Effectiveness of Rainfall for Major Crops Grown under the Canal Command Areas of Musi Irrigation Project in Telangana, India
Bommika Ramya *
Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute, Himayathsagar, Hyderabad, Telangana- 500 030, India.
M. P. Tripathi
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh- 492012, India.
B. Krishna Rao
Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute, Himayathsagar, Hyderabad, Telangana- 500 030, India.
D. Khalkho
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh- 492012, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rainwater is an essential source for agriculture as well as human beings and animals, which falls on the earth’s surface. In the present study, the USDA-SCS method was used to estimate the effectiveness of rainfall for various crops grown in the command areas of Musi irrigation project in the Telangana state of the southern agro-climatic zone of southern India. Rainfall data of Musi irrigation project was collected and analyzed to know its effectiveness on different crops grown during Kharif and Rabi seasons. The results revealed that the Paddy crop has the highest effectiveness of rainfall percent in all cases. On an average, effectiveness of rainfall of the Paddy crop in Kharif and Rabi season were 34% and 57%, respectively. The effectiveness of rainfall was more during below the normal annual rainfall year than the normal and above normal annual rainfall year. During the below, normal and above normal annual rainfall year, it was found that the Paddy crop had the effectiveness of rainfall 62, 21 and 12% under the command area of RFMC of Musi irrigation project. Whereas, 25, 23 and 11% under the command area of LFMC of Musi irrigation project, respectively. This study will enable us to make necessary plans for more efficient utilization of water resources and proper irrigation scheduling.
Keywords: Canal water, command area, consumptive use, crop coefficient, rainwater, effective rainfall, effectiveness of rainfall, reference evapotranspiration (ET0)