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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Agricultural water harvesting and efficient use of small reservoir for sustainable water management

Hata T. and A. W. Abdelhadi

Abstract

Water harvesting with storage system is studied and risk evaluation is introduced for sustainable crop production. Risk management here is to prepare for droughts with 1/10 probability of occurrence. Potential runoff distribution or map is drawn from meteorological data with a risk of less runoff occurred once in ten years in the mean. Necessary storage volume for a crop pattern is estimated from crop water requirements in the year. Catchment area is big enough for the volume, which is decided from the distribution of runoff in the year which is defined here as potential runoff. The minimum storage capacity for farmland concerned is fulfilled by collecting runoff water from catchment area. The reservoir called Tameike in Japan or Hafir in Sudan supplies usual irrigation water, though, once in ten years in the mean water shortage may occur. It is important for farmers to know the necessary scale of water storage and necessary catchment area for the reservoir and to know the risk of water shortage. The information is the key to sustainable agriculture based on water harvesting. The required amount of water for each crop can be easily estimated, and the probability of droughts may also be calculated from meteorological data. Probabilistic approach will make the risk evaluation possible in the management of farmland.

 

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 10  (2007) PP. 1-9