Optimal Agricultural Water Allocation for the Sustainable Development of Surface and Groundwater Resources

Ijaz Ahmad () and Fan Zhang ()
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Ijaz Ahmad: China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC
Fan Zhang: China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC

Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), 2022, vol. 36, issue 11, No 16, 4219-4236

Abstract: Abstract This paper presents a multiobjective linear program for the optimal allocation of water resources among various crops in a large canal command area of Pakistan. The available surface water in the canal cannot meet the net irrigation requirement (NIR) of various crops, which leads to the overexploitation of groundwater and causes salinity problems. Therefore, an optimal water allocation model was formulated using the simultaneous compromise constraint (SICCON) technique for the sustainable development of surface water and groundwater. Three (03) single objective functions (OFs) and a multiobjective function (MOF) were considered in this study. The MOF combines the single OFs by developing an arrangement among them to both maximize the satisfaction rate for surface water (SRs) and net economic returns (NER) and minimize the salinity problems. The available surface water (AW) of 1531 Mm3 was allocated among various crops, i.e., wheat, cotton, sugarcane, rice, onion, and sunflower, using the SICCON technique, and the deficit was accounted for with groundwater reserves. The model results showed an average increase of 22% in SRs and 7.2 million USD in NERs from surface water allocation compared to the current water allocation practice. Moreover, the salinity levels of the allocated water exceed the threshold limits of onion, sugarcane, and rice crops in the current water allocation system and thereby negatively impact agricultural production. Hence, the model used in this study may support decision-makers in the optimal selection of different crops to be irrigated to maximize the SRs and NERs and minimize salinity problems.

Keywords: Optimal allocation; Surface water; Groundwater; Crops; SICCON; Canal command (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s11269-022-03249-3

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