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A study was carried out from November to May in the cropping season of 2016E.C to evaluate the performance of Temsa small scale irrigation scheme. Both internal and external indicators were considered for evaluation. The internal indicator efficiencies such as conveyance, application, storage, distribution uniformity, and deep percolation ratio and the external indicators such as agricultural output, water supply, water delivery capacity, physical, and economic and financial indicators were evaluated. The result reveals that, the average conveyance efficiency of the main, secondary, and tertiary canals were 79.6%, 85.6%, and 84.7%, respectively. The scheme has on average application efficiency (Ea), storage efficiency, deep percolation ratio, and distribution uniformity of 40.87%, 78.04%, 59.70%, and 93.33%, respectively. The poor Ea and low conveyance efficiency of the canal affected the overall scheme performance. The result reveals that, the overall efficiency of the scheme was 23.19%. The four basic agricultural output indicators of the scheme such as output per unit irrigated area, output per unit command area, output per unit irrigation diverted, and output per unit water consumed were 4,738.58 US$/ha, 1,176.08 US$/ha, 1.16 US$/m3, and 0.89 US$/m3, respectively. This shows that, the command area was beneficial and was giving a revenue for the farmers at the cropping season. The relative irrigation supply and the water delivery capacity of the canal were 2.37 m3 and 83%, respectively. In the current study, the irrigation ratio and the sustainability of the irrigated area were 0.25 and 0.43, respectively. The irrigation ratio was low due to the designing problem. Availability of water throughout the year and market accessibility near the scheme were the advantage of the scheme that encourage the farmers. However, the input costs were affecting the return obtained from the product. Hence it is better to provide access to credit for the sustainable production and improve the farmers income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is the most important source of freshwater across the world. However, its quality is deteriorating over time due to anthropogenic and natural factors. Koga irrigation scheme is one of the most intensively irrigated areas causing groundwater deterioration. Nonetheless, groundwater quality used for drinking purpose was not properly assessed. Hence, this study was intended to evaluate the groundwater quality used for drinking purposes using GIS-based WQI method. This method considers twelve water quality parameters (Turbidity, TDS, pH, Nitrate, Sulfate, phosphate, Ammonium, Copper, Iron, Fluoride Electric conductivity and thermotolerant coliform). Besides, geostatistical and spatial analyses were used to assess their spatial pattern. Accordingly, the concentration of nitrate, ammonia, turbidity, pH value, and thermotolerant coliform were not within WHO standard. Furthermore, about 64.4% and 35.6% of the irrigation scheme maintain good and poor groundwater quality, respectively. Yet, the area requires further investigation through including additional parameters, and identifying pollution hotspot areas.

The expansion of agricultural production implies an accelerated pace of development of water supply systems in agricultural areas. Water is consumed during animal breeding, primary processing of raw materials, preparation of liquid fertilizers, for household and other needs. Large volumes of water are spent on preparing liquid fertilizers when growing crops and irrigating fields. To increase moisture reserves in the root layer of the soil and increase land fertility, it is necessary to carry out irrigation measures. Sprinkling is one of the most common methods of irrigation. Taking into account the characteristics of the terrain, the type of agricultural products grown, as well as the security of a particular farm, you should choose certain sprinkler machines that will ensure high irrigation efficiency. Sprinklers can be classified according to their principle of operation, type and type, as well as according to the transformation of water flow. (Research purpose) Improving irrigation efficiency by selecting the optimal parameters of sprinklers based on local conditions. (Materials and methods) The object of the study was sprinkling machines, their performance and technical characteristics, as well as the features of the relief. The following research methods were used: analysis of literary sources; logical analysis of existing experimental data on irrigation processes; evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of specific machines and equipment; statistical data processing. (Results and discussion) The paper describes the design and operation of various sprinklers, provides irrigation schemes and calculations of its intensity. Shortcomings of specific irrigation schemes and types of sprinklers were identified, and ways to eliminate them were proposed. (Conclusions) The choice of irrigation scheme depends on the area of the site and its topography. Depending on the budget of the farm, you can choose the most optimal type of sprinkler.

Waterlogging and high salinity levels have been largely due to poor agricultural drainage management. The productivity of agricultural lands could be greatly increased if agricultural drainage systems are properly monitored. This study was conducted in the Bontanga irrigation scheme in the Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana to evaluate the performance of the drainage system using drainage performance indicators. Mapping of the components of the drainage system using GPS coordinates and GIS and installation of six (6) observation wells to account for waterlogging intensity and water-table fluctuations with time was done. Three (3) composite soil samples were taken two (2) times during the cropping season at depths of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm. Drainage coefficients values were computed using a water-balance approach. The findings indicated that the current drainage network conforms with the components of an agricultural drainage system. Electrical conductivity of the soil in the scheme ranged from 0.025 to 0.039 dS/m before planting and 0.065 to 0.098 dS/m after harvesting. Mean sodium values of the scheme ranged from 5.31% to 6.68% before sowing and 6.53% to 10.98% after harvesting. Waterlogging intensity ranged from 155 to 235.5 cm.days for April and 140–240 cm.days for May. Drainage coefficients were found to range from 5.1 to 5.7 mm day−1 for April and 6.6 to 7.4 mm day−1 for May. Scheme managers should collaborate with the Water Users' Associations to enforce bylaws prohibiting the cultivation in the drains, ensuring every farmer maintains the drains and adhere to good water management strategies. The study was conducted to investigate the drainage system at the Bontanga irrigation scheme in Ghana. The research looked at the components of the drainage system, salinity levels of the soil, waterlogging situation, sodium levels in the soil, and drainage coefficients of the scheme. The findings on the salinity, sodicity, and waterlogging levels of the soil were within acceptable limits. Worth noting is that, though the salinity and sodicity levels were in acceptable ranges, there has been an increase with time. After computation of the drainage coefficient of the scheme using a water balance approach, it was found to be within the range for rice cultivation. The scheme has the components that should be in an agricultural drainage system. However, there are challenges with regards to the maintenance of the drains by the farmers. To ensure proper management of drainage system in irrigation schemes, management should integrate drainage as a key component of the irrigation system and ensure collaboration with water users association at scheme level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study is presenting a multidisciplinary approach for mitigations of water resources in the irrigation, water supply, energy, and flood protection using hydrological model coupled with multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The study area is originated in the northern Afghanistan with serious water issues. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was adopted for the hydrological modelling. The model was calibrated and validated using monthly streamflow from 2010 to 2018. The current irrigation state of the watershed was revised based on the crop water requirements and land area to address water shortages. The investigations lead to an engineering-based solution (dam construction) to regulate and control the streamflow, especially during winter and flood season. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on expert’s opinions were used to determine suitable dam site locations. Then, the dam was added to the SWAT model for dam’s impact assessment. The dam reservoir capacity (197,900,938 m3), dam storage area (748 ha), dam height (69 m), electricity generation (Ave = 25.4 MW, Min =16.23 MW, , Max = 66.5 MW), and flood protection ability were estimated. Finally, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to ensure the project feasibility. The CBA proves the feasibility and applicability of proposal. The surplus water can address the water shortages with an extra capacity of irrigating 17,180.5 ha or provision of water supply for the Mazar-i-Sharif city (the fourth biggest city in the Afghanistan). These findings can be used as guidance for the decision-makers in the BRB for the future development of water resource management strategies.

