optimization and management of the irrigation event. The equipment was tested in three experimental stations, including a Luvissol field organized in contour terraces with furrows of various lengths. The results demonstrate the capability of the system to adapt the application times to the different furrow lengths and the gradual decrease in the soil infiltration and to recommend an application depth that optimizes the Application Efficiency. Various improvements were made to this solar-powered cablegation, resulting in a reliable surface irrigation system capable of unsupervised operation.     

Optimization of groundwater abstraction system and distribution pipe in pressurized irrigation systems for minimum cost

A tool named DOPIR (Dimensioning Of Pressurized IRrigation) was developed to optimize the process of water abstraction from an aquifer for pressurized irrigation systems. This tool integrates the main factors throughout the irrigation process, from the water source to the emitter. The objective is to minimize the total cost of water abstraction and application (C _T) (investment (C _a) + operation (C _op) per unit of irrigated area according to the type of aquifer, crop water requirement and electricity rate periods. To highlight the usefulness of this tool, DOPIR has been applied to a corn crop in Spain with a permanent sprinkler irrigation system, considering two types of aquifer: confined and unconfined. The effects of parameters such as the static water table in the aquifer (SWT), irrigated area (S), number of subunits in the plot (NS), sprinkler and lateral pipe spacing, and average application rate (ARa) on C _T have been analyzed. Results show that energy cost (C _e) is the most important component of C _T (50–72 % in the case studies). Thus, it is very important to adapt the design and management of the irrigation and pumping system throughout the irrigation season to the energy rate periods.     

GIS user-interface based irrigation delivery performance assessment: a case study for Tanjung Karang rice irrigation scheme in Malaysia

Various indicators are used for evaluating the performance of different aspects of an irrigation system, and assessments also differ in terms of the types of performance indicators used. This paper describes a GIS-based assessment system which utilizes a new concept and evaluated the inadequacy of a widely used Relative Water Supply (RWS) concept to characterize the irrigation delivery performance for a rice irrigation system as the season advances. Development of this GIS-based assessment system resulted in the creation of new indicators, viz., the Rice Relative Water Supply (RRWS), Cumulative Rice Relative Water Supply (CRRWS) and Ponding Water Index (PWI). These indicators were determined from field tests and evaluated in a Malaysian Tanjung Karang Rice Irrigation Scheme (TAKRIS). The RWS concept was found to be inaccurate for characterizing the oversupply condition on irrigation deliveries for rice irrigation; and difficult to correctly quantify the oversupply condition for irrigation supplies. Besides, it was found that the RRWS indicator can distinctly characterize the oversupply condition for RRWS > 1.0 and undersupply condition for RRWS < 1.0 on irrigation delivery for any given period. A value of 1.0 for RRWS indicates an irrigation delivery that matches perfectly the actual field water demand. This study presents a cumulative RRWS plot that provides important information on irrigation supplies for any given time interval for management decisions. An increasing slope in the actual CRRWS curve with CRRWS = 1.0, means that irrigation supply can be slightly curtailed in the next period. On the other hand, if the slope is negative, supply has to be increased. If a computed CRRWS line follows the CRRWS = 1.0 line, it means that irrigation deliveries are perfectly matched with the field water demand. A graphical user-interface was developed for structuring the assessment tool within an ArcGIS platform. The system can instantly provide information on the uniformity of water distribution and the shortfall or excess, and provides vital information in terms of decisions that need to be made for the next period. The system helps to maintain continuous updating of input and output databases on real field conditions. Results are displayed on the computer screen together with color-coded maps, graphs and tables in a comprehensible form. The system is likely to be adopted for evaluating various water allocation scenarios and water management options. It can also be used as an analytical and operational tool for irrigation managers.     

