The document discusses irrigation water use efficiency in India. It makes the following key points: 1. Irrigation accounts for over 80% of water use in India but efficiency is only 38-40% for canals and 60% for groundwater. Improving efficiency could irrigate 14 million more hectares. 2. Major issues affecting efficiency include outdated irrigation technologies, inadequate infrastructure design and maintenance, and lack of water management. 3. Options to improve efficiency include modernizing irrigation systems, conjunctive surface and groundwater use, watershed management, precision land leveling, drip/sprinkler irrigation, and deficit irrigation tailored to crop needs. Increasing efficiency 10% could irrig

1. IRRIGATION WATER USE
EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY
By
R.D. Singh
Director
National Institute of Hydrology
Roorkee

2. INTRODUCTION
Irrigation accounts for over 80% of total
t ithd lwater withdrawals
A huge amount of capital invested in
major & medium irrigation projectsmajor & medium irrigation projects
The food production increased from 50 mThe food production increased from 50 m
tonnes (1951) to about 252 m tonnes
(2025-16 crop year) by expanding the(2025 16 crop year) by expanding the
irrigated area.

3. INTRODUCTION (contd…)
Major concerns in irrigated agriculture is the
poor water use efficiency which is estimated to
b b t 38 t 40% f l i i ti dbe about 38 to 40% for canal irrigation and
about 60% for ground water irrigation schemes.
The food grain requirement by 2050 AD is
estimated at 450 million tonnesestimated at 450 million tonnes.
A i it i t id i i ti tArea wise it is necessary to provide irrigation to
at least 130 m ha for food crops alone and in an
area of 160 m ha for all crops to meet thearea of 160 m ha for all crops to meet the
demands of the country in 2050 AD.

4. INTRODUCTION (contd…)
CWC estimates that the ultimate irrigation
potential that can be created from surface and
d t ld b b t 139 9ground water sources would be about 139.9
million ha
In the majority of river basins in India, the
present utilization is high and in the range ofpresent utilization is high and in the range of
50 to 95%.
Therefore, the great challenge for the coming
decades is increasing water use efficiency andg y
to achieve higher productivity of water.

5. OBJECTIVES
To discuss some of
To suggest feasible
To discuss some of
the issues related
to poor irrigation
options to increase
the irrigation
to poor irrigation
efficiency
efficiency in
agriculture.

6. IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
Irrigation efficiency is
d f
From the water
supply point (dam,
river canal
Used to express the
effective utilization
composed of
different efficiencies,
all related to
different elements in
river, canal,
groundwater) to the
farmer’s field, the
following efficiencieseffective utilization
of irrigation water.
different elements in
water distribution
and water
application within
following efficiencies
can be identified.
• canal conveyance
efficiency application within
irrigation projects.
y
• field application efficiency

7. IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY (contd…)
 Canal conveyance eff. (ec)
 expresses the efficiency of water transport
 determined by soil types and irrigation system such as
lined or unlined canals, operation and maintenance of
water distribution structures along irrigation canals etc.
 Field application eff. (ea)
 determined by the irrigation methods used at farm level determined by the irrigation methods used at farm level
 Overall irrigation scheme efficiency (eo)
eo = ea *ec

8. MAJOR ISSUES CONCERNING WATER USE EFFICIENCY
Allocation
Sl d ti
Allocation
and optimum
use of
available
Slow adoption
of improved
irrigation
technologies
water,
technologies
Low performance of
many irrigation systems
due to variety of
shortcomings such as:
•inadequate system design,
The most obvious manifestations
of these shortcomings are:
•gaps in created potential and
utilization,
•unreliable main system water
supply,inadequate system design,
•system layouts that do not
adequately reflect existing
conditions
•inappropriate governance
arrangements,
•use of traditional irrigation
supply,
•water wastage and poor
maintenance practices
g
methods

9. MAJOR ISSUES CONCERNING WATER USE EFFICIENCY …
The contribution of public surface irrigation has been on
decline due to unreliable supplies and poor maintenance of the
public irrigation infrastructure.
Growth of well irrigation & more intensive exploitation of GW
have been at the expense of irrigation from tanks and other
so rcessources.
Low irrigation efficiencies can also be attributed to the lack of
measurement devices in irrigation systems to measure themeasurement devices in irrigation systems to measure the
water flows and the lack of data on cropping pattern.
There is a need for continuous monitoring of data on flowsThere is a need for continuous monitoring of data on flows,
crops, state of system repair, and agricultural practices.
Irrigation also causes environmental problems including
drainage, salinisation, habitat change, & human health