This article investigated the effects of production parameters on thecultivation of rice in the Ketu North District of Ghana. Out of 1,024 farmers, 290 rice farmers were chosen to take part in the study using a two-stage sampling procedure. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data from 285 respondents resulting in a response rate of 93%. A translog stochastic frontier production function with a model for inefficiency effects was employed in data analysis, using the Maximum Likelihood Method. Land area under cultivation, fertilizer input, irrigation cost, and equipment were identified as the major input factors that significantly influenced yield of rice in the Ketu North District. Also, results indicated 0.642 returns to scale; which implies that an aggregate increase in inputs results in a less than proportionate increase in the yield of rice in the study area. This indicates a decreasing returns to scale. The findings of this study would guide governments and civil society organisations to understand where public investments can best be directed to boost rice production in Ghana. Increased rice output would raise farmers' income and improve their livelihood security. Also, increased output of rice will help reduce rice imports to save foreign exchange and strengthen the local currency. Finally, the findings of this study would fill the gaps in literature and contribute to knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal (HM)-polluted soil is a serious concern, especially as brackish water is widely used for irrigation purposes in water-scarce countries. In this study, the HYDRUS-2D model was used to simulate HM (copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) transport through agricultural land cultivated with potato crops under surface drip irrigation to explore the potential groundwater contamination risk. Three soil types, namely, silty clay loam, sandy loam, and sandy soil, and two irrigation schemes, irrigation every two days (scheme A) and irrigation every four days (scheme B), were considered during the simulations. Firstly, the ability of HYDRUS-2D to simulate water flow was validated using data obtained from a full growing season of the potato crop in a lysimeter irrigated by surface drip irrigation using El-Salam Canal water, Egypt (i.e., water contaminated by HMs). Secondly, the model was calibrated for solute transport parameters. After that, the investigated simulation scenarios were executed. The results showed that HYDRUS-2D effectively simulated water flow. Moreover, a good agreement between the simulations and experimental results of HM concentrations under the calibrated solute parameters was obtained with R2 values of 0.99, 0.91, and 0.71 for Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations, respectively. HM distribution is considerably influenced by the HMs' adsorption isotherm. The results of the investigated scenarios reveal that soil texture has a greater impact on HM concentrations in the simulation domain and on the contamination risk of the groundwater than the irrigation scheme. Under both irrigation schemes, lower HM concentrations were observed in sand, while higher values were observed in silty clay loam. Subsequently, the potential shallow groundwater contamination risk is greater when cultivating potatoes in sand, as higher HM concentrations were found in drainage water compared to the two other investigated soils, regardless of the irrigation scheme. The cumulative Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in drainage water corresponding to scheme A for silty clay loam and sandy loam were 1.65, 1.67, and 1.67 and 1.15, 1.14, and 1.15 times higher, respectively, than scheme B. To safeguard the sustainability of groundwater and agricultural lands irrigated with water contaminated by HMs, it is recommended to adopt an irrigation frequency of once every four days in soils with silty clay loam and sandy loam textures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Extended abstract IntroductionPopulation growth, drought, climate change, and mismanagement policies have strongly affected the existing water resources. One of the most effective ways to achieve the goals of agricultural water management is setting up and optimizing irrigation and drainage networks for agricultural water. Water experts consider construction and establishment of water pumping stations in rural areas as one of the important principles of optimal agricultural water management. However, despite the costs incurred, the evidence shows that most of these networks have faced many problems and beneficiaries’ participations in the maintenance of installations have been minimal. Moreover, in the design and implementation of these projects, social studies of the involved regions and the main stakeholders’ opinions about these projects seem to have been ignored. As a result, the efficiency and productivity of such stations, as well as investment in the development of water resources, have decreased. In this regard, several pumping stations have been built for developing gardens in Kermanshah Province, but almost all of them are inactive for reasons such as the lack of technical and accurate engineering. The only water pumping station which is ready to operate is in Ghomsheh Village, but many problems occurring from the time of its approval to implementation have led to the villagers’ distrust and pessimism towards the implementation of the project. After taking some steps, the villagers have refused to participate in the project and have not accepted it. However, based on the available evidence, construction of a water pumping station can have positive benefits for stakeholders. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the factors limiting the success of the project of water pumping station in the village of Ghomsheh Faraman and provide solutions to overcome the mentioned problems. 2- MethodologyThis study was a qualitative research and a case study in terms of obtaining facts and data processing. The study population included the beneficiaries covering the water pumping station of Ghomsheh Village, 15 people in Darood Faraman and 11 officials, who were involved in the implementation of this project. The sampling method was purposeful based on semi-structured interviews and the focus groups were used to collect the data. Fifteen and 11 individual interviews with the villagers and the officials involved in the water pumping station were done, respectively. The average time of the interviews was 40-50 min. The researcher also conducted 2 and 2 focus group interviews with the community of beneficiaries (6-8 people) and the project-related officials (6-7 people), respectively. To analyze the data, the RCA technique was utilized. Root analysis is the process of a structured investigation that aims to identify the real cause of a problem. It is a multi-stage process that includes: 1) problem identification; 2) information gathering; 3) information analysis; and 4) cause-and-effect analysis. To identify the main problem, the interviews were conducted with the project beneficiaries and officials. Then, each of the relevant interviews was transcribed and the key concepts and root causes were extracted after summarizing them. Upon identifying the problem, cause, and root cause during a re-interview with the project beneficiaries and officials, the revitalization strategies of the project implementation were extracted. 