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Coastal Water Resources and Irrigation Development for Improving Land Productivity of the Saline Environment

M K Mondal
Senior Agril. Engineer
BRRI, Gazipur

S P Ritu
Agril. Engineer
BRRI, Gazipur

M H K Choudhury
Irrigation Coordinator
PROSHIKA, Dhaka

AM Chasi
Agricultural Coordinator
HEED Bangladesh, Dhaka

P K Majurnder
Additional Agriculture Officer
DAE, Khulna

M M Islam
Associate Professor
Khulna University

S K Adhikary
Professor
Khulna University

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

River water, rainfall, residual soil moisture and groundwater are the coastal water resources. But all those are not available for year round crop cultivation. There are plenty of water resources for rice cultivation in the wet season. Irrigation is not necessary for rice cultivation in this season; rather drainage might help to increase productivity of the coastal region of Bangladesh. In contrast, availability and quality of water resources in the coastal region restricts irrigation development in the dry season. Utilization of water resources is the key factor to increase productivity of the coastal region. Although groundwater level in the coastal region remained very close to the soil surface, its utilization for crop production is a risky venture. But rainfall and river water remained suitable for the development of irrigated agriculture. Rainfall is more than evaporation in the wet season when T. Aman rice is grown and is considered sufficient for successful rice cultivation. In case of drought, river water might be a useful source for supplemental irrigation. In the dry season, sufficient residual soil moisture is left in the soil profile for non-rice crop cultivation after the harvest of T Aman rice. River water salinity also permits rice irrigation up to mid-February and should be used for rice irrigation during neap tide directly from the river through existing sluice and/or flash gate systems. After that river water can be conserved in the natural sluice canals during early February for irrigating rice at the later part of the growing season of rice i.e., from mid- February to end of March. There lie many rivers and canals in the coastal region especially in the polder areas of Bangladesh, where non-saline river water and rainfall can be conserved for crop production .

Keywords: Irrigation, T Aman, Rice, River water salinity

Location: Barodanga, Mirzapur and Kismat Fultola area of Khulna District.

Start Date: 00-00-1996

End Date: 00-00-2003

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

To quantify available on-farm water resources and identify alternative means for their use for increasing land productivity of the south-west regions of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

An investigation was conducted at Barodanga and Mirzapur villages under Dumuria upazila and Kismat Fultola village under Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district to document on-farm water resources available for irrigation. River water, rainfall, residual soil moisture and groundwater are the coastal water resources. But all those are not available for year round crop cultivation. There are plenty of water resources for rice cultivation in the wet season. Irrigation is not necessary for rice cultivation in this season; rather drainage might help to increase productivity of the coastal region of Bangladesh. In contrast, availability and quality of water resources in the coastal region restricts irrigation development in the dry season.

Average rainfall and evaporation values was measured at Barodanga, Mirzapur and Kismat Fultola areas of the Khulna district and those at Khulna meteorological station during 1996-2003. Groundwater levels were monitored in three locations, i.e., at Barodanga, Mirzapur and Kismat Fultola area of Khulna district. Utilization of river water and groundwater was also observed. Soil moisture was measured at locations i.e., Barodanga and Mirzapur areas during 1996 and 1997 dry seasons.

Source of Information: Proceedings of the Workshop on Coastal Water Management and Uptake Technologies, 26 June 2004, Hotel Castle Salam, Khulna. Organized by BRRI, DAE, PROSHIKA, HEED Bangladesh, and Khulna University, Page: 8-18

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Utilization of water resources is the key factor to increase productivity of the coastal region. Although groundwater level in the coastal region remained very close to the soil surface, its utilization for crop production is a risky venture. But rainfall and river water remained suitable for the development of irrigated agriculture. Rainfall is more than evaporation in the wet season when T. Aman rice is grown and is considered sufficient for successful rice cultivation. In case of drought, river water might be a useful source for supplemental irrigation. In the dry season, sufficient residual soil moisture is left in the soil profile for non-rice crop cultivation after the harvest of T. Aman rice. River water salinity also permits rice irrigation up to mid-February and should be used for rice irrigation during neap tide directly from the river through existing sluice and/or flash gate systems. After that river water can be conserved in the natural sluice canals during early February for irrigating rice at the later part of the growing season of rice i.e., from mid- February to end of March. There lie many rivers and canals in the coastal region especially in the polder areas of Bangladesh, where non-saline river water and rainfall can be conserved for crop production. Therefore steps should be taken to utilize coastal water resources for improving productivity and livelihood of the coastal area farmers of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings