The objective of this study was to evaluate the AquaCrop model, developed by FAO, for its ability to simulate crop performance under full and deficit irrigation in a humid environment in Konkan region of Maharashtra. Different irrigation (depth of irrigation) scenarios on crop yields grown in the irrigation command and their effects on sustainability and project benefit were also tested in the study. Panchnadi Minor Irrigation Project was selected as a case study. The management scenarios were developed for improving irrigation efficiency and were compared in terms of monetary benefits with present status of irrigation project. The possibility of deficit irrigation was also explored for light texture soil in command area. Project net benefit for 10, 30 and 50 per cent deficit scenarios was Rs. 23.67, 12.20 and - 0.74 lakh, respectively. The results suggested that 10 per cent deficit strategy could be beneficial for irrigation command under study. The net water allocation for 10 per cent deficit scenario was 0.31 Mm3 for the live storage in the reservoir of 1.461 Mm3. The canal could be run from 1st October to 31st May of the year i.e. for 243 days. The overall efficiency of the lined and unlined sections of canal and unlined field channel under existing condition was observed as 75, 52 and 35 per cent, respectively. The total loss from lined and unlined main canal sections and unlined field channels was observed as 0.184, 0.61 and 0.183 Mm3, respectively. The gross water allocation for 10 per cent deficit irrigation strategy was 1.43 Mm3.

Full text: IJEIR-1292_final.pdf