3- DiscussionA necessary condition for the growth and development of any community, including the village of Ghomsheh Faraman, is creating jobs, which, despite its high importance, has poorly and negatively been done in the mentioned village, thus resulting in increased unemployment and the villagers’ decreased incomes. Construction of this station has not only led to the villagers’ unemployment, but also enhanced their migration and addiction, as well as divorce in some cases. Researchers’ findings in this regard have shown that the project incompatibility with the beneficiaries’ main profession has extended its duration, labors’ abandonment from the village, and lack of diversity of activities in the village as the root of the problems reducing rural incomes and augmenting unemployment. Another major problem for the project of water pumping station in Ghomsheh Faraman Village has been the villagers’ unwillingness to cooperate with the authorities, which was found to be the dominant and main problem contributing to the project inefficiency in this study. The people’s reluctance towards the project implementation, the beneficiaries’ indecision for accomplishing it, the profiteering views of some of them, their pessimism and distrust towards the officials, as well as the officials’ empty promises and ignorance towards the beneficiaries’ protests and demands were the roots of the problem. Nonetheless, this had not prevented the project construction and implementation, despite the users’ reluctance towards horticulture and even the existence of inadequate feasibility studies, which had temporarily resulted in the waste of resources, stagnation of the station, increased unemployment and migration, return to the primary cultivation method, and the beneficiaries’ pessimism and distrust towards the project. After 8 years from the construction of the project, still, no gardens have been constructed and the agricultural lands have been stagnated, while the beneficiaries have remained undecided whether to continue the path and construct the gardens or return to the primary cultivation method. They are still reluctant to cooperate with the authorities. Another issue was the uncertainty of land ownership. In the lands covered by the station, the issue of ownership was very important with some needs to be considered. Huge investments had been made to control, regulate, transfer, and distribute water by water pumping stations.The beneficiaries’ participation in the station-related planning was one of the joint strategies expressed by the two groups, which, if implemented, could have a very positive effect on the beneficiaries’ participation, which could then increase their desire for gardening, accepting the station costs, reducing the project time and cost, creating the villagers’ sense of ownership and responsibility so as to take care of the tools and facilities required for the project. Farmers' involvement in irrigation projects is essential since it can enhance their abilities to plan, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and increase their sense of responsibility. To solve the main problems, i.e., lack of diversity of activities in the village and the officials and farmers’ involvement in the project, a joint strategy of the Agricultural Jihad Organization to assist the villagers in the construction of a cattle ranch, as well as growing mushrooms and bees is needed. If such businesses are launched, the villagers’ income would increase and the economic pressures could decrease. In addition, creating jobs in the village could reduce unemployment and poverty, improve life quality, and ultimately lower rural migration. A legal solution to the problem of land ownership was another joint strategy proposed by the officials and beneficiaries of the project to address the root of the problem resulting from lack of attention to the customary-property laws. Implementation of this strategy would give hope to the villagers to realize their rights with the help of the authorities, better accept legal votes by the relevant institutions in this area, and have less opposition in launching and reviving the project. The legal solution to the problem of land ownership would make them feel secure about their properties. Another joint strategy presented by the beneficiaries and officials involved in the project was to solve the root of the problem of management instability. Hiring a professional and consistent manager for the mentioned station would shorten the time of garden construction and implementation of the second phase, while solving the challenges and problems of the project more easily because of the manager's familiarity with the project implementation process. 4- ConclusionTo identify the root causes of inefficiency of the water pumping station in Ghomsheh Village and provide a strategy for solving them, the RCA technique was employed. Following the interviews with the beneficiaries and officials involved in the project, 7 problems of the station inefficiency were identified: lack of the villagers’ willingness to cooperate with the authorities, farmers’ decreased incomes and increased unemployment, lack of land ownership, repetitions of the process and past mistakes, loss of the beneficiaries’ economic livelihood, and imposition of part of the costs on them. Also, such executive strategies as involving the operators in the planning of the station, determining the amount of land covered by the station in the second phase, helping the villagers to establish agricultural projects, finding a legal solution to the problem of agricultural land ownership, beginning and ending the second phase at the announced deadline, using a professional and consistent manager until the end of the project, etc. were proposed.Keywords: water pumping station, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), irrigation scheme, farmer’s participation References:- Abdollah Zadeh, G. H., Ranjbari Shareh, S., & Rahimi, R. A. (2017). Investigating the impact of watershed management projects on quality of life in rural areas of Babol county. Quarterly Journal of Geographical Space, 17(59), 121-142.- Adib Haj Bagheri, M., Parvizi, S., & Salsali, M. (2011). Qualitative research methods. Tehran: Boshra Publication.- Adimi, M. J. (2006). 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This study is presenting a multidisciplinary approach for mitigations of water resources in the irrigation, water supply, energy, and flood protection using hydrological model coupled with multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The study area is originated in the northern Afghanistan with serious water issues. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was adopted for the hydrological modelling. The model was calibrated and validated using monthly streamflow from 2010 to 2018. The current irrigation state of the watershed was revised based on the crop water requirements and land area to address water shortages. The investigations lead to an engineering-based solution (dam construction) to regulate and control the streamflow, especially during winter and flood season. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on expert's opinions were used to determine suitable dam site locations. Then, the dam was added to the SWAT model for dam's impact assessment. The dam reservoir capacity (197,900,938 m3), dam storage area (748 ha), dam height (69 m), electricity generation (Ave = 25.4 MW, Min =16.23 MW, , Max = 66.5 MW), and flood protection ability were estimated. Finally, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to ensure the project feasibility. The CBA proves the feasibility and applicability of proposal. The surplus water can address the water shortages with an extra capacity of irrigating 17,180.5 ha or provision of water supply for the Mazar-i-Sharif city (the fourth biggest city in the Afghanistan). These findings can be used as guidance for the decision-makers in the BRB for the future development of water resource management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation over the North China Plain (NCP) has been demonstrated to lower temperature by altering the surface energy budget. During past decades, the concurrence of irrigated area variation and reduced irrigation intensity prompted our investigation into whether there has been a temporal change in irrigation cooling effect over the NCP, which is largely unknown. Using historical observations in 1979–2018, we detect a shift in the cooling effect occurring around 1995, when the expansion of irrigated area was going to slow down and water‐conserving irrigation technology was boomingly introduced. After this time, the accelerated process of cooling effect (−0.0045°C year−1) switches to a decelerated one (0.0089°C year−1). Regional climate simulations also show a pronounced slowdown in irrigation‐induced cooling with the rate of 0.0081°C year−1. The irrigation‐induced cooling is expected to be weaker with the persistent reduction in agricultural water use and contribute to a more rapid warming. Plain Language Summary: The North China Plain is the largest irrigated area in China. However, the irrigated agriculture situation in this fertile plain has been going through moderated expansion of irrigated area and reduced irrigation intensity. The variations in irrigation‐induced cooling effect along with this irrigation development were thus investigated based on in situ observations and model simulations. The combined analysis clearly supports a shift from enhancement to alleviation in cooling effect during past decades. The slowdown of irrigation feedback is therefore likely to enable more rapid warming in the future. Key Points: The local cooling effect of irrigation during past decades is evaluated in observations and model simulationsOver the North China Plain, the irrigation‐induced cooling effect has decreased since the mid‐1990sPersistent changes in irrigation water use cannot be overlooked in climate attribution studies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and social environmental repercussions of large dam construction have pre-occupied development discourse for some time globally. Literature on dam projects focuses on the displacement of humans and wildlife from their natural habitats and the dam's contribution to urban and industrial transformation. There is a dearth of literature on small dams and small-scale irrigation projects in communal areas. This article examines the status of Mushandike irrigation scheme, which was designed to transform the lives of rural people located in the semi-arid ecological region of southern Zimbabwe. We used ethnographic principles of data generation guided by a feminist theoretical framework to get to women farmers' lived experiences. Mushandike small-scale irrigation scheme has been a 'hydrology of hope' for women farmers for many years. However, multifarious factors, both natural and human-induced, are turning it into a 'hydrology of despair'. Although farming is still done from a business perspective, water stress due to an inefficient water and land allocation management system, linked to patriarchal ideological practices, has driven the irrigation scheme onto a difficult trajectory. The article recommends a paradigm shift in the irrigation scheme's management to ensure that the original ethos – that irrigation farming is equivalent to formal employment – is re-adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the state-led 'freshening the coastal zones' policy has been implemented in pursuit of sustainable development in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Drawing on a case study of the Ba Lai irrigation scheme in a coastal district of Ben Tre Province, the paper argues that the state's ideology of 'freshwater over saltwater' results in contested land-use policies that, in turn, drive forced transformation of resource-based livelihoods. By unraveling the political ecology of these social-political dynamics, the study shows how contemporary land-use approaches have modified coastalscapes, evidenced by the continued expansion of freshwater-based agricultural systems. These agriculture-favored development policies have negatively affected agrarian communities' options to sustain their traditional livelihoods (e.g. shrimp farming), which otherwise help yield higher incomes. This paper raises doubts about the 'freshening coastal zones' policy in addressing saltwater intrusion at the delta scale, while recognizing the equal role of saltwater in supporting coastal livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThis paper explores how the state-led ‘freshening the coastal zones’ policy has been implemented in pursuit of sustainable development in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Drawing on a case study of the Ba Lai irrigation scheme in a coastal district of Ben Tre Province, the paper argues that the state’s ideology of ‘freshwater over saltwater’ results in contested land-use policies that, in turn, drive forced transformation of resource-based livelihoods. By unraveling the political ecology of these social-political dynamics, the study shows how contemporary land-use approaches have modified coastalscapes, evidenced by the continued expansion of freshwater-based agricultural systems. These agriculture-favored development policies have negatively affected agrarian communities’ options to sustain their traditional livelihoods (e.g. shrimp farming), which otherwise help yield higher incomes. This paper raises doubts about the ‘freshening coastal zones’ policy in addressing saltwater intrusion at the delta scale, while recognizing the equal role of saltwater in supporting coastal livelihoods.

