Availability Of Irrigation Water Research Articles

The Performance of an Alfalfa–Sainfoin Mixture in the Semiarid Southern High Plains of the USA

While alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is widely used as forage because of its many positive attributes, there are concerns regarding bloat in grazing ruminants, but tannin-containing legumes, such as sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), are non-bloating. Based on interest elsewhere for growing alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures to address bloat concerns, the objectives of a study conducted at Tucumcari, NM, USA, were to compare an alfalfa–sainfoin mixture to the respective monocultures for stand persistence and dry matter yield over three production years in three randomized complete blocks. The onset of drought limited irrigation water availability shortly after the study’s initiation, which limited sainfoin persistence to the second year after seeding. The resulting percentage decline in forage mass in June from year 1 to year 2 was alfalfa > alfalfa–sainfoin > sainfoin. That said, the alfalfa mass was considerably greater than the sainfoin mass, and the June mass of both monocultures was consistent with that in previous studies in the region when fully irrigated (5.57 vs. 2.00 Mg ha−1 for monoculture alfalfa and sainfoin, respectively; p < 0.0004). Alfalfa persistence was greater than that of sainfoin after 3 years. Alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures may have value in the Southern High Plains of the USA and similar semiarid environments when fully irrigated. Additional studies should evaluate mixture seeding ratios and stand performance under fully irrigated conditions with sainfoin reseeding.

ANALISIS HIDROLOGI BENDUNG GEBONG KECAMATAN PRINGGARATE KABUPATEN LOMBOK TENGAH

Every weir construction requires appropriate hydrological analysis so that the weir planning can be technically and economically appropriate. Apart from that, in the weir planning process it is necessary to optimize its storage, so that the weir function can run optimally. The aim of this research is to determine the availability of irrigation water needs in the Gebong Weir irrigation area. After calculating and analyzing rainfall data, researchers can draw conclusions regarding the availability and need for water for irrigation at Gebong Dam, that the availability of irrigation water for farmers is still sufficient, the first planting season is February, the available debit is 78,065,054 lt/sec/ha, the season the second planting season in June, the available debit was 3,261,647 lt/sec/ha and the third planting season in October the debit was 7,8343,683 lt/sec/ha, while the water requirement for Gebong irrigation in February was 271.77 lt/sec/ha, The water requirement for the second planting season in June is 272.31 lit/sec/ha and for the third planting season in October it is 272.74 lit/sec/ha

GIS‐based surface irrigation potential assessment of Gololcha River Watershed, Awash Basin, Ethiopia

AbstractThe Gololcha River Watershed is lacking comprehensive assessment of land suitability for surface irrigation, available water potential, and prioritized irrigable areas. This study aims to evaluate the potential of land and water resources for surface irrigation in the Gololcha River Watershed. The study employed a multi‐criteria analysis approach using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and ArcGIS to assess land suitability, considering factors like slope, land use/cover, soil characteristics, and proximity to water sources. The observed mean monthly water flow potential for each sub‐watershed was statistically evaluated, and the area ratio approach was used to transfer discharges from gauged sites to the site of interest. Irrigation water requirements for three major crops in the study area were calculated using the CROPWAT8.0 model. The findings revealed an average water availability for irrigation of 2.70 m3/s/month, 1.10 m3/s/month, and 1.03 m3/s/month for the Kurkura, Midagdu, and Wefi sub‐watersheds, respectively, with a total annual river flow of 161 m3/s. Based on the suitability analysis, 2508 ha (7.27%) of the watershed area was classified as highly suitable for surface irrigation, 16,420 ha (47.565%) as moderately suitable, 1502 ha (4.35%) as marginally suitable, and 14,029 ha (40.71%) as unsuitable. The overall surface irrigation potential, aligned with available water, was estimated at 4872.58 ha. However, due to water limitations, only 14.15% of the total suitable land can be irrigated using existing flows. The study highlights the significant potential for expanding surface irrigation in the Gololcha River Watershed, particularly during the rainy seasons when substantial water flows are available. The findings provide valuable insights for developing sustainable irrigation strategies, enhancing agricultural productivity, and contributing to food security in the region.

