Theme 8-7-Satellite based irrigation performance monitoring - Case study over upper Tapi irrigation command, India

Abstract

Remote sensing technology is increasingly being applied in various water resources development and management activities. In irrigation water management, remote sensing is used as a tool for both performance evaluation of already developed schemes or the schemes under development for monitoring through the season. The current capabilities of satellite data with improved spatial resolution and high repetitive coverage can regularly provide objective information on the irrigation status from main and branch canal to distributaries, minors and field channels. The Centrally sponsored Command Area Development (CAD) programme was initiated in 1974-75 with the objective of bridging the gap between creation and utilisation of irrigation potential and optimising the productivity and production. In order to make quick evaluation on the implementation of the CAD programme, Ministry of Water Resources, Govt of India has selected 14 irrigation commands on a pilot basis using satellite remote sensing technique. Upper Tapi irrigation command is one of the 14 irrigation commands selected.

The satellite based irrigation performance monitoring is carried out over Upper Tapi irrigation command using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite(IRS LISS II &III with 36 m and 23 m spatial resolution) data of 1997-98,1990-91 and 1988-89. Crop wise area for each of the distributaries and minors was estimated using hierarchical classification procedure using multi spectral data. The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from satellite data was related for crop condition assessment and to develop crop yield model by using crop yield observed at crop cutting experiment sites identified through Global Positioning System (GPS) survey. Using the crop yield model and the NDVI, the cropwise condition was assessed for years between 1988-89, 1990-91 and 1997-98 to monitor irrigation performance of Upper Tapi command along with cropwise area variations. The results of the study indicated changes in the cropping pattern wherever command is developed and all around improvement in terms of crop area, productivity and well irrigated area, better communication network and economic growth within the command.