Rural livelihood diversification has become a central policy in rural development and poverty alleviation. Farmworkers in irrigation schemes are a typical poor sub-group that has received little attention in research regarding their livelihood status and the contribution of diversification. This paper provides evidence derived from a study that was carried out to examine whether farmworkers in the study area diversify their livelihoods and identify their choices of livelihood-diversification strategies and the determinants thereof. Data were collected from 191 randomly selected farmworkers and analyzed using the binary probit model and the multinomial logistic model. Variables considered in the binary probit model—gender, number of dependents, employment type, farming experience, land leasing, and market access—influenced livelihood diversification among irrigation farmworkers in a statistically significant way. The multinomial logistic model analysis considered age, marital status, household dependents, leasing land from employer, farming experience, agricultural training, and access to markets as the statistically significant factors that influence the choice of livelihood-diversification strategies in the study area. The study concluded that rural development policies should consider leasing land to irrigation farmworkers that is adequate to reduce poverty, achieve food security, and sustain the livelihoods of farmworkers in the study area, as it boosts the generation of income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation has been identified as a key to achieving food demand in the face of rapid increase in population and climate change impact. In northern Nigeria for example, irrigation practice has been adopted as an alternative to achieving in food production to meet the demand of the population. Nevertheless, the existing irrigation schemes encountered several challenges coming from the 5 basic sustainability pillars including social, environmental, economic, institutional and technological. This paper attempts to appraise the current state of irrigation schemes through revealing the underlined challenges confronting these schemes that cut across sustainability pillars. The findings discovered that irrigation schemes contributed immensely toward achieving food security and socio-economic development. However, the huge investment in irrigation sector have resulted in massive economic fatalities. This could be attributed to poor management, under-utilization, and abandonment even though few are performing remarkably well. Thus, there is a need to adopt new water sharing methods that can improve water-use efficiency, users-managers joint approach, building competent institutions with an improved monitoring, evaluation and surveillance systems. Others include frequent policy review, development of water conservation-base law enforcement agency as well as well-timed sensitization and awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess irrigation may result in deep percolation and nitrate transport to groundwater. Furthermore, under Mediterranean climate conditions, heavy winter rains often result in high deep percolation, requiring the separate identification of the two sources of deep percolated water. An integrated methodology was developed to estimate the spatio-temporal dynamics of deep percolation, with the actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc act) being derived from satellite images data and processed on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. GEE allowed to extract time series of vegetation indices derived from Sentinel-2 enabling to define the actual crop coefficient (Kc act) curves based on the observed lengths of crop growth stages. The crop growth stage lengths were then used to feed the soil water balance model ISAREG, and the standard Kc values were derived from the literature; thus, allowing the estimation of irrigation water requirements and deep drainage for independent Homogeneous Units of Analysis (HUA) at the Irrigation Scheme. The HUA are defined according to crop, soil type, and irrigation system. The ISAREG model was previously validated for diverse crops at plot level showing a good accuracy using soil water measurements and farmers' irrigation calendars. Results show that during the crop season, irrigation caused 11 ± 3% of the total deep percolation. When the hotspots associated with the irrigation events corresponded to soils with low suitability for irrigation, the cultivated crop had no influence. However, maize and spring vegetables stood out when the hotspots corresponded to soils with high suitability for irrigation. On average, during the off-season period, deep percolation averaged 54 ± 6% of the annual precipitation. The spatial aggregation into the Irrigation Scheme scale provided a method for earth-observation-based accounting of the irrigation water requirements, with interest for the water user's association manager, and at the same time for the detection of water losses by deep percolation and of hotspots within the irrigation scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential outputs of irrigation should be put forth to improve the yields in agricultural practices. Available water resources should efficiently be used to improve yields and inputs should be minimized. Performance assessment of irrigation schemes is an importance issue for improved yields and to take relevant measured. Statistical methods are used for performance assessment of irrigation schemes with the use of various indicators. Forecasts for future performance of irrigation shames will facilitate the steps to be taken by decision-makers to improve performance. In this study, time series – ARIMA method was used to forecast future performance of Bergama irrigation scheme for 2017-2021 period. The indicator values of annual irrigation water supply per unit command area, output per unit command area and total expenditure per unit command area for 2006-2017 period were used to estimate performance indicators for 2017-2021 period. In 2021, at 95% probability, the lowest annual irrigation water supply per unit-command area was calculated as 4365.10 m3 ha-1 and the highest as 16835.69 m3 ha-1; the lowest output per unit command area was calculated as -5076.10 € ha-1 and the highest as 10401.2 € ha-1; the lowest total expenditure per unit command area was calculated as -2200.41 € ha-1 and the highest as 1866.31 € ha-1. Present forecasts of time series -ARIMA method with the use of data of 2006-2016 period revealed that annual irrigation water supply per unit-command area and output per unit command area will increase and total expenditure per unit command area will decrease in years.

Introduction Population growth, drought, climate change, and mismanagement policies have strongly affected the existing water resources. One of the most effective ways to achieve the goals of agricultural water management is setting up and optimizing irrigation and drainage networks for agricultural water. Water experts consider construction and establishment of water pumping stations in rural areas as one of the important principles of optimal agricultural water management. However, despite the costs incurred, the evidence shows that most of these networks have faced many problems and beneficiaries’ participations in the maintenance of installations have been minimal. Moreover, in the design and implementation of these projects, social studies of the involved regions and the main stakeholders’ opinions about these projects seem to have been ignored. As a result, the efficiency and productivity of such stations, as well as investment in the development of water resources, have decreased. In this regard, several pumping stations have been built for developing gardens in Kermanshah Province, but almost all of them are inactive for reasons such as the lack of technical and accurate engineering. The only water pumping station which is ready to operate is in Ghomsheh Village, but many problems occurring from the time of its approval to implementation have led to the villagers’ distrust and pessimism towards the implementation of the project. After taking some steps, the villagers have refused to participate in the project and have not accepted it. However, based on the available evidence, construction of a water pumping station can have positive benefits for stakeholders. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of the factors limiting the success of the project of water pumping station in the village of Ghomsheh Faraman and provide solutions to overcome the mentioned problems. 2- Methodology This study was a qualitative research and a case study in terms of obtaining facts and data processing. The study population included the beneficiaries covering the water pumping station of Ghomsheh Village, 15 people in Darood Faraman and 11 officials, who were involved in the implementation of this project. The sampling method was purposeful based on semi-structured interviews and the focus groups were used to collect the data. Fifteen and 11 individual interviews with the villagers and the officials involved in the water pumping station were done, respectively. The average time of the interviews was 40-50 min. The researcher also conducted 2 and 2 focus group interviews with the community of beneficiaries (6-8 people) and the project-related officials (6-7 people), respectively. To analyze the data, the RCA technique was utilized. Root analysis is the process of a structured investigation that aims to identify the real cause of a problem. It is a multistage process that includes: 1) problem identification; 2) information gathering; 3) information analysis; and 4) cause-and-effect analysis. To identify the main problem, the interviews were conducted with the project beneficiaries and officials. Then, each of the relevant interviews was transcribed and the key concepts and root causes were extracted after summarizing them. Upon identifying the problem, cause, and root cause during a re-interview with the project beneficiaries and officials, the revitalization strategies of the project implementation were extracted. 3- Discussion A necessary condition for the growth and development of any community, including the village of Ghomsheh Faraman, is creating jobs, which, despite its high importance, has poorly and negatively been done in the mentioned village, thus resulting in increased unemployment and the villagers’ decreased incomes. Construction of this station has not only led to the villagers’ unemployment, but also enhanced their migration and addiction, as well as divorce in some cases. Researchers’ findings in this regard have shown that the project incompatibility with the beneficiaries’ main profession has extended its duration, labors’ abandonment from the village, and lack of diversity of activities in the village as the root of the problems reducing rural incomes and augmenting unemployment. Another major problem for the project of water pumping station in Ghomsheh Faraman Village has been the villagers’ unwillingness to cooperate with the authorities, which was found to be the dominant and main problem contributing to the project inefficiency in this study. The people’s reluctance towards the project implementation, the beneficiaries’ indecision for accomplishing it, the profiteering views of some of them, their pessimism and distrust towards the officials, as well as the officials’ empty promises and ignorance towards the beneficiaries’ protests and demands were the roots of the problem. Nonetheless, this had not prevented the project construction and implementation, despite the users’ reluctance towards horticulture and even the existence of inadequate feasibility studies, which had temporarily resulted in the waste of resources, stagnation of the station, increased unemployment and migration, return to the primary cultivation method, and the beneficiaries’ pessimism and distrust towards the project. After 8 years from the construction of the project, still, no gardens have been constructed and the agricultural lands have been stagnated, while the beneficiaries have remained undecided whether to continue the path and construct the gardens or return to the primary cultivation method. They are still reluctant to cooperate with the authorities. Another issue was the uncertainty of land ownership. In the lands covered by the station, the issue of ownership was very important with some needs to be considered. Huge investments had been made to control, regulate, transfer, and distribute water by water pumping stations. The beneficiaries’ participation in the station-related planning was one of the joint strategies expressed by the two groups, which, if implemented, could have a very positive effect on the beneficiaries’ participation, which could then increase their desire for gardening, accepting the station costs, reducing the project time and cost, creating the villagers’ sense of ownership and responsibility so as to take care of the tools and facilities required for the project. Farmers' involvement in irrigation projects is essential since it can enhance their abilities to plan, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and increase their sense of responsibility. To solve the main problems, i.e., lack of diversity of activities in the village and the officials and farmers’ involvement in the project, a joint strategy of the Agricultural Jihad Organization to assist the villagers in the construction of a cattle ranch, as well as growing mushrooms and bees is needed. If such businesses are launched, the villagers’ income would increase and the economic pressures could decrease. In addition, creating jobs in the village could reduce unemployment and poverty, improve life quality, and ultimately lower rural migration. A legal solution to the problem of land ownership was another joint strategy proposed by the officials and beneficiaries of the project to address the root of the problem resulting from lack of attention to the customary-property laws. Implementation of this strategy would give hope to the villagers to realize their rights with the help of the authorities, better accept legal votes by the relevant institutions in this area, and have less opposition in launching and reviving the project. The legal solution to the problem of land ownership would make them feel secure about their properties. Another joint strategy presented by the beneficiaries and officials involved in the project was to solve the root of the problem of management instability. Hiring a professional and consistent manager for the mentioned station would shorten the time of garden construction and implementation of the second phase, while solving the challenges and problems of the project more easily because of the manager's familiarity with the project implementation process. 4- Conclusion To identify the root causes of inefficiency of the water pumping station in Ghomsheh Village and provide a strategy for solving them, the RCA technique was employed. Following the interviews with the beneficiaries and officials involved in the project, 7 problems of the station inefficiency were identified: lack of the villagers’ willingness to cooperate with the authorities, farmers’ decreased incomes and increased unemployment, lack of land ownership, repetitions of the process and past mistakes, loss of the beneficiaries’ economic livelihood, and imposition of part of the costs on them. Also, such executive strategies as involving the operators in the planning of the station, determining the amount of land covered by the station in the second phase, helping the villagers to establish agricultural projects, finding a legal solution to the problem of agricultural land ownership, beginning and ending the second phase at the announced deadline, using a professional and consistent manager until the end of the project, etc. were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the positive role of copper (Cu) in plants and animals, excessive amounts have environmental and health effects. Cu has been excessively accumulating in agricultural soils worldwide due to increased agrochemicals and wastewater use in farming. The increased Cu concentration in soil negatively impacts soil microbes and plants, affecting crop productivity and environmental quality. Here, the status and spatial distribution of Cu in Tanzanian agro-ecosystem were characterized as its information are currently missing. The study assessed 198 soil samples from 10 irrigation schemes and 3 land use, where total and bioavailable Cu were determined and contamination status assessed. The variable Cu status and distribution were observed among studied land use where paddy farming areas had higher total (5892.36 μg/kg) and bioavailable Cu (3342 μg/kg) than total and bioavailable Cu concentration in maize farming areas (total Cu 1522.09 μg/kg and bioavailable Cu 779 μg/kg) and conserved areas (total Cu 4415 μg/kg and bioavailable Cu 3267 μg/kg). The bioavailability of Cu for plant uptake was 52% in maize farming areas, 49.9–63.5% in paddy farming areas, and 48.4–51.6% in reserved areas, where farming areas had higher Cu bioavailability.Contrary to other agro-ecosystems worldwide, all Cu concentration values studied in the Usangu agro-ecosystem are within the acceptable limit (100000 μg/kg). However, this should not have to be taken for granted or ignored; there is a need to set strategic management to maintain Cu levels in agro-ecosystem within acceptable limits to ensure environmental quality, food safety, and sustainability.