Snow runoff modelling in the upper Indus River Basin and its implication to energy water food nexus

Pakistan's hydropower sector depends heavily on glacier and snowmelt water that originates from the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). It is expected that climate change may adversely affect future hydropower generation capacity as a result of fluctuations in the magnitude, seasonality and hydrological extremes of the Indus River flow. This study employed the Degree-Day Snowmelt Runoff Model alongside the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS and daily ground-based hydro-meteorological data to model the snowmelt runoff response in the UIB. The results indicated a significant increase in the annual and seasonal runoff under both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, suggesting more water availability for hydropower and irrigation. By the end of the century, annual river flow is projected to increase by 28 % to 69 % under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios. Consequently, rise in annual river flow is expected to increase the electricity generation capacity of future hydropower projects by 93 % to 167 % under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. The construction of robust multipurpose dams may potentially reduce flood risks in downstream areas during peak flows, while also supplying water for hydropower generation and irrigation during low flows. This, in turn, may enhance the resilience of both the hydropower and agriculture sectors in the face of climate change.

Comprehensive Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on River Water Availability for Irrigation, Wheat Crop Area Coverage, and Irrigation Canal Hydraulic Capacity of Large-Scale Irrigation Scheme in Nepal

Comprehensive Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on River Water Availability for Irrigation, Wheat Crop Area Coverage, and Irrigation Canal Hydraulic Capacity of Large-Scale Irrigation Scheme in Nepal

Forage yield and nutritive value of plantain and chicory for livestock feed at high altitudes in Peru

AbstractBackgroundEvaluation of forage resources is vital for the sustainability of livestock farming in the South American Andes, especially under conditions of low water availability for irrigation and acid soils.MethodsWe evaluated the productivity and nutritive value of two cultivars of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and one of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) in three high‐altitude sites (AL) of the northern highlands of Peru: AL‐I: 2300–2800 m.a.s.l, AL‐II: 2801–3300 m.a.s.l. and AL‐III: 3301–3800 m.a.s.l., for 1 year. The parameters evaluated were dry matter yield (DMY), plant height (PH), growth rate (GR) and nutritional value.ResultsPlantain achieved the greatest annual DMY (ADMY), PH and GR compared to the two chicory cultivars (9.34, 9.56 and 13.39 Mg ha−1 for Puna II and Sese 100 chicory and Tonic plantain, respectively; p = 0.0019). The greatest ADMY and GR occurred at AL‐I. Regarding nutritional value, differences were observed only for in vitro digestibility of dry matter and metabolisable energy with chicory cultivars higher than plantain.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the three cultivars evaluated may be used as a nutritional supplement in cattle feed, associated with grasses because they have high nutritive value suitable for milk production in the mountain regions of Peru.

Determinants of household income and livelihood sustainability of coastal regions: evidence from south-western Bangladesh

The coast of south-western Bangladesh has been facing an increasing severity of climate stressors, thereby affecting the livelihoods of households. This has necessitated the importance of understanding the complex aspects of their sustainability. This study investigates factors influencing household income and livelihood sustainability of coastal residents in southwestern Bangladesh. A survey was carried out among 300 heads of households from the Kailashganj and Laudubi villages under Dacope sub-district of Khulna district (a climate-sensitive region) in Bangladesh. We utilized the composite livelihood sustainability index (LSI) and multiple linear regression to identify the factors influencing coastal households’ income. Findings revealed that the overall LSI among the households was 0.663 (moderate sustainability). Additionally, the highest LSI was found in terms of social capital and the lowest LSI was identified in terms of financial capital. The findings of the regression analysis indicated that monthly household income was positively and significantly influenced by its close linkages to local leaders (p < 0.05) and association with non-governmental organizations (p < 0.01). Moreover, economically active members (p < 0.01), more accessibility of commuting transportation (p < 0.01), and availability of water for irrigation (p < 0.01) were positively and significantly derived the monthly household income. Policymakers can use these results as a basis for formulating policies (e.g., enhancing the training and skill development programs as well as prioritizing investment in expanding irrigation systems) that can address the essential livelihood and income requirements of the community that is affected by climate change.

A Closed Loop Automated Drip Irrigation System Based on Arduino Uno

In recent years, the limited availability of irrigation water has made the optimal use of water a necessity. Successful irrigation practices in agriculture reduce excessive water usage and increase water use efficiency. Economical use of water can be made possible through modern irrigation systems. Nowadays, automatic control systems in agriculture have made significant progress and offer important advantages. In this study, a mini evaporation pan consisting of nested two cylinders was used (outer cylinder diameter 32 cm, inner cylinder diameter 27 cm, and both with a height of 20 cm) and the water remained at a constant level in both cylinders due to the notch beneath the inner cylinder. A water level sensor was placed inside the inner cylinder, and irrigation was activated based on the signal received from the sensor. The data from the sensor was processed by the microcontroller on the Arduino Uno, and three different irrigation applications were implemented by activating pumps connected to relays at 07:00, 14:00, and 21:00 o’clock, and then the mini-evaporation pan was refilled, and the system waited for the next irrigation period. The automation drip irrigation system maintained irrigation as a closed loop throughout the entire growth period of the lettuce plants using this approach. The addition of a fertilization unit to this system could make it more effective in plant production. The performance of the system will be significantly enhanced by enabling hardware that provides irrigation and fertilization to the plant according to its specific needs in terms of timing and quantity, along with appropriate software integration.

Initial Evaluation of the Merit of Guar as a Dairy Forage Replacement Crop during Drought-Induced Water Restrictions

Dairy is the largest sector of the agricultural industry in New Mexico, but the sector’s need for high quality forage in the face of ongoing drought and climate change causes concern. The economic merit of using guar to replace alfalfa under imposed constraints in irrigation water availability is evaluated. Nutritional quality of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) grown at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Clovis was estimated using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis. Results show that 45.6 percent of analyzed samples were comparable to Supreme or Premium alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay using Relative Feed Value index, and 23.7% met this criteria using crude protein. While alfalfa uses 4.4 acre-feet of water (approximately 5400 cubic meters) per season, the guar sampled used 5 inches (500 cubic meters) of applied irrigation. Microsoft Excel Version 2404 LP Solver was used to identify an optimum crop mix of alfalfa and guar under different levels of irrigation water constraints. With increasing levels in modeled irrigation restrictions, the use of guar increased the potential forage production by 3% under a 0.4 acre-foot restriction up to almost 59% under a 1.5 acre-feet irrigation water limit. Our results merit additional research, including forage trials to determine the impact of guar forage on milk production and further agronomic research into growing guar to maximize forage yield.

Improving Irrigation Management of Cotton with Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Texas High Plains

The rapid decline in water availability for irrigation on the Texas High Plains (THP) is a significant problem affecting crop production and the viability of a large regional economy worth approximately USD 7 billion annually. This region is the largest continuous cotton-producing area in the United States, and the timely delivery and efficient use of irrigation water are critical to the sustainability and profitability of cotton production in this region. Current irrigation scheduling must be improved to reduce water consumption without compromising crop production. Presently, irrigation scheduling based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is limited due to the lack of reliable and readily available in-field weather data and updated crop coefficients. Additionally, in-field variability in crop water demand is often overlooked, leading to lower irrigation efficiency. To address these challenges, we explored the potential use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based crop monitoring system to support irrigation management decisions. This study was conducted in Lubbock, Texas, in 2022, where high temporal and spatial resolution images were acquired using a UAV from a cotton field experiment with four irrigation levels. Soil moisture and canopy temperature sensors were deployed to monitor crop response to irrigation and rainfall. The results indicated a significant effect of water stress on crop growth (revealed by UAV-based canopy cover (CC) measurements), yield, and fiber quality. Strong correlations between multi-temporal CC and lint yield (R2 = 0.68 to 0.88) emphasized a clear trend: rainfed treatments with lower yields exhibited reduced CC, while irrigated plots with higher CC displayed increased yields. Furthermore, irrigated plots produced more mature and uniform fibers. This study also explored various evapotranspiration calculation approaches indicating that site-specific CC measurements obtained from a UAV could significantly reduce irrigation application. A regression model linking evapotranspiration to canopy cover demonstrated promising potential for estimating water demand in crops with an R2 as high as 0.68. The findings highlight the efficacy of UAV-based canopy features in assessing drought effects and managing irrigation water in water-limited production regions like the THP.

Integrated assessment of irrigation and agriculture management challenges in Nepal: An interdisciplinary perspective

Agriculture plays a critical role in ensuring food and nutrition security, livelihood, and rural employment in Nepal. Despite substantial investments and institutional reforms, irrigation projects have faced consistently low performance. While existing studies have shed light on technical aspects of irrigation performance, they often focus on specific themes rather than holistic evaluations of sustainability. This research systematically assesses barriers and challenges to effective irrigation water management in Nepal by assessing and ranking the challenges faced by three irrigation systems in western Nepal: Mahakali, Rani Jamara Kulariya, and Babai. To investigate these challenges, we collected data from 449 households, which provided insights into 33 indicators representing key barriers to effective irrigation and agricultural management. The identified challenges were categorized into four broad thematic areas: physical and structural, agricultural and water, socioeconomic and market, and gender and governance. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to compare these challenges among the three irrigation schemes, different thematic areas, and various locations within each scheme (namely, the head, mid, and tail sections of the system). The findings revealed that timely access and availability of fertilizers, spring water availability and fair market prices of agricultural products are the most significant challenges. The Babai irrigation system faced the most substantial challenges among the three systems, particularly in the mid section. These findings emphasize the interconnectedness of these challenges, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to planning, implementation, and management. Integrated strategies are essential to address socioeconomic, market, and endogenous farming issues, ensuring reliable irrigation water availability for sustainable agricultural production.

To examine the impact of canal irrigation systems on agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in Sikh-ruled Punjab.

An examination of the effect that canal irrigation systems have had on agricultural output and rural life in Punjab, which is dominated by the Sikhs, finds that these systems have had a transformational influence on the socio-economic landscape of the province. During the time when the Sikhs were in power, and notably during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, large canal networks were constructed. These networks considerably increased agricultural production and contributed to the expansion of the economy. Through the provision of a consistent water supply, these irrigation systems made it possible to cultivate crops throughout the whole year, which resulted in increased agricultural yields and variety. The installation of canal irrigation systems in Punjab resulted in significant alterations to the region's socioeconomic landscape. As a result of increased agricultural productivity, not only was food security assured, but excess produce was also made available for commerce, which contributed to the improvement of regional economy. Economic activities and the creation of revenue for rural populations were further strengthened as a result of the availability of water for irrigation, which encouraged the growing of cash crops like as cotton and sugarcane. The canal networks were crucial in the transformation of rural life by being responsible for the creation of job possibilities in agriculture and other related industries. Enhanced agricultural output led to an increase in population growth in canal-irrigated regions, which in turn led to the establishment of new communities and the construction of new infrastructure. This demographic transition also made it easier for market towns and trade centres to come into existence, which in turn assisted in the development of commercial activity and regional integration. During the time when the Sikhs ruled Punjab, the building of canal irrigation systems had a complex influence, including the enhancement of agricultural output, the stimulation of economic expansion, and the transformation of rural life circumstances. These improvements created the groundwork for the agricultural success and economic resilience that Punjab would experience in the decades that followed from that point on.

Grafting in Capsicum peppers as a strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change on yield and quality factors

Climate change in the Mediterranean areas is increasing problems on droughts, water availability and salinization of irrigation water. These are probably some of the most limiting factors on farming, especially in vegetables production. Capsicum peppers, one the most valuable vegetables in Spain, are quite sensitive to water deficit and particularly to salinity. The use of rootstocks tolerant to these abiotic stresses could be explored as a short/mid-term solution. In this work, we evaluated the ability as rootstocks of several accessions, together commercial F1 ‘Robusto’ and ‘Oscos’, with the cultivar ‘Herminio’ as scion, under control, drought (30% decrease irrigation) and salinity (5.8 dS m-1) in Campo de Cartagena area (Murcia, Spain). Yield and fruit weight, and water content, ascorbic acid content (AAC) and total phenolics (TP) at the unripe and fully ripe commercial stages were evaluated. Under control conditions, our rootstocks did not provide extra vigour and yield as none showed higher performance than the non-grafted ‘Herminio’ in yield (10 kg m-2) and fruit weight (215 g). However, drought and salinity conditions revealed that some accessions might be useful as rootstocks, providing higher yields and/or fruit size than ‘Herminio’, particularly yield under drought, i.e. 5-7 kg m-2 while ‘Herminio’ only achieved 4 kg m-2, and fruit weight in both stress conditions (i.e. 190-223 g vs 173 g under drought, 187-209 g vs 158 g under salinity). On average, drought increased the levels of antioxidants at both ripening stages, while salinity decreased them, specially AAC. Also, remarkable rootstock × treatment interactions, particularly in phenolics, enabled identifying several rootstocks providing high levels of antioxidants at both ripening stages and under both abiotic stresses, improving those from non-grafted ‘Herminio’.

