Impact Assessment of Natural Springs for Irrigation Potential in the Hilly Areas of Kashmir

Zubair Ahmad Khan (), Rohitashw Kumar, Afzal Husain Khan (), Adil Majeed, Mohmmad Idrees Attar and P. Jagadesh
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Zubair Ahmad Khan: College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, Srinagar 190025, India
Rohitashw Kumar: College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, Srinagar 190025, India
Afzal Husain Khan: Civil and Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Jazan University, P.O. Box. 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Adil Majeed: College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, Srinagar 190025, India
Mohmmad Idrees Attar: College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, Srinagar 190025, India
P. Jagadesh: Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641014, India

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: The increasing water demand, fueled by rapid development activities, has significantly strained freshwater reservoirs. A comprehensive study was conducted in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the discharge rates of key water springs and assess their capacity to meet the crop water requirements within their respective command areas. The research focused on seven vital springs—Martand, Achabal, Malakhnag, Sherbagh, Verinag, Lukhbawan, and Kokernag—which are critical for domestic and agricultural purposes. The study was carried out from May to October 2018, employed the weir formula to measure spring discharge, and utilized evapotranspiration (ETo) calculations, integrating evaporation and rainfall data to estimate crop water requirements. The results revealed significant variability in spring discharge rates, with Verinag spring being the most productive at 4.55 m 3 /s, followed by Sherbagh at 1.97 m 3 /s, while Lukhbawan exhibited the lowest discharge rate at 0.17 m 3 /s. Springs such as Verinag, Martand, and Achabal demonstrated sufficient capacity to meet the water demands of crops in their command areas, highlighting their potential for sustainable agricultural support. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating surface–subsurface water dynamics in water resource management to ensure efficient utilization of these springs for both domestic and irrigation needs. The study provides valuable insights into optimizing spring water use to address increasing water demands in the region, contributing to sustainable development and resource conservation.

Keywords: crop water requirement; command areas; discharge; groundwater; command area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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