An economist's perspective on irrigation performance assessment: With examples from large scale irrigation in Morocco

This paper accepts that assessing the performance of irrigated agriculture is difficult because being multi-dimensional it requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Public irrigation schemes may have a number of often competing objectives and are assessed by interest groups with differing values and perspectives. A wide range of performance indicators are thus required. Some of these and the complex inter-relationships that may exist in the system are illustrated.     

The River Wadu role play — ten years experience

This paper describes a role playing planning exercise that has been used for training agriculturists, engineers and agricultural economists for more than ten years. It sets out the objectives and key features of the exercise and the experience that has been gained in its use. The exercise has been found to successfully test and integrate subject matter expertise acquired from formal teaching. It also highlights the multiple and often conflicting objectives of irrigation planning, and the need for full evaluation of alternatives and sound technical judgements under conditions of inadequate data and time pressure. The exercise is also successful in developing professional personal skills such as group working, interviewing and presentation, and is recommended as an effective training aid.     

Managing the water balance of The Fayoum Depression,Egypt

A study of the water balances of The Fayoum irrigated lands and Lake Qarun was made to investigate the management of the irrigation system and the efficiency of irrigation water use. The two water balances are strongly interrelated. The drainage flow to Lake Qarun and the water level of the Lake are in delicate balance. A rise in Lake level causes the inundation of adjacent land. Management of The Fayoum water balance assumes control over irrigation water flows, but this control has technical and organizational limitations. Also discussed is the influence of irrigation practices in The Fayoum on the water balance (e.g., the autumn flushing of fields and farmers' preference for not irrigating at night in winter). Notwithstanding a high overall efficiency, irrigation efficiency during the winter is low. The reasons for this are given, together with the constraints against improving system management. Improved uniformity of the division and application of irrigation water will enable a better technical control of flows and will result in better water management in The Fayoum. Abbreviations: FID — Fayoum Irrigation Department, 1 feddan (fe) — 0.4 ha, 1 mcm — 1 million cubic metres: an average annual flow of 3.17 m³/s gives 100 mcm, m³/fe.year — supplied volume (m³) per surface area (fe) per year: 1000 m³/fe.year equals 240 mm/year, MSL — Mean Sea Level     

A postscript: Macroeconomics and structural adjustment — the minimum for water sector specialists

The need for a grasp of macroeconomic concepts and methods for microeconomists and technical specialists is stressed. At this juncture policy failure is commonplace. Experience in using the World Bank Structural Adjustment in Lowinca as a training exercise is discussed.     

Water management for irrigation in Antiquity (Urartu 850 to 600 B.C.)

The kingdom of Urartu existed in Eastern Anatolia from about 850 B.C. to 600 B.C. Historical references and archaeological evidence indicate the considerable artistic and technical skill of the Urartian people. The supply of the kingdoms capital Tupa/Rusahinili with drinking and irrigation water is an outstanding example of a well-planned and excellently built historical inter-basin water management project. The system has been in operation for more than 2000 years and still serves, at least partly, its original purpose.     

Modernization of furrow irrigation in the South-East of France automation at field level and its implications

Surface irrigation rehabilitation in the South-East of France has shown success ever since the beginning of its development in the early 1980s. The gradual introduction of surface distributors, mechanized or automated has resulted in water savings and above all in decreased labor input. The distributors used are: gated pipes, layflat tubing, buried low pressure pipe and cablegation. They are used over an ever increasing area which attained about 1000 ha in 1987.Improvement is made in furrow head distribution as well as in field levelling, furrow flow evaluation, flow control at the head of the furrow and in the collective system.The effect of a modernized system and improved knowledge has been to make automated surface irrigation (particularly furrow irrigation) a modern application method in competition with techniques such as sprinklers and localized irrigation.Abbreviations ASAE American Society of Agricultural Engineers - CEMAGREF Centre d'Etude du Machinisme Agricole du Génie Rural des Eaux et des Forêts, Division Irrigation, BP 5095, 34033 Montpellier et BP 31 Le Tholonet 13612 AIX - ENGREF Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural des Eaux et des Forêts, Département Maîtrise de l'Eau et Développement, BP 5093, 34033 Montpellier - IRAT Institute de Recherche en Agronomie Tropicale, Zolad Mini Parc Bt7, 34100 Montpellier - P.V.C. Polyvinyl chloride - RNEDHA Réseau National Expérimentation Démonstration secteur Hydraulique Agricole, BP 5095, 34033 Montpellier - SCP Société du Canal de Provence et d'Aménagement de la Région Provençale, BP 100, 13603 AIX en Provence     

A comparative description of two farmer-managed irrigation systems in Nepal

The organization of two farmer-managed irrigation systems in the western hills of Nepal is described by examining the ways in which the activities of water allocation, water distribution, maintenance, and resource mobilization are performed. Due to the topography and environment, these two organizations are structured primarily to mobilize the large amount of labor required for maintenance of the intake and canal. Both organizations precisely define each member's water allocation. In one system, water is allocated in proportion to the area of an individual's land holding, while in the other water allocation is by purchased shares. These two cases were used to analyze the importance of the principle of water allocation for expansion of area irrigated and equity of access to irrigation. Evidence from the two systems shows that in this hill environment water allocation by purchased shares provides the individual incentive and an organizational mechanism for efficient development of irrigation resources. Expansion of area irrigated and equity of access to irrigation were found to be greater in the system which allocates water by purchased shares than where water was allocated in proportion to area irrigated.     

喷灌工程规划设计多方案选优的语言化与定量化相结合模糊综合评判数学模型

本文提出了喷灌工程规划设计多方案选优的语言化与定量化相结合的模糊综合评判数学模型,从而可得到比传统喷灌工程规划设计方案选优方法更为合理、满意的结果。     

保雨灌溉技术的研究与推广

保雨灌溉技术的核心是向天空要水,与蒸发夺水,充分利用自然降水和土壤水分,满足作物需要。在作物需水不足时,提取地下水补充灌溉。三年试验结果表明,保雨灌溉比常规井灌年均节水2091mm/hm~2,增产粮食2020kg/hm~2,促进了优质高效农业的发展。     

Farmers' irrigation practices in a high rainfall area

Recent droughts in the humid southeastern United States have focused attention on the need for and use of supplemental irrigation. Total annual rainfall amounts are sufficient for most crops in the region. However, erratic distribution of rainfall and the low water-holding capacities of most soils in the region cause frequent drought stresses in many crops. An on-farm study was conducted in southeastern Alabama to evaluate the effects of farmers' irrigation scheduling decisions on soil moisture variations in peanut fields irrigated with center-pivot irrigation systems. The study showed that the way irrigation was practiced in this high rainfall area often caused soil moisture deficit (SMD) level higher than the desired SMD limit during over 20% of the 140-day growing season. This is partially due to farmers' tendency to delay irrigation in anticipation of rainfall which may or may not occur, as rainfall during the growing season is often erratic and local. In contrast SMD in non-irrigated fields was higher than the SMD limit for half of the growing season.Abbreviations SMD soil moisture deficit - ET evapotranspiration - R_eff effective rainfall - WHC water holding capacity