Effective Management of Water Resources Problems in Irrigated Agriculture Through Simulation Modeling

Irrigation development is essential to meet global food demands and contributes significantly to achieving United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like Zero Hunger (SDG2) and Life on Land (SDG15)”. However, improper irrigation management can result in dual water challenges—rising water tables and salinization in irrigated areas. Currently affecting over 20% of global irrigated regions, these issues could impact over 50% of such lands by 2050 if unaddressed. This research examines the long-term effects of “diverse management strategies on water table depth and groundwater salinities.” Utilizing the SaltMod salt and water balance model, the study focuses on an irrigated area in India facing salinization and waterlogging issues. Pioneering in this region, the study aims to enhance understanding of dynamic processes causing system imbalances, with potential applicability to global challenges. “Calibration, validation, and sensitivity analysis of model parameters” preceded their use in simulating future impacts of water management scenarios. The model demonstrated high performance, evidenced by elevated “R-squared and model efficiency values and low mean error (ME) and root mean square error (RMSE) values.” Simulated scenarios project a continuous rise in groundwater levels in the study area under existing conditions, with the aquifer increasing by an average of 0.07 m annually. Therefore, recommended management strategies include reducing rice cultivation, diminishing canal water use, and augmenting groundwater utilization. The optimal scenario suggests that minor adjustments of two to eight percent in various inputs could prevent further waterlogging and secondary salinization. Implementing these alternatives can significantly mitigate the rise in groundwater levels and the associated risk of secondary salinization in irrigated lands.