Modern analysis of surface irrigation systems with WinSRFR

WinSRFR is a new generation of software for analyzing surface irrigation systems. Founded on an unsteady flow hydraulic model, the software integrates event analysis, design, and operational analysis functionalities, in addition to simulation. This paper provides an overview of functionalities, interface, and architectural elements of the software, and discusses technical enhancements in version 2.1, released in late 2007, and version 3.1, scheduled for release in 2009.     

An approach for precision farming under pivot irrigation system using remote sensing and GIS techniques

The current work is aimed to realizing land and water use efficiency and determining the profitability of precision farming economically and environmentally. The studied area is represented by an experimental pivot irrigation field cultivated with maize in Ismailia province, Egypt. Two field practices were carried out during the successive summer growing seasons (2008 and 2009) to study the response of maize plants single hybrid 10 (S.H.10) to traditional and precision farming practices. Traditional farming (TF) as handled by the farm workers were observed and noted carefully. On the other hand precision farming (PF) practices included field scouting, grid soil sampling, variable rate technology and its applications. After applying PF a dramatic change in management zones was noticed and three management zones (of total four) were merged to be more homogenous representing 84.3% of the pivot irrigation field.Under PF Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques have played a vital role in the variable rate applications that were defined due to management zones requirements. Fertilizers were added in variable rates, so that rationalization of fertilizers saved 23.566 tonnes/experimental pivot area. Natural drainage system was improved by designing vertical holes to break down massive soil layers and to leach excessive salts. Crop water requirements were determined in variable rate according to the actual plant requirements using SEBAL model with the aid of FAO Cropwat model. Irrigation schedule of maize was adopted considering soil water retention, depletion, gross and net irrigation saving an amount of water equal to 93,718 m³ in the pivot irrigation field (153.79 acre). However costs of applying PF were much higher than TF, the economic profitability (returns-costs) achieved remarkable increase of 29.89% as a result of crop yield increment by 1000, 2100, 800 and 200 kg/acre in the management zones 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Finally applying adequate amounts of fertilizers beside water control the environmental hazards was reduced to the acceptable limits.     

新疆砾石地葡萄滴灌带合理设计及布设参数的数值分析

为了摸清新疆含砾石复杂土壤条件下土壤水分运动规律,优化葡萄滴灌系统设计中的各项设计参数及合理布设,该文通过田间交汇试验确定合适的滴头间距为30 cm,并借助Hydrus-2D数值模型确定了土壤水力参数,同时运用该数值模型模拟了不同滴头流量和滴灌带水平间距布设形式下地表滴灌土壤水分分布特征。根据土壤湿润体特征结合葡萄根系分布规律,确定新疆砾石地葡萄滴灌系统合理的滴头流量为2.5～3.0 L/h,滴灌带水平间距为60 cm。该结果可为新疆砾石地复杂土壤葡萄滴灌系统的科学设计和田间合理布设提供参考。     

Interrelationships of performance parameters for irrigation borders

The ability to determine irrigation performance parameters for a given set of hydralic variables facilitates optimum irrigation system design without requiring field trials. Relationships between several irrigation management parameters, specifically application efficiency, distribution uniformity, runoff and deep percolation, are presented. The field variables inflow, border length, time of cut-off, slope roughness and soil infiltration characteristics, are input variables for determining management parameters. They are applied through the use of dimensionless curves of runoff and equations of the ultimate distribution of infiltrated water. An example to illustrate the use of the developed relationships and dimensionless curves is included.     

Using shallow saline groundwater for irrigation and regulating for soil salt-water regime

Drought and fresh water shortage are the main limiting factorsfor sustainable development of agriculture in North China Plain.Using saline water for irrigation plays important role forovercoming the constraints and increasing crops yields. Theexploitation and utilization of shallow saline groundwaterenables to regulate the groundwater depth and to promote thetransform of precipitation into available water resources.Thispaper reviews the research and practice on the utilization ofshallow saline groundwater in the part east of South GreatCanal in Haihe River Plain. Findings are presented on the useof saline water, cycling and blending of saline and fresh waterfor irrigation, indexing of crops salt tolerances, regulating forsoil salt-water regime, saline-alkali land reclamation andgroundwater quality freshening. These approaches help therational regulation and utilization of the local water resourcesfor comprehensive control of drought, waterlogging and salinity.     