10. SCOPE FOR IMPROVING IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
Traditional irrigation technologies viz. border and flood irrigation usually
result in substantial water losses and limited uniformity in water
distribution.
It is estimated that 10% increase in the present level of water use efficiency
can bring an additional 14 m ha area under irrigation from existingcan bring an additional 14 m ha area under irrigation from existing
irrigation capacities in the country
It is also reported that the water use efficiency can be increased up to 65%
in an unlined open channel system.
Efficient design & proper maintenance of irrigation systems, use of modern
irrigation technologies, conjunctive use of SW & GW, reuse of escaped
water, innovative participatory approaches at community level, andwater, innovative participatory approaches at community level, and
integrating agricultural activities for efficient application of irrigation water
offer potential for increasing the water use efficiencies in irrigation

11. OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING IRRIGATION WATER
USE EFFCIENCY
The useful
ways for
These
practices Th fways for
enhancing
th i i ti
practices
mainly aim at:
The success of
these
approachesthe irrigation
efficiency
i l d
Augmentation of
water supply
approaches
depends on the
level of their
include
several on‐
f d ff
demand
management of
crops
level of their
integration and
socio‐economic
farm and off‐
farm
i
crops
water saving
through various
dimensions of
a given locality
practices through various
practices

12. USEFUL
PRACTICES FORPRACTICES FOR
IMPROVINGIMPROVING
IRRIGATIONG ON
WATER USE
EFFCIENCY

13. Improvement in water conveyance, application & management
Poor condition of water conveyance, distribution and
control structures in surface irrigation systems coupled
with poor management results in huge wastage ofwith poor management results in huge wastage of
water through uncontrolled flow and seepage losses.
Hence, focus should be contemplated on improving
upon the existing water control & management
structures including lining of the canals efficient waterstructures including lining of the canals, efficient water
conveyance through pipes & better irrigation methods
Hydraulically efficient water conveyance, application
& distribution systems coupled with geometrically
efficient irrigation layouts will complement to the
premise of enhancing water use efficiency

14. Improvement in water conveyance, application & management…
Investment in wells in canal command should be
encouraged for better recharge and conjunctiveencouraged for better recharge and conjunctive
use practices
Water User Associations (WUAs) should be
involved in the decision making so that theg
maintenance of the structures will be made easy
WUAs should also devise comprehensive
accounts of water supply to clients from rivers,
canals & groundwater in the irrigation schemes.

15. Watershed Management Programmes
In regions, where lot of rain water flows down the
streams during monsoon season, the technologies at W/S
scale which promote precipitation water use & enhancescale which promote precipitation water use & enhance
water supplies at local level should be seen as proactive
approach for water management
Watershed management essentially aims at harnessing &
efficiently utilizing available water resources through:
• promotion of in-situ soil and water conservation,p ,
• water harvesting and storage, and
• recharge to ground water.

16. Watershed Management Programmes…
A WMP may have one or several in-situ
measures depending on topography, naturep g p g p y,
& depth of soil, rainfall intensity & amount,
infiltration & water holding capacity ofg p y
soils, and land use etc.
Studies indicate that raising of bunds to aStudies indicate that raising of bunds to a
height of 25-30 cm around the fields could
store nearly 90% of total rainwater in-situstore nearly 90% of total rainwater in-situ

17. Tanks Management
There are about 12,85,000 tanks with varying
sizes in the country with a storage capacity of
about 50 m cum.
The tanks are deteriorating resulting in poor
performanceperformance.
R t i th t diti l t b diRestoring these traditional water bodies
through partial desilting and promoting water
harvesting should receive majorharvesting should receive major
developmental support.

