Your search found 12 records
1 Al Khamisi, S. A.; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Ahmed, M. 2013. Conjunctive use of reclaimed water and groundwater in crop rotations. Agricultural Water Management, 116:228-234. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2012.07.013]
Water use ; Conjunctive use ; Aquifers ; Groundwater irrigation ; Irrigation water ; Crop rotation ; Salinity / Oman
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H045031)
(0.68 MB)
Irrigated agriculture in Oman relies solely on groundwater and Aflaj (Falaj is a canal system, which provides water for a community of farmers for domestic and agricultural use). With the increasing scarcity of freshwater available to agriculture, the need to use of reclaimed water (RW) from Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) in agriculture has increased. In this study, we explored how RW from an STP can be used directly, without Aquifer Storage and Recovery, as a source of irrigation water in conjunction with groundwater for agriculture. Average data from Muscat, Oman in the years from 1996 to 2010 was used for calculation of crop water requirement. Wheat, cowpea and maize were chosen as crops to be grown in rotation through the year. Using RW irrigation conjunctively with groundwater cropping areas of wheat, cowpea and maize can be increased by 323, 250 and 318% respectively, against utilization RW only. Of the total irrigation requirement 57.6% was met with reclaimed water (RW) and 42.4% was met with groundwater (GW). Therefore, it is recommended that decision makers should consider piping RW to areas where groundwater of good quality is available to conjunctively use and meet crop water requirements, rather than piping it to areas where groundwater is saline and unsuitable for irrigation. This will prevent disposal of RW to the sea and minimize stress on fresh groundwater zones.
2 Shah, Tushaar; Anwar, Arif; Amarasinghe, Upali; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Reddy, Junna Mohan; Molle, Francois; Mukherji, Aditi; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Suhardiman, Diana; Qureshi, Asad Sarwar; Wegerich, Kai. 2012. Canal irrigation conundrum: applying contingency theory to irrigation system management in India. IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Highlight, 25. 9p.
Irrigation systems ; Canal irrigation ; Irrigation management ; History ; Water user associations / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H045400)
(304.1KB)
3 Sharma, Bharat R.; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.. 2013. Moving from water problems to water solutions: research needs assessment for the eastern Gangetic Plains. Proceedings of the International Workshop held at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, India, 7-8 May 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 102p.
Water resources ; Water management ; Climate change ; Water productivity ; Land use ; Land tenure ; Water policy ; Flooding ; Agricultural production / India / Nepal / Bangladesh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046068)
(6.60 MB)
4 Natarajan, Rajmohan; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.. 2013. Hydrogeology of the eastern Ganges Basin: an overview. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 42p. (IWMI Working Paper 157) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2013.216]
Hydrogeology ; Petrology ; River basins ; Groundwater potential ; Groundwater development ; Groundwater irrigation ; Water resources ; Water quality ; Contamination ; Alluvium ; Arsenic ; Fluorides ; Sediment ; Water availability ; Water use ; Agriculture ; Rain ; Aquifers ; Wells ; Flow discharge ; Water level ; Models / India / Bangladesh / Nepal / Ganges River / Bihar / West Bengal / Jharkhand / Bihar
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046284)
(830.25 KB)
The Ganges Basin is a part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) River Basin and is one of the most populated (600 million) river basins in the world. This study focuses on the Eastern Ganges Basin (EGB) and covers India (Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal), Bangladesh and the Nepal Terai. Poverty is acute in the EGB, where household incomes are low, food security is not assured and devastating floods (and also water shortages) occur too often. The EGB is underlain by one of the most prolific aquifers in the world. Yet, farmers struggle to cope with dry spells and droughts because of their inability to access groundwater. Huge untapped groundwater, surplus surface water, and enormous plains and fertile lands highlight the requirement of proper planning for groundwater management and governance to reduce poverty and assure food security. The aim of this report is to assist planners/policymakers in the planning and management of groundwater resources in the EGB. This report mainly discusses about hydrogeology, groundwater potential and challenges, and groundwater quality issues in the EGB. Moreover, it is an attempt to form a base for future work related to groundwater development, management and modeling in this basin.
