Increasing field work productivity in irrigation evaluation processes through the use of combined irrigation models

Abstract

A surface irrigation evaluation process in an irrigation project requires expensive field work. Models that reproduce irrigation events help to analyse the data obtained, and evaluate different scenarios of improvement. The use of combined models that reproduce the interaction between irrigation water and the conveyance and drainage network, agricultural production, and the environment can increase the productivity of the field work. Their results surpass the analyses based only on application efficiency, and provide a wide range of irrigation, hydrological and economic indicators. The application of one of these models (Ador-Simulation) in a study area of the Bear River irrigation project (UT) showed that an increase in irrigation efficiency from 56 to 77 % can be achieved optimizing current irrigation time. This results in a 27 % of water saving over the 2008 demand, and in a little increase in current low economic productivities.