18. Tanks Management…
Catchment treatment including supply channel
maintenance is important in getting the rainfall
runoff to the tanks.
Non-system tanks should be converted into system
tanks by linking the river systems wherever possible
so that surplus water during heavy rains can beso that surplus water during heavy rains can be
diverted to the tanks easily.
Tank-chain should be restored to facilitate for the
diversion of water from upstream tanks to
d kdownstream tanks.

19. Conjunctive Use of Water
The excessive withdrawal of ground
water has led to declining water table
in many regions
This declining trend in water table can
be arrested by increased use of canal
water in conjunction withwater in conjunction with
groundwater
In regions with poor quality
groundwater the use of poor qualitygroundwater, the use of poor quality
ground water in conjunction with
canal water in appropriate
proportions would help in checking
the rising water table

20. IMPROVED IRRIGATION METHODS
Drip and sprinkler irrigation are considered as
the leading water saving technologies in
irrigated agriculture
Drip irrigation also facilitates application of
fertilizers with irrigation water for efficientg
utilization of fertilizers by crops
Studies indicate that drip irrigation results in
water saving ranging between 30 - 70% and
yield increase as high as 100% in some crops
under specific locations

21. IMPROVED IRRIGATION METHODS…
Similarly, there is almost 30% saving of
water with sprinkler irrigation systemwater with sprinkler irrigation system.
In India, the area covered under drip and
sprinkler irrigation in 2004 was about 6sp e gat o 00 was about 6
lakh ha and 15 lakh ha respectively
Improved surface irrigation methods like
level furrows dead level basins alsolevel furrows, dead level basins also
provide high application efficiency

22. IRRIGATION USE EFFICIENCY
90
Surface
100
60
70
60
80
Surface
Sprinkler
Drip
Drip
50 40
60
30 35
30 20
Surface
Sprinkler
Drip
0

23. On-Farm Irrigation Scheduling Based on Soil
Moisture Monitoring
Application of precise quantities of
irrigation water at right time ensures airrigation water at right time ensures a
high efficiency of water use by crops
A tendency to over-or under-irrigate results
due to absence of information about soildue to absence of information about soil
moisture status down the soil profile
Therefore, irrigation water management
requires a combination of soil moistureq
measurement & some method of irrigation
scheduling

24. On-Farm Irrigation Scheduling Based on Soil
Moisture Monitoring…
Soil moisture readings can detect if there is a water shortage that
can reduce yields, or if there is excessive water application that
can result in water logging wastage of water and nutrients belowcan result in water logging, wastage of water and nutrients below
the root zone through deep percolation and surface runoff of tail
water.
Use of soil moisture sensors or tensiometers which provide soilp
potential are quite handy and easy for use by farmers
Studies indicate that irrigation scheduling based on tensiometerg g
readings can save water by about 24%

25. System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
SRI technology involves use of certain
management practices which provide bettermanagement practices which provide better
growing conditions for rice plants, particularly
in the root zone, than those grown traditionallyin the root zone, than those grown traditionally
Four components of SRI include early planting
(12 days old single seedlings, wider spacing),
li it d i i ti (2 3 d th ftlimited irrigation (2-3 cm depth after
appearance of hairline cracks, weeding and
application of more compost and building soilapplication of more compost and building soil
organic matter content

26. System of Rice Intensification (SRI)…
Multiple benefits of SRI includes saving of irrigationMultiple benefits of SRI includes saving of irrigation
water (about 600 to 700 mm through intermittent
irrigation as against 1200–1500 mm in conventional
) imethod), less seed rate, less nursery area, better soil
aeration, enhanced yield and control of malaria
SRI is being practiced in TN, AP, & Karnataka in South
India and sporadically followed in few Eastern states
like Tripura & Assam
Up scaling this innovative approach throughout the
country alone could sustain the irrigated rice cultivationy g
in future.

27. Laser Aided Precision Land Leveling
Unevenness in the soil surface adversely
affects the uniform distribution of wateraffects the uniform distribution of water
in the fields
Precision land leveling with the help of
laser leveler results in reduction in time
d i f i d i iand quantity of water required to irrigate
the field
It also results in more uniform
distribution of water and soil moisture indistribution of water and soil moisture in
the field for better crop growth.

