Comparison of practices

Use of water resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources
• Environmental protection

Country: Tajikistan

Province: Khatlon Region

District: Jilikul

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Sirdaryo Region

• Located in the valley part of the Vakhsh River Basin (river catchment area);
• Deep (below 3 meters) ground water occurrence;
• Middle loamy soils.

• Basins of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Rivers;
• Shallow ground water occurrence;
• Newly reclaimed landmass;
• Soil with high filtration ratio (over 0.1 m/day);
• landmass with low reclamation suitability and profitability.

Start date: 01.04.2010

End date: 31.10.2011

Start date: 01.01.1965

End date: 31.12.1968

Uneven distribution of irrigation water, lack of water accounting means to ensure observance of recommended irrigation norms for cotton

• Low efficiency of irrigation canals;
• rising ground water level;
• soil bogging;
• land salination.

Application of the technique sharply increases local water availability due to enhanced efficiency of irrigation networks (systems). Double coating of canal sides and bottom results in practically complete elimination of water filtration (0.97-0.98 per canal). Crop productivity grows thanks to better water availability, uniformity and timeliness of water supply and distribution.

Tubular water outlet flowmeter

Technology of anti-filtration canal panning with polymeric film.

Actions:

- Construction of tubular water outlet flowmeter with removable nozzles (procurement of polyethylene piping to make tubular water outlets and matching nozzles);
- Installation of tubular water outlet flowmeter along temporary sprinklers. 

Results:

Financial and economic:

saving of irrigation water; low cost of irrigation system automation (total kit cost: $500/ha) with the service life of 5 years. 

Technical:

simple design allowing a more even distribution of irrigation water stream among furrows, thus, ensuring the prescribed water supply mode.

Social:

improved working conditions of irrigators; lower labor needs/costs; enhanced mutual trust among farmers and water users.

There are different ways to prevent water filtration in distribution canals: anti-filtration canal coating with cast concrete, reinforced concrete plates, polymeric film, etc.  Separate use of these materials does not yield expected outcomes.  Fragility and lack of durability of polymeric film led to suspending its use.

Actions:

In 1965-1968, the mechanized (automated) way of canal panning with reinforced concrete plates and/or cast concrete in combination with polymeric film coating was introduced.  Initially, the canal’s perimeter was covered with black polyethylene film overlaid with reinforced concrete plates and/or cast concrete.  Experience shows that such canals are durable and are still operating today, although in recent years operational costs have significantly decreased.

Results:

Canals built with reinforced (cast) concrete panning in combination with polymeric film coating lose almost no water.  For example, in UR-24 and UR 25-9 Canals in Pakhtakor District -- where such panning was used for the first time – water losses dropped 20-30 times, and operational costs also sharply decreased compared to other facilities with different anti-filtration coating.  Water losses on the Right Branch of the SGC (discharge capacity – over 50 m³/s) amounted to only 1.8 l/s per 1 km.

Lessons learnt:

Installation and deployment of tubular water outlet flowmeter allows to improve the uniformity of irrigation stream’s distribution among furrows and conduct irrigation water accounting.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to widely use the small-scale irrigation automation means like the tubular water outlet flowmeters which have simple design, are convenient to operate, are low-cost and mobile and ensure supply of the prescribed amount of irrigation water.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been rendering significant attention to rehabilitation and refitting of its hydro-reclamation networks and even established a special Reclamation Fund.  In this regard, it is necessary to re-launch the practice of combatting water loss in supply canals by means of reinforced (cast) concrete coating combined with polyethylene film coating, especially with the account that domestic plants are currently manufacturing large volumes of polyethylene products.

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

Project title: Watering technology based on tubular water outlet flowmeters.

Project duration: Apr 2010-Oct 2011.

Project goal and objectives: development and deployment of a crop watering technology for dekhan farms of the Republic of Tajikistan allowing to significantly increase the efficiency of water use.

Project beneficiaries: members of “Istikol” WUA (Water User Association).

Project implementer: Institute of Water Issues, Hydropower and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of the RTj

Project title: Combatting water filtration in canals.

Project duration: 1965-1968.

Project goal and objectives: reduce water losses due to filtration in irrigation canals.

Project beneficiaries: population in SGC area.

Project implementer: “Golodnostepstroy” Irrigation System Administration.

Report by the Innovation Technology Department of the IWIHE of the AS of the RTj, Dushanbe, 2012, 45 p.

• Dukhovny, V.A. (technique developer);
• Irrigation of Uzbekistan, vol. 2 and 4, Tashkent, 1981;
• Poslavsky, V.V. et al., “Use of plastics in irrigation”, Tashkent, 1963;
• Dukhovny, V.A., “Irrigation and development of Golodnaya Step”, M.: Kolos, 1973;
• Bogushevsky, A.A. et al., “Agricultural hydro-technical reclamations”, ed. by E.S. Markov. M.: Kolos, 1981.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC