Abstract:
Two decision models, one for arriving at optimal systems for rainwater management and the other for allocation of additional water supplies from managed rainfall in conjunction with canal and ground water based on linear programming technique are formulated and applied to a typical alkali area under reclamation in the command of Western Yamuna Canal in Haryana. The application of rainwater management model to the command advocates the economically feasible strategies to manage rainwater. The results of rainwater management model are taken into cognizance in the later model for optimal allocation of water among competing crops. It has been shown that 80 % of rainwater could be managed economically in rice fields and in storage underground through artificial recharge. Additionally managed rainwater facilitated the extension of cultivation to fallow alkali land and increased the income of the project area by 14%.
