WATER USE EFFICIENCY UNDER DIFFERENT WATER AVAILABILITY CONDITIONS IN EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA - A CASE STUDY

摘要

Water is one of the prime inputs of Indian agriculture. Irrigation plays an important role in agricultural growth and development and also a productive role against vagaries of monsoon. India's efforts in a new era of prosperity are based on planned development and use of water resources for food production. India has irrigated area, which are more than those in China and USA put together. But performance of irrigation system has been less than satisfactory and the policy-makers, planners and administrators are concerned over the poor performance. The major problems have been of delay of using irrigation potential, development of waterlogging and salinity, relatively low average crop yield and poor organized and managed system (Rao and Sunder, 1988). Seepage from majority of unlined canals resulting in accumulation of water in nearby areas is the main cause of reduction of crop yield due to poor aeration in the root zone.