The Role of Tuo Banda Local Institutions in Improving Competitiveness and Implementation of Salibu Technology in Rice Farming in Tanah Datar District, Indonesia

Local Tuo Banda institutions play an important role in irrigation water management to support the application of Salibu technology in rice farming. Data analysis was done quantitatively using the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) method. The result showed that Tuo Banda as a local institution in managing irrigation water is very instrumental in ensuring the availability of water for the application of Salibu technology in rice farming in Tanah Datar District, Indonesia. The failure of the implementation of Salibu rice technology so far in some places is due to the absence of local institutions to ensure the availability of irrigation water for Salibu rice farming. Rice business with Salibu technology has competitiveness based on the acquisition of private benefits and social benefits as well as a competitive advantage and comparative advantage.

Towards Design Principles for Good Multi-Level Drought Risk Governance: Some Lessons from the Rhine Basin

In times of climate change, periods of drought will occur more frequently. This causes challenges for water use, ranging from limitations on the navigability of water courses, limited availability of water for irrigation and drinking water supply, reduced hydropower production, increasing concentrations of pollutants, deteriorating water quality, and ecosystem degradation. Dealing with droughts, however, is a complex puzzle due to the multi-level governance characteristics of international river basins and the need to meet the freshwater demands of all sectors involved. This increases the need to address drought issues in a coordinated way, along all levels of decision making. Thus far, the way this must be executed has been under-researched. This paper addresses this knowledge gap as it aims to provide design principles for good multi-level drought risk governance in international river basins. In order to meet our aim, we first reviewed literature on multi-level and good governance and established an assessment framework. This framework was applied in a case study on drought risk governance in the international Rhine basin. Policy documents were analyzed and key informants interviewed. We found that although the governance practice in the basin meets most of our framework criteria, differences between the international level, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland also occurred. We have synthesized our findings into a list of 10 design principles for good multi-level drought risk governance, which could function as a starting point for the analysis and improvement of other multi-level drought risk governance practices.

Water Resource Impacts of Irrigation: The Case of the Main Irrigation Canal from the M’Pourie Plain to Rosso in Mauritania

An important factor in determining agricultural production is the availability of irrigation water in the main canal of the M’Pourie plain. This factor affects both the intensification of crops and the size of the irrigation areas. The main Senegal River canal in Rosso, Mauritania, runs across the Plaine of M’Pourie. This study aims to assess the physicochemical quality of the water used for irrigation and agriculture in the main irrigation canal on the M’Pourie plain. The measurements were made from 2021 to 2022, and the following physical and chemical parameters were monitored: pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, salt content, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium; ammonium bicarbonate; chloride; nitrite; nitrate; nitrogen; sulfate; and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). These measurements were analyzed using volumetric, spectroscopic, and spectrophotometric methods. After conducting statistical analysis and comparing the results with Moroccan quality standards for surface water utilized in irrigation, it has been discovered that the average pH value is 7.51, indicating a neutral state. However, the average nitrite and ammonium values exceed Moroccan standards at 5.16 mg.L-1 and 0.41 mg.L-1, respectively. The water’s low mineralization is attributed to its low electrical conductivity, with an average of 52.2 μS.cm-1. Based on the analysis of the Senegal River water used for irrigation in the M’Pourie plain, it has been determined that its sodium adsorption ratio and electrical conductivity classify it as belonging to class C1S1. This indicates that the water has low salinity and is excellent for irrigation, with a low risk of alkalinization.

Carrying Capacity of Agricultural Land in Toll Road Construction in Sragen, Indonesia, 2011–2020

Sragen Regency has enormous agricultural potential and is among one of the largest rice suppliers for the population of Central Java, Indonesia. However, since the construction of the Solo-Kertosono toll road that passes through the regency, there have been more farmlands converted for non-agricultural purposes. This study was conducted to determine the extent of land conversion into a toll road and assess the carrying capacity of agricultural land from 2011 to 2020. To identify land conversion, data from the Purwodadi Road Management Center in the regency were analyzed. Meanwhile, the mathematical formula introduced by Odum et al. was applied to the secondary data obtained from the Bureau of Statistics to calculate carrying capacity. Results show that from 2011 to 2020, rice fields were converted most extensively into toll roads, with an average of 85.28% conversion. Further, the agricultural land’s carrying capacity in affected districts fluctuated across these years due to several factors, including harvested area, rice production, productivity, and water availability for irrigation.

