Remote Sensing and District Database Programs for Irrigation Monitoring and Evaluation at a Regional Scale
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 11
Abstract
This study develops an approach aimed at improving the capability of regional irrigation monitoring and evaluation to identify relevant factors and subareas influencing irrigation performance. Its objective is to contribute to improve the productivity of irrigable areas in a cost-effective manner by overcoming the lack of sufficient updated field data observed in conventional remote sensing studies. To do this, several performance indicators are calculated and analyzed by combining remote sensing with district database programs that irrigation districts use in their administrative and water management tasks. This approach was applied in Riegos del Alto Aragón (Spain), a large (124,596 ha) and heterogeneous project divided into 53 surface and sprinkler irrigation districts. The 2004 and 2005 seasons were analyzed, with the latter showing a severe water shortage. Under no water scarcity, most districts applied higher relative water supplies regardless of irrigation systems and other factors. Cropping patterns were less intensive in surface irrigation districts regardless water availability. Six districts and four main factors were identified as those most important to bridge the economic gaps that this performance implies.
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Acknowledgments
The authors sequence in this paper follows the first-last author emphasis norm. Thanks are due to M.A. Casterad, C. Portero, R. Gómez (CITA), and A. Martínez-Cob (EEAD-CSIC) for their essential contribution to this work. The authors acknowledge the support provided by the Comunidad General de Riegos del Alto Aragón, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, and the Lonja Agropecuaria de Lérida “MercoLleida.” The predoctoral scholarship of I. Chalghaf and the research contract of S. Lecina were funded by the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA). This research was funded by the Foundation Aragonese Agency for Research and Development (ARAID) and IberCaja.
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Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 11 • November 2015
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© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 8, 2014
Accepted: Feb 2, 2015
Published online: Mar 31, 2015
Discussion open until: Aug 31, 2015
Published in print: Nov 1, 2015
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