Development of an irrigation scheduling model.

Bakhshal Khan Lashari; Khalifa Qasim Laghari; Atta Muhammad Phul

Author(s)

Bakhshal Khan Lashari Institute of Irrigation & Drainage Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Khalifa Qasim Laghari Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamhsoro, Pakistan

Atta Muhammad Phul Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamhsoro, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper presents an irrigation scheduling software named “Mehran Model” which computes reference ET0 (Evapotranspiration) using FAO-56 Penman Monteith method and crop evapotranspiration (ET0) by dual crop coefficients. The model can develop irrigation schedules for sixty-six crop types using soil and water balance approach. The model distinguishes soil texture classes, irrigation methods, and designs real time irrigation schedule for a crop using daily weather data of a reference site. The Mehran Model also includes planning on demand basis as well as rotational (warabandi) irrigation schedules, and synchronizes both systems as well. The model has been field tested and validated on planning and management of irrigation schedules for cotton and wheat crops in Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan. Statistical analysis showed that the model at an average overestimated seasonal ET, of cotton and wheat crop by 2.41% and 4.31% respectively.

Publication Details

Page(s) 681-688

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, Volume: 29, Issue: 4, Year: 2010

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