Indicators and criteria to define the priority for irrigation water use in the Baixo Jaguaribe basin, Brazil

Abstract

The Baixo Jaguaribe basin has the smallest area of that Watershed (upper, middle and lower Jaguaribe river), but it has enormous importance in terms of water resources. The amount of water for crops irrigation is quite representative in relation to the total volume of water demanded in the entire Jaguaribe river basin. The research presents a methodology of indicators and criteria to define the priority of use of irrigation water in conditions of water scarcity. The analysis of four requirements of socioeconomic security (productive, economic, water and social) indicated a recommendation to cultivate tomato, forage palm, melon, cassava and papaya, that required the smallest water cuts for irrigation at the River Basin (less than 21%). However, crops as orange, rice, soursop, coconut, lemon, custard apple, guava, mango, banana and sugarcane must present the highest water cuts (more than 37%), mainly orange, rice, soursop, coconut, lemon and custard apple which may present values higher than 46% due to their low profitability and yield, and high water consumption.