5 Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Bawain, A. A. 2014. Impact of sedimentation on groundwater recharge at Sahalanowt Dam, Salalah, Oman. Technical note. Water International, 39(3):381-393. [doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1080/02508060.2014.895889]
Groundwater recharge ; Sedimentation ; Hydraulic conductivity ; Dams ; Reservoirs ; Infiltration ; Models ; Water levels ; Flooding / Oman / Salalah / Sahalanowt Dam
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046392)
(0.37 MB)
Recharge dams in Oman detain floods to recharge groundwater. The impact of sedimentation on recharge at Wadi Sahalanowt Recharge Dam, in Salalah, Oman, was evaluated using field data and numerical modelling. Analysis of the thickness of sediments after flood events shows that maximum depositions were at the same locations after each event, coinciding with the lowest positions in the wadi. Numerical modelling suggests that the current practice of periodic removal of sediments will restore the storage capacity of the reservoir, but that ploughing or raking of the underlying native sedimentary rocks could be required to significantly improve infiltration rates.
6 Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Khan, M. M.; Mbaga, M. D. 2014. The potential of transforming Salalah into Oman’s vegetables basket. In Shahid, S. A.; Ahmed, M. (Eds.). Environmental cost and face of agriculture in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: fostering agriculture in the context of climate change. London, UK: Springer. 15p.
Vegetables ; Fruits ; Cereals ; Water availability ; Food security ; Environmental factors ; Soils / Oman / Salalah
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046397)
(0.27 MB)
Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman is mostly small scale and is a part of the traditional way of life. The majority of the population benefit from agriculture, however little. The 67 % of the population was in households that had at least one crop or livestock holding where the output contributed to consumption or income. Since the year 2000, the Government spent Rial Omani (RO) 20.1 million on agriculture and fishery development, and another RO 39.4 million on water resources development. Furthermore, the government encourages farming by offering land, machinery, and extension services. However, during the period 2000 till 2007, crop production has in fact gone down. In other words, despite being a capital rich country, substantial investment in agriculture, it is increasingly becoming a food insecure country. An indepth analysis of Oman’s agricultural sub-sectors shows that, household sub-sector contributed 27 % of the total value. Primary crop production in Oman in 2005/07 was 486.872 metric tons of which contribution of fruits and vegetables were 353,072 metric tons and 102,606 respectively. In comparison, only 26,206 metric tons of cereals were produced. The value of production of cereals and vegetables were 7.8 and 17.6 million RO respectively. This comparison confirms that Omanis prefer producing high value vegetables to cereal crops. In addition to vegetables produced locally, Oman imported 148,345 metric tons during the same period. Therefore, it is interesting to explore, if vegetable production in Oman can be further increased, resulting in increased income and near self-sufficiency in vegetables. If Oman chooses to increase vegetable production, then it has to come from a major shift in its current land and water use practices, because almost all of its cultivable lands and available freshwater are fully utilized at present. In this chapter we explored if the Salalah region of Oman could be transformed into Oman’s vegetable basket, leading to self-sufficiency in its vegetable needs.
7 Prathapar, Sanmugam A.. 2013. Technical challenges and solutions for sustainable groundwater management – an international perspective. In International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Proceedings of the National Seminar on Groundwater Governance in Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15 August 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) pp.93-101.
