I-4-Irrigation Efficiencies - Practical Difficulties and Measures for Its Improvement.

Abstract

Efficiency concept in any system is based on a measures of output obtained from a given unit of input. In agriculture, efficient water utilization reflects how efficiently water is stored, distributed and used in crop production. The design of the irrigation system, the degree of land preparation and the skill and care of the irrigator are the principle factors influencing water use efficiency. In a well designed irrigation system, on-farm efficiency in surface methods of irrigation ranges from 60 to 70 percent and in sprinkler irrigation, 70 to 80 per cent. Most of the Irrigation Projects throughout the world functioning on the principle of gravity flow operate with 25 — 40 percent efficiency. In this paper various irrigation efficiencies are explained theoretically with example. However, these all calculations require precise pre-recorded water release / application data in the command area at various points which are almost not available in most of the irrigation projects. Hence alternate strategy for working out water productivity is recommended to evaluate the performance of irrigation project with a case study.