Performance Assessment of Krishna Western Delta Using Remote Sensing -A Case Study.

Performance Assessment of Krishna Western Delta using Remote Sensing -A Case Study

P.R.K.Prasad¹, C.Jacobs², G. Subba Rao³, D.Srinivas⁴,

A.V Suresh Babu⁵,J Boonstra⁶ & T.V.Satyanarayana⁷,

Agricultural College

Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Bapatla, India

ABSTRACT

The Krishna delta irrigation system, one of the earliest major irrigation projects in southern India was designed by Sir Arthur Cotton during in the middle of 19^th century on river Krishna near Vijayawada. The project irrigates an ayacut of 5.14 lakh hectares covering  West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Using multi-date satellite data of Krishna Western Delta (KWD), flow information, crop cutting experiment (CCE) plot  data of the State Department of Agriculture (SDA) and AP Water Management (APWAM) Project obtained during kharif 2005-06, performance indicators  were computed and   performance of irrigation system was assessed.

Paddy was the major crop gown in KWD. Hence paddy yield model was developed using ground obtained CCE plot yield data and satellite derived normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). Very good correlation (r = 0.7) was obtained between these parameters. Hence, it was extrapolated to the entire KWD belt. The average yield of KWD derived based on NDVI observations was closely matched with the yield data of APWAM and SDA. Highest efficiency (85%) was obtained in highlevel canal command. The lower efficiency  obtained in Kommamur was due to poor condition of the canal, high conveyance losses and release of excess rain water in to the sea through the canal. The productivity of water was varying from 0.7 to 1.0 kg m^-3 across KWD except in Kommamur which, had only 0.5 kg m^-3.

The information on nature, extent and distribution of salt affected soils and waterlogged areas in KWD was generated based on visual interpretation of FCC imageries obtained from space-borne remote sensing satellites. It was computed that about 18,102 and 4,675 hectares of area was salt affected and waterlogged, respectively.

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Key Words: Soil Salinity,  Water logging, Irrigation Commands

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¹ Professor & Head (Soil Science), ² Scientist (Irrigation & Remote Sensing),³Senior Scientist (Agronomy) , ⁵ Associate Professor  (Soil Science),  ⁵Scientist-SF, NRSC,⁶ Retd.Chief Technical Advisor,⁷ Dean, Faculty of Agril. Engineering

Contact Person

1.Dr P R K Prasad

   Professor & Head

   Department of Soil Science& Agril. Chemistry

   Agricultural College,

   Bapatla -522101

   Andhra Pradesh, India

   prk_prasad@yahoo.com

   Phone-91-8643-224023

   Fax-    91-8643-224083 Co-Authors Addresses with E mail

2. Mrs. Claire Jacobs

Scientist (Irrigation & Remote Sensing)

Alterra-ILRI

Wageningen

The Nether lands

claire.jacobs@wur.nl

3 Dr. G Subba Rao

Principal Scientist (Agronomy)

ARS Darsi

Andhra Pradesh, India

rao_gaddam@yahoo.co.in

4. Dr D Srinivas

Associate Professor  (Soil Science)

Agriculture college, Rajamandri

West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India

drd_srinivas@rediffmail.com

5.Dr. A V Suresh Babu

Scientist-SF

National Remote Sensing Center

Balanagar, Hyderabad, India

av_sureshbabu@nrsa.gov.in

6 Dr. J Boonstra

Retd. Chief Technical Advisor

Alterra-ILRI

Wageningen

The Nether lands

hans.boonstra@wur.nl

7 .Dr. T V Satyanarayana

Dean Faculty of Agricultural Engineering

ANGR Agril. University

Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India

tvsatyanarayana@yahoo.com