Groundwater management ; Sustainability ; Water availability ; Monitoring ; Aquifers ; Pumping / Australia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046408)
(0.2 MB)
8 Natarajan, Rajmohan; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Jayaprakash, M.; Nagarajan, R. 2014. Vertical distribution of heavy metals in soil profile in a seasonally waterlogging agriculture field in eastern Ganges Basin. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186(9):5411-5427. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3790-x]
Soil profiles ; Heavy metals ; Waterlogging ; Soil pollution ; Sediment ; Contamination ; Clay ; Sandy soils / India / Bihar / Ganges River
(Location: IWMI Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046446)
(0.59 MB)
The accumulation of heavy metals in soil and water is a serious concern due to their persistence and toxicity. This study investigated the vertical distribution of heavy metals, possible sources and their relation with soil texture in a soil profile from seasonally waterlogged agriculture fields of Eastern Ganges basin. Fifteen samples were collected at ~0.90-m interval during drilling of 13.11 mbgl and analysed for physical parameters (moisture content and grain size parameters: sand, silt, clay ratio) and heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni and Cd). The average metal content was in the decreasing order of Fe>Mn>Cr>Zn>Ni>Cu>Co>Pb>Cd. Vertical distribution of Fe, Mn, Zn and Ni shows more or less similar trends, and clay zone records high concentration of heavy metals. The enrichment of heavy metals in clay zone with alkaline pH strongly implies that the heavy metal distributions in the study site are effectively regulated by soil texture and reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxy-hydroxides. Correlation coefficient analysis indicates that most of the metals correlate with Fe, Mn and soil texture (clay and silt). Soil quality assessment was carried out using geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF) and contamination factor (CF). The enrichment factor values were ranged between 0.66 (Mn) and 2.34 (Co) for the studied metals, and the contamination factor values varied between 0.79 (Mn) and 2.55 (Co). Results suggest that the elements such as Cu and Co are categorized as moderate to moderately severe contamination, which are further confirmed by Igeo values (0.69 for Cu and 0.78 for Co). The concentration of Ni exceeded the effects-range median values, and the biological adverse effect of this metal is 87 %. The average concentration of heavy metals was compared with published data such as concentration of heavy metals in Ganga River sediments, Ganga Delta sediments and upper continental crust (UCC), which apparently revealed that heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Cr, Pb, Zn and Cd are influenced by the dynamic nature of flood plain deposits. Agricultural practice and domestic sewage are also influenced on the heavy metal content in the study area.
9 Malik, Ravinder Paul Singh; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Marwah, Madhavi. 2014. Revitalizing canal irrigation: towards improving cost recovery. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 52p. (IWMI Working Paper 160) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.211]
Canal irrigation ; Irrigation systems ; Cost recovery ; Farmers ; Irrigation water ; Budgets ; Fund ; Investment ; Efficiency ; Public services / Pakistan / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046620)
(1.12 MB)
Cost recovery from irrigation in almost all the countries presents a dismal picture. Low cost recovery coupled with declining government finances has led to the deterioration of both the quality of the built infrastructure and institutions managing and governing such infrastructure. This has created a vicious circle of low cost recovery, poor maintenance of infrastructure, inadequate and unreliable water supply, inefficient and corrupt institutions, and unwillingness of the farmers to pay. Breaking this vicious circle primarily requires identifying ways to improve availability of financial resources. Improving cost recovery from all users, including irrigators of the water, offers one of the most important avenues for raising financial resources. The present study examines some of the important issues that impinge on improving the cost recovery in canal irrigation, and assesses the feasibility of some of the efforts being made to improve cost recovery in irrigation to revitalize canal irrigation.
10 Natarajan, Rajmohan; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.. 2014. Extent of arsenic contamination and its impact on the food chain and human health in the eastern Ganges Basin: a review. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 47p. (IWMI Working Paper 161) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.224]
Arsenic ; Contamination ; Organic arsenic compounds ; Inorganic compounds ; Public health ; Health hazards ; Food chains ; Groundwater ; Water pollution ; Soil pollution ; Rice ; Irrigation water ; Drinking water ; Tube wells ; Ion exchange / India / Nepal / Bangladesh / Ganges Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046775)
(1 MB)
Exposure to arsenic and the use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in agriculture causes serious health issues. Complete or partial contamination of groundwater is reported worldwide, especially in the Eastern Gangetic Basin (EGB). This study aims to create an overall assessment of arsenic contamination in the EGB based on existing literature, demarcate the extent of the affected area, highlight the impacts on the food chain and human health, and hopes the research will help in the better planning and management of groundwater. Although several studies have evaluated arsenic contamination of groundwater in the EGB, (a) there is no proper long-term monitoring being done in affected areas; (b) there is a debate to identify the exact source and transport processes of arsenic occurrence in this region; (c) there is no comprehensive method to estimate the level of arsenic contamination in soil, water and the food chain; and (d) Arsenic contamination in Bihar and Nepal is not evaluated systematically, especially arsenic accumulation in the food chain and human health issues. Data scarcity and accessibility are the major challenges in this region. Thus, this review recommends systematic monitoring and analysis of arsenic contamination in groundwater, soils and food across the EGB.