Desenvolvimento e qualidade de frutos de melão amarelo sob estresse salino

ABSTRACT The need for studies that allow the use of brackish water in irrigated agriculture and the socioeconomic importance of melon cultivation in Brazil, especially for the Northeast region, which concentrates most of the national production and faces problems with the availability of good quality water for irrigation, motivated the present study. In this context, the objective of present study was to evaluate the growth, production and fruit quality of the ‘Goldex’ (yellow-type hybrid F1) melon under salt stress conditions. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design, with two salinity levels of irrigation water (0.8 and 4.0 dS m-1) and eight evaluation times (52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 days after transplanting). Variables of plant growth and development, production and quality of melon fruits were evaluated throughout the cycle. Plants had delayed growth characteristics and less development with the increase in irrigation water salinity, showing reductions of more than 20% in shoot dry weight, leaf area, number of branches and length of secondary branches and 16.7% in length of the main branch. In addition, salinity caused a delay in fruit development and a 16% reduction in final fruit weight, without significantly modifying carbohydrate and total soluble solids contents. Along the development, there was an increase in the total soluble solids content of the fruits, especially due to the increment of sucrose at the final stages of development.

Organic seed priming with curtailed seed rate compensated wheat grains productivity by upgrading anti-oxidant status against terminal drought at flowering and milking

Terminal irrigation drought stress is one of the most drastic abiotic stress to diminish the wheat crop development and grains yield in arid regions of the world. The use of moringa leaf extract (MLE30) via seed priming technique is investigated as an organic and sustainable approach for the mitigation of drought stress along with curtailed seed rate in wheat crop. The study investigated the interaction of organic seed priming: control (dry seeds), hydro-priming, MLE30-priming, seed rate: recommended @ 125 kg ha−1, curtailed @ 25 kg ha−1, and terminal irrigation drought (TID): normal irrigation, mild-TID, severe-TID in wheat crop at agronomic research station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during the wheat winter season of 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. The application of organic MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity especially total soluble proteins by 15%, superoxide dismutase by 68%, peroxidase by 16%, catalase by 70%, ascorbic acid by 17% and total protein contents by 91% under severe-TID. Yield and yield-related morphological attributes performed better in MLE30-priming as compared to hydro-priming. An effective trend was observed in the plant's chlorophyll contents, K+, and water use efficiency after being treated with MLE30-priming followed by hydro-priming under curtailed seed rate. The higher benefit–cost ratio and net income return were observed with the application of MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate under mild-TID and severe-TID. So, it is suggested to adopt the MLE30-priming technique along with a curtailed seed rate for improving the crop establishment, stress regulation, and economic return under limited availability of irrigation water. The project findings recommended that the application of exogenous application of organic MLE30-seed priming favored and compensated the maximum wheat grains production under curtailed seed rate @ 25 kg ha−1 and induced terminal drought stress at flowering and milking conditions.

Spatiotemporal trends and evapotranspiration estimation using an improvised SEBAL convergence method for the semi-arid region of Western Rajasthan, India

Abstract The study demonstrates how to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) for the Western Rajasthan region of India utilizing remotely sensed images with the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL). Landsat 8 and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite inputs were used to compute seasonal and annual ET on the Google Earth Engine platform. The assessment utilizing the SEBAL algorithm, in combination with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Penman–Monteith (PM) and Hargreaves methods, demonstrates that SEBAL has adequate reliability for estimating ET for a spatially large extent in semi-arid regions when evaluated with the Hargreaves method. The values of R2, root-mean-square error (RMSE), and mean bias error (MBE) for FAO-PM were 0.63, 1.65 mm/day, and 1.28 mm/day, respectively. For the Hargreaves method, the values of R2, RMSE, and MBE were 0.96, 0.41 mm/day, and −0.31 mm/day, respectively. The study showed that the northern region witnessed the highest ET due to the availability of abundant surface water for irrigation. Overall, the results demonstrate the SEBAL model's effectiveness in estimating evapotranspiration. A downward trend in ET is observed in the region, mainly due to changing climatic conditions.