28. Laser Aided Precision Land Leveling…
Results of the demonstrations
conducted at farmers fields show thatconducted at farmers fields show that
laser aided land leveling saved 10-
20% irrigation water in different20% irrigation water in different
crops
Therefore, precision land leveling
will be of great use for improvingwill be of great use for improving
application and distribution
efficiency specially in water scarceefficiency specially in water scarce
region

29. Mulching
Application of It helps in waterpp
straw mulch
improves the
water use
p
saving by
reducing the
evaporation losses
from the soil
efficiency
from the soil
surface
Mulching also
keeps the weed
down thereby
A few reports on the
effect of mulching on
water use in rice-wheat
system reveal that
mulching helps iny
reducing the
evapotranspira
tion losses by
mulching helps in
saving of water in the
range of 25 to 100 mm
resulting in less
number of irrigations
d d i i i ti
weeds and reducing irrigation
time by about 17%

30. Deficit Irrigation Practices
Crop is exposed to aCrop is exposed to a
Deficit irrigation is a
way of maximizing
water use efficiency
for higher yields per
Deficit irrigation is a
way of maximizing
water use efficiency
for higher yields per
Crop is exposed to a
certain level of
water stress either
during a period that
have little impact on
Crop is exposed to a
certain level of
water stress either
during a period that
have little impact ong y p
unit of irrigation
water applied
g y p
unit of irrigation
water applied
p
yield or throughout
the whole growing
season
p
yield or throughout
the whole growing
season
Resulting yield
reduction may be
small compared
with the benefits
Resulting yield
reduction may be
small compared
with the benefits
However, this
approach requires
k l d f
However, this
approach requires
k l d f
with the benefits
gained through
diverting the saved
water to other crops
for which water
with the benefits
gained through
diverting the saved
water to other crops
for which water
knowledge of crop
yield response to
water stress & water
retention capacity of
the soil
knowledge of crop
yield response to
water stress & water
retention capacity of
the soil
normally would not
be available
normally would not
be available
the soilthe soil

31. Virtual Water Trade
It is an indirect way of water demand management
When a country imports a tonne of grains, it is also importing
"virtual water", i.e. the water required to produce that crop
Trade in virtual water generates water savings for importing
countries
Virtual water trade can help mitigate water scarcity if water-short
countries can afford to import food from water-abundant countries
However, large water exporting countries may influence the policies
of recipient countries
Therefore, there is a strong need to develop a set of principles/rules
governing virtual water trade otherwise conflict may prevail over
cooperation

32. Reducing Wastage along the Food Chain
A large part of grains
produced perishes right
on the farm, in storage,
during transport and
during consumption
Minimizing losses and
wastage along the food
chain will reduce the need
for an additional food
productionduring consumption. production
Thi ill h l i t ili
A combination of policy
measures including
investment support in
post-harvest technologies,
food processing industry
This will help in curtailing
the water use in
agriculture
p g y
and supermarkets, as well
as strategic efforts to
educate the public about
how to practically
contribute to the
i f freduction of food wastage
is necessary.

33. Share of irrigation water in total demand isONS Share of irrigation water in total demand is
bound to decrease in future due to more
pressing and competing demands from other
t
USIO
sectors
As such, the question of improving present
level of water use efficiency in general and for
CLU
eve o w e use e c e cy ge e d o
irrigation in particular assumes a great
significance in perspective water management
planning
ONC
planning
Technological improvements in irrigation &
farming systems have increased opportunities
f i i
CO
for water management in agriculture
Modern irrigation technologies, particularly
sprinkler and drip irrigation increase watersprinkler and drip irrigation, increase water
use efficiency

34. . In‐situ water conservation measures are very
NS…. In‐situ water conservation measures are very
effective in building up soil moisture to sustain
vegetation growth during dry spells and they also
contribute to ground water recharge
SION
contribute to ground water recharge
Soil moisture monitoring coupled with irrigation
scheduling can play a vital role in saving irrigation
t
CLUS
water.
Renovation and desilting of tanks, construction of
check dams and similar small storage structures for
CONC
g
rain water harvesting are the promising strategies for
artificial recharge of ground water
Drainage problems can be prevented and alleviated
C
Drainage problems can be prevented and alleviated
by integrated use of canal and groundwater, adapting
land use to the natural drainage conditions, canal
lining and land leveling etclining and land leveling etc.