11 Chinnasamy, Pennan; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.. 2016. Methods to investigate the hydrology of the Himalayan springs: a review. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 28p. (IWMI Working Paper 169) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2016.205]
Hydrology ; Freshwater ; Water storage ; Water springs ; Water resources ; Groundwater ; Watershed management ; Water rates ; Meltwater ; Pumps ; Monitoring ; Catchment areas ; Isotope analysis ; Climate change ; Rain ; Temperature ; Mountains ; Flow discharge ; Hydrogeology / South Asia / Himalayan Region
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047579)
(1 MB)
Springs are the major source of freshwater in many small mountainous watersheds within the Himalayan region. In recent years, their flow rates have diminished, but the reasons for this are not self-evident, and hence this paper reviews the methods to investigate Himalayan springs. The review reveals that chemical and isotope analyses – mostly water dating and stable isotope (e.g., d18O) analyses – could be an appropriate entry point to commence field investigations, because of their potential to map complex spring pathways, including linkages between aquifers. This should be combined with the building of hydrogeological maps with the available data. Output from desktop analyses, field investigations and hydrogeological maps could then contribute to the establishment of a conceptual model, which could form the basis for a numerical model.
12 Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Muthuwatta, Lal; Smakhtin, Vladimir; Surinaidu, Lagudu; Natarajan, R.; Chinnasamy, Pennan; Kakumanu, Krishna Reddy; Prathapar, Sanmugam A.; Jain, S. K.; Ghosh, N. C.; Singh, S.; Sharma, A.; Jain, S. K.; Kumar, S.; Goel, M. K. 2016. Reviving the Ganges water machine: potential and challenges to meet increasing water demand in the Ganges River Basin. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 42p. (IWMI Research Report 167) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2016.212]
Water demand ; Water resources ; Water supply ; Water use ; Water storage ; Water quality ; Water accounting ; River basin management ; Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater depletion ; Groundwater recharge ; Domestic water ; Irrigation water ; Surface water ; Runoff water ; Industrial uses ; Climate change ; Monsoon climate ; Flooding ; Drought ; Cost benefit analysis ; Aquifers ; Solar energy ; Renewable energy ; Pumping ; Cropping systems / South East Asia / India / Nepal / Bangladesh / Tibet / Ganges River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047712)
(1 MB)
Although the Ganges River Basin (GRB) has abundant water resources, the seasonal monsoon causes a mismatch in water supply and demand, which creates severe water-related challenges for the people living in the basin, the rapidly growing economy and the environment. Addressing these increasing challenges will depend on how people manage the basin’s groundwater resources, on which the reliance will increase further due to limited prospects for additional surface storage development. This report assesses the potential of the Ganges Water Machine (GWM), a concept proposed 40 years ago, to meet the increasing water demand through groundwater, and mitigate the impacts of floods and droughts. The GWM provides additional subsurface storage (SSS) through the accelerated use of groundwater prior to the onset of the monsoon season, and subsequent recharging of this SSS through monsoon surface runoff. It was identified that there is potential to enhance SSS through managed aquifer recharge during the monsoon season, and to use solar energy for groundwater pumping, which is financially more viable than using diesel as practiced in many areas at present. The report further explores the limitations associated with water quality issues for pumping and recharge in the GRB, and discusses other related challenges, including availability of land for recharge structures and people’s willingness to increase the cropping intensity beyond the present level.
Powered by DB/Text WebPublisher, from
