Effect of land leveling on water management and efficiency of irrigation water at Upper Egypt

The results of the field data in a restricted area “Abyuha region which represents the middle of Upper Egypt” are analysed to characterize the conventional farm irrigation systems used by farmers in this area. Typically, the method used is the surface gravity flooding of small flat basins or small basins with short furrows. Basin size is a function of field levelness, farm size, crop pattern / rotation and water supply as well as individual farmer needs and plans. The small basins require high labor inputs for: a) construction of the feeder ditches and boundary dikes, and b) the irrigation operation. Careful water management is necessary to obtain the efficient and uniform water applications. Numerous irrigation field trials on farm at the study area have been conducted. The practices tested included precision land leveling to dead level; level border strip or level long furrow irrigation system design, teaching and advising farmers concerning improved on-farm water management practices in the use of the improved systems. Objectives of the trials were increased on-farm irrigation efficiency, improved water control on the farm, save water, saved irrigation time and labor, improved water table and soil salinity conditions and contributed to overall increase crop production. The results of the trials are reviewed with a focus on the reasonable of not successful it, what is the necessary conditions for successful implementation and what further improvements or adaptations are suggested to it. The results were found to be highly successful when the spatial and temporal variations in farm irrigation system design factors were properly accounted for. A major factor in the success of on-farm improvements is the improved water delivery. The water delivery system, (in El-Minya) needs to be reliable and well-maintained so that a consistent and regular stream size on the order of 25–30 litter/sec at each farm gate is available for the efficient and uniform water applications which can be achieved using a level long basins and a level long furrows of the dimensions tested. Another necessary factor is the need to continuity of working with the farmer after system construction, teaching and advising him to improve the management practices with the new system. This is a factor that must be development over the time and will be require supporting agencies and trained personnel. The experience of authors shows that: if this factor is lacking, the results can be much less than optimal and also the possible worse than under the conventional methods.