Estimation of Monthly Irrigation Water Requirement of Crops Using CROPWAT

Abstract

Water is increasingly becoming a limited resource due to rising demands for various uses, including hydropower generation, irrigation, and domestic supply. As the population grows, the need for water across different sectors constantly increases. However, the availability of water resources is restricted both spatially and temporally. Therefore, there is an urgent need for systematic and scientific planning to ensure its optimal use. Agriculture sector being the major consumer of water resources, the adoption of modern irrigation techniques can significantly reduce water consumption and promote water conservation. This advancement will expand the irrigated areas and ultimately lead to increased agricultural productivity. Irrigation water requirements of major crops, namely, Paddy, maize, sugarcane etc. are determined using the CROPWAT model. The present study aimed to find out the irrigation water requirement for the major crops grown in Krishna Central Delta, Andhra Pradesh. Results revealed that irrigation water requirement for kharif season ranges from 89-475 mm and in rabi season varies from 320-821 mm. For sugarcane irrigation water requirement was found to be 927 mm.