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Nitrate load change in surface and
groundwater under irrigable semi-arid
A case study in Sirsa Irrigation Circle (SIC), India
M.Sc. Thesis by Asmerom Gebreyesus
August 2012
Irrigation and Water Engineering Group
Picture front page: from archive of the WATPRO (2001-2002)
Nitrate load change in surface and groundwater
under irrigable semi-arid
A case study in Sirsa Irrigation Circle (SIC), India
Master thesis Irrigation and Water Engineering submitted in partial fulfillment of the
degree of Master of Science in International Land and Water Management at Wageningen
University, the Netherlands
Asmerom Gebreyesus
August 2012
Supervisors:
Dr.ir. Henk Ritzema
Irrigation and Water Engineering Group
Wageningen University
The Netherlands
www.iwe.wur.nl/uk
Ir. Gert-Jan Noij
IWRM
Alterra
The Netherlands
http://www.alterra.wur.n
“This report (product) is produced by students of Wageningen University as part of their MSc-programme. It is
not an official publication of Wageningen University or Wageningen UR and the content herein does not
represent any formal position or representation by Wageningen University.“
“Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form of
by any means, without the prior consent of the authors.“
ABSTRACT
Nitrate load change in surface and groundwater under irrigable semi-arid
A case study in Sirsa Irrigation Circle (SIC), India
Nitrate leaching is a common problem from root zone of frequently irrigated agricultural area where often
identified as an important contributor of nitrate to groundwater. However, before incorporating feasible
environmentally sound measures, it is essential to take research so as to quantify the existing trend. Hence, the
objective of the study is to quantify the amount of nitrate loss after simulated with different amount of
irrigation water and fertilizer in different cropping pattern with distinct soil textural properties. And the study
further extend to examine whether nitrate loss from Sirsa Irrigation Circle (SIC) was a threat to the
groundwater and hence the environment.
To examine the nitrate level both SWAP and ANIMO model used for water balance a nd nutrient loss. Using
models, simulation was carried out to study the impact of different water and fertilizer management in semiarid Sirsa irrigation circle. Data collected in the year 2001/2002 for water productivity analysis by the WATPRO
project was used as an input parameters and subsequently utilized in predicting nitrate loss. Intensive data
about the physiochemical properties of the soil at different phenological stage of the crop, data about the
meteorological condition of the site, characteristics of the crops and different agricultural inputs was collected
during the specified period. For model calibration and validation beside literature review experts’ advice was
taken into consideration. The experiment was conducted in 11 research fields for SWAP analysis and out of
which two fields were selected for nitrate loss analysis.
Result of the simulation prevails additional application of water incites runoff in Karnal field and bottom flux in
Sirsa field. The amount of nitrate loss from both rice and wheat crops in Karnal field shows low compared to the
amount of nitrate generated from Sirsa area. However, the amount of nitrate loss due runoff in Karnal field
noted to score high compared to any field in Sirsa. Generally, the amount of nitrate loss due to irrigation water
supply in a double crop simulation was large compared to the single crop simulation. On the other hand
additional inorganic fertilizer application noted to simulate less nitrate compared to the effect of irrigation
water supply.
Finally, it was concluded that combined effect of both fertilizer and irrigation shows remarkable effect on the
amount of nitrate loss from the system. And the amount of nitrate loss from Sirsa field shows low nitrate loss
but still large compared to the amount of nitrate incited due to bottom flux. Beside irrigation and fertilizer
supply the amount of crop uptake and soil texture found inconsequential to the amount of nitrate loss.
Generally, from the analysis carried out one can conclude that the amount of nitrate loss from Sirsa irrigation
circle was not a threat to the surrounding environment compared to the temperate climatic regions.
© 2012 Asmerom T Gebreyesus
Key words: Irrigation, fertilization, crop pattern, soil texture, SWAP, ANIMO, nitrate, leaching, bottom flux