Green roof constantly suffers from the water stress that is developed during prolonged drought seasons. In general, periodical irrigation is required to ensure plant growth and hence serviceability of green roofs. Biochar, a carbon sink material, has been proposed as a substrate amendment in green roofs for enhancing water retention ability of soils. This study aims to conduct an assessment of the irrigation efficiency of green roofs with different biochar additions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%; v/v) under sub-tropical climatic conditions. In order to achieve this objective, outdoor monitoring as well as numerical modeling using HYDRUS-1D was conducted. Soil columns mixed with different proportion of biochar were prepared. These columns were subjected to different irrigation schemes (three irrigation frequencies were assessed (i.e., per 3, 7 and 10 days after irrigation or rainfall); moreover, three irrigation amounts for the three irrigation frequencies were considered (i.e., to a fixed amount (FA10mm), to Field water holding capacity (FC) and to Saturated moisture content (SR))). As suggested from the results: (1) Biochar significantly improved water holding capacity and plant available water. 20% biochar delayed the onset of the significant plant wilting phenomenon by approximately 3 days and maintained the maximal transpiration rate of vegetation in the dry period. (2) As compared to irrigation scheme A (irrigation to FC per 7 days), the efficiency of scheme B (irrigation to SR per 10 days) was more vulnerable to the biochar amendment. Moreover, the total irrigation water and days of water stress decreased with an increase in the biochar addition. Furthermore, the combination of 20% biochar and irrigation scheme B could be the optimal choice for maintaining the health of the green roofs and water conservation. The present study helps to obtain desired outcomes in green roofs, e.g., stormwater management, cost reduction as well as providing greening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hardian solutions to the excessive abuses of common-pool resources are still being contested. However, studies on governance and management of community irrigation facilities as a "common" in developing countries is limited. Contributing to literature on irrigation water management in the Global South, this paper examines the role of communities in the governance and management of small-scale irrigation dams in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study employs a qualitative approach to research with 25 interviews and seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Using a thematic approach to analysis, the study reveals that smallholder farmers through the Water Users' Associations (WUAs) have defined user boundaries and instituted ground rules and regulations to enable them to sustainably manage these water resources for their activities of agriculture. Further results revealed that irrigable land for dry season gardening was equitably shared among farmers who are members of WUA, and as a result, minimized possible conflicts among the resource users. The study recommends the need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Irrigation Authority to provide more technical support to WUAs in the Upper East Region of Ghana to enable them to better manage these water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural livelihood diversification has become a central policy in rural development and poverty alleviation. Farmworkers in irrigation schemes are a typical poor sub-group that has received little attention in research regarding their livelihood status and the contribution of diversification. This paper provides evidence derived from a study that was carried out to examine whether farmworkers in the study area diversify their livelihoods and identify their choices of livelihood-diversification strategies and the determinants thereof. Data were collected from 191 randomly selected farmworkers and analyzed using the binary probit model and the multinomial logistic model. Variables considered in the binary probit model—gender, number of dependents, employment type, farming experience, land leasing, and market access—influenced livelihood diversification among irrigation farmworkers in a statistically significant way. The multinomial logistic model analysis considered age, marital status, household dependents, leasing land from employer, farming experience, agricultural training, and access to markets as the statistically significant factors that influence the choice of livelihood-diversification strategies in the study area. The study concluded that rural development policies should consider leasing land to irrigation farmworkers that is adequate to reduce poverty, achieve food security, and sustain the livelihoods of farmworkers in the study area, as it boosts the generation of income.

This study was conducted to highlight status and distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Usangu agroecosystem-Tanzania. The study involved 198 soil samples from 10 irrigation schemes including three land use. The concentrations of selected PTEs (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Hg, Co, Nie etc.) were determined to estimate status, distribution, and contamination hierarchy. The total and bioavailable PTEs were determined by aqua regia digestion and Mehlich 3 methods, respectively. We observed variable total PTEs concentration (in mg/kg) among land use and irrigation schemes such as Cr (15), Co (2.9), Fe (7371), Mn (263), and Zn (18.2). Also, concentration of other PTEs (in µg/kg) were As (1382), Cd (22), Cu (3342), Hg (3.3), Ni (4107), and Pb (5661). It was observed that 99.5, 87, 66 and 12% of the studied soils had total Fe, As, Se and Hg concentration above allowable threshold in agricultural soils, respectively. The bioavailable PTEs fraction were lower than total values from different land use and irrigation schemes, higher values of bioavailable PTEs were associated with agricultural intensifications. The status of PTEs in Usangu agroecosystem observed to be at level potentially to cause damaging effect to soil invertebrates, plants, animals and human if remain unregulated. This study highlights baseline information and evidence for site-specific environmental management planning and a scientific basis required to establish PTEs management in agricultural soils to ensure health food and environmental safety.

