Analysis of the groundwater scenario with respect to the crop water productivity for the Betwa–Dhasan river basin, Bundelkhand using remote sensing techniques

Abstract

Excessive water use in the agricultural sector in the Betwa–Dhasan basin of the Bundelkhand region is becoming the cause of irrepressible drawdown in the groundwater level. These changing dynamics are becoming the cause of water scarcity in the basin and increasing difficulty in fulfilling the water demand of the area. For incorporating the water-saving agricultural practices in the region, it is essential to have a precise estimation of the crop water productivity (CWP) and evapotranspiration (ET) at the basin scale. In this analysis, the Kharif and Rabi seasons of 2004–2005, 2009–2010, and 2013–2014 have been included. The ET and CWP have been calculated for all the seasons. The MODIS satellite imageries have been used for calculating the ET using the surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) algorithm. The highest CWP has been recorded as 2.56 kg/m3 for the Rabi season 2014. With the increase in the demand for water for irrigation and agricultural purposes, the groundwater gets depleted. The decadal groundwater fluctuation map of the Rabi season (2005–2014) shows that groundwater gets depleted by more than 30 m within this period in some of the river basin regions situated in the Jhansi and Tikamgarh districts. CWP is more in the Rabi season as compared to the Kharif season. The yield also has the same trend as that of CWP. Groundwater depleted less in the Kharif season as compared to the Rabi season. During the decadal Rabi season (2005–2014), the groundwater depleted most in some of the areas in the Tikamgarh and Jhansi districts. CWP is more in the Rabi season as compared to the Kharif season. The yield also has the same trend as that of CWP. Groundwater depleted less in the Kharif season as compared to the Rabi season. During the decadal Rabi season (2005–2014), the groundwater depleted most in some of the areas in the Tikamgarh and Jhansi districts.