Water Requirements and Irrigation Scheduling of Sugar Cane Using GIS and CropWat Model in Kenana- Sennar- New Halfa region

Abstract

Due to the over use of available water resources, it has become very important to define appropriate strategies for planning and management of irrigated farmland. In this paper, Kenana –Sennar –New Halfa (Sugar cane ) region was chosen as the case study area for its special political and economic status and its severe water problem. To achieve effective planning, the information about crop water requirements, irrigation withdrawals, soil types and climatic conditions were obtained in the study area. In the meantime, a GIS method was adopted, which extends the capabilities of the crop models to a regional level. The main objectives o f the study are: 1) to estimate the spatial distribution of the evapotranspiration of Sugar cane ; 2) to estimate climatic water deficit; 3) to estimate the yield reduction of Sugar cane under different rainfed and irrigated conditions. Based on the water deficit analysis, recommended supplemental irrigation schedule was developed using CropWat model. Compared to the rainfed control, the two or three times of supplemental water irrigated to Sugar cane at the right time reduced the loss of yield, under one scenario. Keywords: Sugar cane ; climatic water deficit; irrigation scheduling .