. Root zone salinity management using fractional skimming wells with pressurized Irrigation: proceedings of the Project-End Workshop 2003

Book excerpt: Detailed hydro-geological investigations were carried out while implementing SCARPs in the Chaj Doab. These investigations yielded a data set of groundwater quality at different depths of the aquifers (spatial) especially in the SCARP-II saline zone. In MREP area, 138 public tubewells, having strainers from 30-35 m till 60-75 m depth of the aquifer, were installed during the 1970s to help meet the irrigation water demand at farm level. The MREP, who was made responsible for operation and maintenance of these deep tubewells, continuously monitored the performance of these tubewells as well. Therefore, the pumped groundwater quality data (temporal) of these spatially distributed tubewells was also available. This data availability served as a basis for site selection using GIS analysis.The GIS analysis, which was used in classifying different groundwater quality zones, helped in selecting fifteen villages (thirteen in MREP area and two in SCARP-II saline zone) that have hydro-geological potential for installing and operating skimming wells. In these selected villages, preliminary survey was carried out to get information on the farmers' willingness to use skimming well technology. Based on the GIS analysiS and preliminary survey, different sites in six villages (two in SCARP-II saline zone, and four in SCARP-II non-saline zone) were selected to carry out the Diagnostic AnalysiS (DA) for investigating the hydro-salinity and hydro-geological conditions of the aquifer. Based on the DA results, four villages for the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to assess farmers' practices and perceptions in opting for skimming well technologies.