The Role of Collector-Drainage Water in Sustainable Irrigation for Agriculture in the Developing World: An Experimental Study

Jakhongirmirzo Mirzaqobulov, Kedar Mehta (), Sana Ilyas and Abdulkhakim Salokhiddinov
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Jakhongirmirzo Mirzaqobulov: Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, National Research University, Kori Niyoziy str. 39, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan
Kedar Mehta: Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt, Esplanade 10, 85049 Ingolstadt, Germany
Sana Ilyas: Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, National Research University, Kori Niyoziy str. 39, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan
Abdulkhakim Salokhiddinov: Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, National Research University, Kori Niyoziy str. 39, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan

World, 2024, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: This study investigates the feasibility of using mineralized collector-drainage water (CDW) for irrigating maize crops on light gray soils in the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan, an area facing severe water scarcity and soil salinity challenges. The research is particularly novel as it explores maize production in marginalized soils, a subject previously unexamined in this context. The experiment was designed as a three-factor factorial study with three replications, following the guidelines of the Uzbekistan Cotton Scientific Research Institute. Five irrigation treatments (Fresh Water, Fresh Water 70% vs. CDW 30%, Complex Method (Mixing with Specific Rules), CDW 70% vs. Fresh Water 30% (Mixing) and only CDW) were evaluated using an Alternate Furrow Irrigation system, incorporating various mixtures of fresh water and CDW to determine their effects on soil salinity, crop health and yield. The amount of irrigation water required was determined using a soil moisture balance model, with soil samples collected at multiple depths (0–100 cm) to monitor changes in moisture content and salinity. Salinity levels and soil health parameters such as alkalinity, chloride, sulfate and cation/anion balances were measured at different stages of crop growth. Data were collected over three growing seasons (3 years). An analysis of the data revealed that using CDW, even in mixtures with fresh water, can sustain crop production while managing soil salinity. Notably, irrigation methods such as Mixing 70–30 and the Complex Mixing Method effectively reduced freshwater dependency and maintained the crop yield without significantly increasing salinity. The results suggest that CDW could be a viable alternative water source in regions where traditional water resources are limited. The findings have significant implications for improving water use efficiency and agricultural productivity in areas facing similar environmental challenges. This research not only contributes to the broader understanding of sustainable irrigation practices in arid regions but also provides a scientific basis for the wider adoption of CDW in Uzbekistan, potentially enhancing food security and supporting long-term agricultural sustainability in the region.

Keywords: water management; Central Asia; Uzbekistan; sustainable irrigation; SDGs; sustainable agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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