A comparison of two methodologies for assessment of irrigation performance under the Warabandi system

A water management study of Warabandi in northwest India in 1983 developed a methodology for assessing the performance of large scale smallholder irrigation schemes by observing irrigated areas and carrying out random crop cutting. A study of Warabandi in 1988 took a shorter amount of time and concentrated on direct measurements of flow and seepage in order to assess the performance of the physical conveyance system. This paper contrasts these two approaches and gives practical guidance on how to go about carrying out a rapid assessment of the performance of the physical conveyance system of an irrigation scheme.     

太阳能喷灌系统供给能源与水力性能关系

为了解决太阳能喷灌系统应用中无法对喷头水力性能进行有效预测的问题,以光照强度为影响因素,太阳能喷灌系统泵出口流量、泵出口压力、喷洒射程、水量分布及系统灌溉均匀性系数为评价指标,通过在夏季典型天气25~36℃下的系统水力性能试验,寻找不同光照强度下系统喷洒水力性能的变化规律,获得系统最佳工作状态下所需光照强度.试验结果表明:随着光照强度的增大,系统流量及泵出口压力均增大,泵的流量和压力随光照强度的变化规律基本符合指数分布规律.当光照强度大于900.0 W/m²时,系统流量、泵出口压力、射程及水量分布基本保持不变.获得了平均光照强度与均匀性系数函数关系,当光照强度大于900.0 W/m²时,系统喷灌均匀系数大于88%.当光照强度为200.0~600.0 W/m²时,系统喷灌均匀系数为76%~82%.太阳能喷灌系统在光照强度大于200.0 W/m²时可正常工作.该研究为改善太阳能喷灌系统水力性能,促进太阳能喷灌系统在实际工程中的推广应用提供了参考.     

Assessment of surface and sub-surface waterlogged areas in irrigation command areas of Bihar state using remote sensing and GIS

Satellite remote sensing coupled with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) offers an excellent alternative to conventional mapping techniques in monitoring and mapping of surface and sub-surface waterlogged areas. In the present study, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon surface waterlogged areas were delineated in all the 132 irrigation command areas of the Bihar State, India using Indian Remote Sensing (IRS-1D) Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS-III) data acquired during the period 2002–2003. Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was used primarily to delineate surface waterlogged areas. Perennial waterlogged and seasonal waterlogged areas were identified for the study area by integrating the waterlogged areas derived for both the pre- and post-monsoon seasons under GIS environment. Results show that the total surface waterlogged area in Bihar is 628 × 10³ ha, which is 10.57% of command area (5939 × 10³ ha) and spread over 132 command areas. Perennial surface inundation covers 2.95% of the waterlogged area in all the command areas. Maximum waterlogged area is observed in Gandak command (212 × 10³ ha) followed by Eastern Kosi irrigation scheme (116 × 10³ ha) and Sone modernization scheme (82 × 10³ ha), respectively. Further, waterlogged areas induced by rise in groundwater level were also assessed spatially under GIS environment using the ground water level data pertaining to pre- and post-monsoon seasons of the year 2002–2003 which were spread all over the study area. The analysis of pre- and post-monsoon groundwater levels indicates that the area under non-critical category during pre-monsoon period was reduced from 4287 × 10³ ha (72.72% of command) to 1391 × 10³ ha (23.42%) in the post-monsoon. Area under most critical category during post-monsoon period increased from 0.083 × 10³ ha of command area in pre-monsoon period to 50 × 10³ ha. The study demonstrates utility of integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques for assessment of waterlogged areas particularly in regions where waterlogging conditions occur both due to excessive irrigation and accumulation of rain and floodwaters.