Increasing agricultural land use intensity is one of the major land use/land cover (LULC) changes in wetland ecosystems. LULC changes have major impacts on the environment, livelihoods and nature conservation. In this study, we evaluate the impacts of investments in small-scale irrigation schemes on LULC in relation to regional development in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. We used Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques together with interviews with Key Informants (KI) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with different stakeholders to assess the historical development of irrigation schemes and LULC change at local and regional scales over 3 decades. Overall, LULC differed over time and with spatial scale. The main transformation along irrigation schemes was from grassland and bushland into cultivated land. A similar pattern was also found at the regional valley scale, but here transformations from forest were more common. The rate of expansion of cultivated land was also higher where investments in irrigation infrastructure were made than in the wider valley landscape. While discussing the effects of irrigation and intensification on LULC in the valley, the KI and FGD participants expressed that local investments in intensification and smallholder irrigation may reduce pressure on natural land cover such as forest being transformed into cultivation. Such a pattern of spatially concentrated intensification of land use may provide an opportunity for nature conservation in the valley and likewise contribute positively to increased production and improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

The performance of an irrigation water delivery canal located in northern Iran, which supplies water to 5,514 ha of paddy fields through ten secondary canals, was investigated. Throughout the rice growing season in the region, two performance measures, the measure of adequacy (PA) and the measure of equity (PE), were calculated for the system. It was observed that the canal, in its current physical and operational condition, is unable to distribute available water among all upstream and downstream users adequately. While 46.7 % of the total area is experiencing significant water scarcity, the amount of water received by 51.4 % of the area is approximately three times more than required. To improve the performance of the canal, structural and non-structural modifications were proposed and assessed using the SOBEK hydrodynamic model. The results showed that implementing the proposed modifications would decrease the measure of equity by 71.7 %, meaning that the overall performance of the canal could be reasonably improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In a context of higher reliance on irrigation schemes to ensure food security, it is crucial to understand institutional success of water resource management. In addition to other factors explored in great depth by the CPR literature, the actions of long-term appropriators contribute to the success of institutions. However, only a limited amount of work has attempted to examine the actual relationship between length of tenure and institutional success. To examine these relationships, we analyze a long-enduring CPR, the Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kenya, a network created in the 1950s and whose appropriators have held different lengths of tenure. We explore payment of operation and maintenance (O&M) fees of 71 irrigation units over two consecutive years. We examine 422 household surveys in eight out of the 71 irrigation units on the practice of institutions. We find that length of tenure impacts institutional success by influencing the behaviors of appropriators. Appropriators with longer tenure promote institutional success by provisioning the resource in a more sustainable manner through achieving high payments of O&M fees. Relatively dissatisfied with the implementation of the rules, they use formal and informal means to criticize institutions and to promote institutional change and adaptation. In contrast, appropriators with shorter tenure achieve lower payments of O&M fees, they complain less, and are more satisfied with the existing implementation of the rules. They are satisfied with the status quo. Hence, it is through the pressure of experienced appropriators that institutions such as the MIS evolve and adapt to become more successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale irrigation started in Uganda in the 1970s. In post-conflict northern Uganda, irrigation schemes in the Olweny Swamps, Lango region and in the Agoro Hills, Acholi region reflect strong strategic issues. Coupled with technocratic and top-down implementation, they aim at creating new territories focusing on rice production. This paper uses the institutional change approach developed by Tobias Häller to analyse changes induced by those irrigation schemes on indigenous resources management in a wide historical context. In both cases, sustainability of resources management seems to have been weakened by various degrees. This is as a result of not only the project itself but also from the disruption of indigenous institutions, initiated since colonialism and reflected by distinct postwar coping dynamics. Indeed it turned out that disruption impacts vary according to local context, even in regions often said to share high degrees of historical, cultural, and environmental homogeneity by international donors as well as government agencies.

This study was made at the Basic Seed Bank of the Local Sugar Cane Research Station for the Mideastern Cuba, based in Camaguey, on brown carbonate soil, between 2013 and 12014. Coil irrigation was applied to meet the water requirements for the crop, according to the edafoclimatic conditions and the different phenological phases it has. The Savo method was used to determine useful rain water. Adjustment and complementation of the irrigation program was based on indicators that characterize the exploitation scheme. The machine´s working parameters were determined to meet the water needs, and increase crop´s overall yields. The evaluations and results achieved have contributed to new proposals for management and operation of coil irrigation, and they are important to increase its efficiency.

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Generally, from the onset of dormancy to flowering, saffron farms are free of vegetation. Therefore, nutrients loss due to soil erosion, increased soil temperature and reduced land use efficiency are the most obvious problems of sole saffron cultivation, occurring over this period. Herein the intercropping advantage of saffron with watermelon or pumpkin and its effects on growth, yield and economic land equivalent ratio under limited irrigation were evaluated as a three-year field experiment (2014–2017) with a randomized complete blocks design arranged in factorial with three replicates. In this study, limited irrigation regimes on pumpkin and watermelon (14 and 28 days intervals) and cropping systems (saffron, pumpkin, watermelon, saffron + pumpkin and saffron + watermelon) were considered as the first and the second factors, respectively. Except for 2014, the individual effects of irrigation scheme and cropping systems on flower number and dried stigma yield were significant. In 2015, 2016, in comparison to saffron monoculture, intercropping significantly increased flower number and dried stigma yield. Moreover, in these years, increase in irrigation interval from 14 to 28 days significantly reduced average fruit weight in pumpkin and watermelon. The maximum land equivalent ratio and economic land equivalent ratio of saffron were found in saffron-pumpkin intercropping system with 14 days irrigation interval. Intercropping could positively affect saffron corms growth and N and P concentrations in the corms. In sum, considering the water shortage in arid and semi-arid regions, saffron-pumpkin or saffron-watermelon intercropping increases land efficiency and improves farmers' income during perennial life cycle of saffron. Highlights • Intercropping increased flower number and dried stigma yield in saffron. • Saffron yield was greater with pumpkin than with watermelon as a companion crop. • Increase in irrigation interval decreased economic land equivalent ratio in saffron. • N and P concentrations in the corms increased due to intercropping. • Reduction in irrigation interval increased large-sized daughter corms number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]