Studies on irrigation distribution equity and crop growth performance in a Canal Command using remote sensing

Irrigation distribution equity and crop growth were studied in Delhi Sub-branch of Western Yamuna Canal Command. Total irrigation was estimated from the canal and tube well discharge data and irrigation distribution equity was expressed in terms of Theil’s and Christiansen’s Coefficients for nearly 140 wheat fields randomly chosen over the command. Crop growth performance for these plots was assessed from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained from the IRS, LISS II data. Four soil associations viz., Nabha-Ghoga, Daryapur-Hissar, Holambi-Nabha and Khampur-Hissar mainly represented the study area. In general, increase in amount of irrigation enhanced the growth performance of the wheat crop. Increase in distribution equity within soil associations slightly improved the growth performance of the crop. Over and above, the irrigation equity, quality and quantity constraints to irrigation, the other soil parameters like CEC, applied P also contributed to differences in wheat growth as observed from the stepwise multiple regression analysis. Irrigation performance indices were estimated from water distribution between soil associations and from water requirement of crop, indicated performance slightly below the critical level.