Salinity Dynamics and Water Availability in Water Bodies over a Dry Season in the Ganges Delta: Implications for Cropping Systems Intensification

Afrin Jahan Mila; Richard W. Bell; Edward G. Barrett-Lennard; Enamul Kabir

doi:10.1201/9781003112327-19

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Salinity Dynamics and Water Availability in Water Bodies over a Dry Season in the Ganges Delta: Implications for Cropping Systems Intensification

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Salinity Dynamics and Water Availability in Water Bodies over a Dry Season in the Ganges Delta: Implications for Cropping Systems Intensification

Afrin Jahan Mila, Richard W. Bell, Edward G. Barrett-Lennard and Enamul Kabir

Future of Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments, pp.305-322

CRC Press, 1

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003112327-19

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Abstract

Irrigation

Satkhira District

Rabi Season

Season Cropping

Ganges Delta

Relative EC

VPD

Cumulative Evaporation

Weather Variables

Non-rice Crop

Boro Rice

Pond Water

South-western Bangladesh

Dry Season Cropping

Hydrological Connectivity

Water Availability

Exponential Lines

Dry Season

Vapour pressure deficit

Bottle Gourd

Rabi Crops

Elevation above mean sea level

South Western Bangladesh

Maximum Water Content

Relative water volume

Grass Pea

Groundwater Salinity

Mega Delta

In the mega delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, the landscape has low elevation and agricultural land use is highly vulnerable to changes in upstream flows, climate variability and sea-level rise. The lack of freshwater in the dry season is a major impediment to agriculture in south-western Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the quality and quantity of water from river, canal, pond and groundwater sources during the dry season in Khulna, Bangladesh. Overall, salinity (ECw) in a controlled canal and in ponds increased from 2 dS m−1 in February to a maximum of 4.2 dS m−1 in mid-April. The relative ECw of canal and pond water increased with the decrease in relative water volume in a manner consistent with the view that increased ECw was caused by evaporation and irrigation water extraction. Pond ECw increased with lower site elevation, but regardless of elevation, ECw increased with time. Groundwater can be considered to be a prospective supplementary water source (ECw: 2.3 to 5.7 dS m−1) if canal water is insufficient. River water in this period was never suitable for irrigated crops (maximum ECw: 24.6 dS m−1). We conclude that water availability in ponds and controlled canals is important for crop irrigation and that the ECw is regulated by both the volume in storage, cumulative evaporation and irrigation water extraction.

Details

Title: Salinity Dynamics and Water Availability in Water Bodies over a Dry Season in the Ganges Delta
Authors/Creators: Afrin Jahan Mila
Richard W. Bell
Edward G. Barrett-Lennard
Enamul Kabir
Publication Details: Future of Sustainable Agriculture in Saline Environments, pp.305-322
Publisher: CRC Press
Edition: 1
Identifiers: 991005609373707891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Book chapter

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