Impact of Conjunctive Use of Water Resources on Crop Production in Canal Command Area-A Case Study

Abstract

The study is carried out for Jamuniya, Jhansi and Khulri Minor of Left Bank Canal network of Rani Avanti Bai Sagar irrigation project. It constitutes impact of conjunctive use on water resource utilization pattern, irrigation depth, changes in cropping pattern, effect on yield of crops, water table depth and net farm return. The results indicated in Jamuniya minor have the use of surface water for irrigation is more than ground water in last 10 years. In Jhansi minor, the use of surface water for irrigation was maximum in year 2001–02 (114.88 ha) and then continuously decreased during last 10 years reached to 50.55 ha. Reverse trend was observed in Jhansi minor with use of ground water for irrigation and similar pattern was found in Khulri minor. The depth of irrigation for wheat, gram and green pea was observed the highest in Jhansi head reach 26.5 cm, 10.6 cm and 25.8 cm, respectively and the lowest in Khulri middle reach as 12.5 cm, 5.0 cm and 15.0 cm for wheat, gram and green pea, respectively. The wheat area intensity continuously increased in all minors during 2003–04 to 2009–10. The yield of wheat registered the highest (38 q/ha) in head reach of Jamuniya minor and the lowest (27.7 q/ha) in middle reach of Jamuniya minor. The yield of gram was maximum (18.21 q/ha) in tail reach of Jhansi minor and minimum (14.0 q/ha) in middle reach of Khulri minor.