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Optimal Transplanting Dates for Maximizing Area and Yield of an Irrigation Project

M. A. R. Akhanda
Bangladesh Water Development Board, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A. Fazal M. Saleh
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

For optimizing the command area and yield of any irrigation system a linear programming model has been developed and was applied to Teesta Barrage Project, Bangladesh with an irrigable area 0.467 million ha. The model predicts the optimal transplanting dates of high yielding variety (HYV) rice grown under supplemental irrigation in Aman (autumn) season and also the critical periods of the availability of irrigation water from Teesta river. The constraints of the formulated model are the availability of agricultural land and irrigation water whereas other resource inputs viz., quality seeds, fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides, labour and equipment, capital or credit etc. are assumed to be available in adequate quantities. On the basis of hydrologic characteristics, the project area was divided into three zones: zone-1, zone-II and zone-III, each zone having two soil types: Floodplain and Barind Tracts. Results of the model application reveal that, for optimal command area and optimal yield, crop staggering with early transplantation should be adopted. The optimal command area and optimal yield are 0.301 million ha and 1.10 million tons respectively. The model also predicted the critical periods of irrigation development when the demand of irrigation water matches the supply from Teesta river. More land could be brought under irrigation by providing additional water during these critical periods. The findings of the model provide a reasonable irrigation plan for Teesta Barrage Project and can be used for planning future irrigation development.

Keywords: Transplanting dates, Yield, Irrigation, Teesta Barrage,

Location: Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogra distrcts, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To determine the optimal transplanting dates and to predict the critical periods of Teesta Barrage Project where the development of irrigation facilities is still at planning stage.

Methodology:

Teesta Barrage Project is located in the north-western region of Bangladesh and covers partly the area of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogra distrcts. The methodology for the development of a linear programming model has been based on the review of the past works on mathematical modeling to water resources systems. Data on hydrometeorological and soil characteristics of the study area have been collected from BWDB. The basic considerations for the application of the model for Teesta Barrage Project are as follows: Water Resource: The flow of the Teesta river has been considered as the source of irrigation water for the project area, Until now a large number of studies have been carried out by different consultants and authorities to quantify the water availability of the project. The information about land availability and land use pattern was collected from project site and literature. The total project area was divided into three distinct hydrologic zones according to the hydrological characteristics and into two distinct land types (Floodplain and Barind Tracts) according to the soil characteristics. The area in each zone and in each land type was measured from the project map obtained from BWDB. The irrigation water requirement of the project area was calculated on the basis of appropriate values of land preparation requirement, evapotranspiration, seepage and percolation rate and dependable rainfall. For land preparation requirement, the recommendations made by BUET (1987) was taken. They suggested to apply 200 mm of water for land preparation of both Floodplain and Barind Tracts of project area, of which 150 mm is to be applied ten days before transplantation for ploughing, land soaking and puddling and the additional 50 mm in the next ten days in order to keep some standing water in the rice field during transplantation. The developed model has been applied under two separate cropping practices: (1) the normal transplantation condition where HYV Aman can be transplanted in normal transplantation period (second and third ten days of July and first ten day of August) and (2) the early transplantation condition where crop staggering approach with early transplanting dates can be adopted. This early crop staggering is possible only in those areas where HYV rice can be transplanted earlier than normal season. The transplanting dates can be advanced upto first ten day of June. For different sets of field data the developed model have been run in IBM PC with the help of an LP software. From these computer runs, the best irrigation plan can be selected and the optimal transplanting dates can be determined and the critical periods can also be predicted.

Source of Information: International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, Seventh Afro-Asian Regional Conference Tokyo, 1989.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

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Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The model used yielded irrigation plan suitable for both command area and yield maximization. The command area as well as yield of the project could be increased by increasing design capacity of the main canal and by supplying more irrigation water at the critical periods of October. The supply of more irrigation water could be made possible by using the water from the minor rivers of the project area and by adopting the conjunctive use of ground water with surface water. The increased rate of seepage and percolation increases the irrigation water requirement of the crop and thus decreases coverage and yields. Management, among others to stress on minimizing seepage and percolation loss.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings