A baseline estimate of regional agricultural water demand from GEO-LEO satellite observations

Abstract

Agricultural water demand (AWD) and irrigation water demand (IWD) were assessed (2009–2018) over India using geostationary and polar orbiting satellites. A novel concept of satellite based composite crop-coefficient was introduced to address bulk AWD from mixed agricultural landscape. Significant spatio-temporal variation of AWD was observed over India. The decadal mean of annual AWD was found to be 1521 km³ contributing around 52% (789 km³) and 48% (732 km³) in kharif and rabi seasons, respectively. The decadal average IWD over India was found to be 360 km³. At annual scale, around 75% of AWD was found fulfilled by effective rainfall and the rest 25% is the IWD. The decadal trend of AWD and IWD showed significant increasing trend over Indian region. The study provides a baseline reference for regional agricultural water management policy over diverse agro-climatic regions of India with an opportunity to optimize AWD and IWD at different locations.

Keywords:

• Agriculture
• crop evapotranspiration
• crop co-efficient
• agricultural water demand
• INSAT

Acknowledgement

The authors are also grateful to the Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad, for motivating and encouraging to take up the study and providing the necessary infrastructure for carrying out the research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was carried out under the Project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi under the Women Scientists Scheme (WOS-A; reference no: SR/WOS-A/EA-1001/2015 (G)), and their support is gratefully acknowledged.