Impact of Telugu Ganga Project on Irrigation Efficiency and Crop Yield in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the effect of rainfall and canal water on paddy and groundnut yield in Nellore under Telugu Ganga Project (TGP) command in Andhra Pradesh. The evaluation was made using different indicators at the start (1997) and end of the study (2018). The study focused on evaluation of TGP for assessing the crop condition, inventory, calendar, irrigation potential, irrigation scheduling and yield attained in the command. Optimization was done to identify suitable rainfall and canal water levels for maximizing the yield. Paddy area significantly increased by 129.2% (78688 to 180351 ha) due to supply of canal water, while groundnut area decreased by 54.1% (35181 to 16152 ha) over years. Based on NDVI, maximum kharif paddy area of 44% was under ‘good’ category in 1997, while 52% was under ‘very good’ category in 2018.Maximum rabi paddy area of 51% was in ‘good’ category in 1997, while 56% was under ‘very good’ category in 2018. In Nellore, mean equity of 60.3% (CV of 55%), uniformity of 69% (CV of 44.5%), irrigation intensity of 72.1% (CV of 62.7%), consumed ratio/efficiency of 50.9% (CV of 53.3%), adequacy of 159% (CV of 24.5%) andyield of 5552 kg/ha (CV of 25.6%) were observed. Among 8 mandals of Nellore, NDVI of paddy ranged from 0.324-0.396 with mean of 0.362 (CV of 6.6%) in 1997, while it ranged from 0.475-0.547 with mean of 0.510 (CV of 4.2%) in 2018. In groundnut, NDVI ranged from 0.282-0.404 with mean of 0.328 (CV of 12.7%) in 1997, while it ranged from 0.489-0.552 with mean of 0.516 (CV of 4.3%) in 2018. Among 33 mandals of TGP command, NDVI of paddy ranged from 0.324-0.616 with mean of 0.503 (CV of 17.6%) in 1997, while it ranged from 0.475-0.811 with mean of 0.650 (CV of 16.9%) in 2018. In groundnut, NDVI ranged from 0.282-0.653 with mean of 0.526 (CV of 22.5%) in 1997, while it ranged from 0.489-0.867 with mean of 0.667 (CV of 15.9%) in 2018.