Analysis Of Spatio Temporal Variability Of Water Productivity Using; Open-Source Remote Sensing Data And Gis; A Case Study Of Upper Awash Agro Industry

Abstract

This study focuses on assessing and mapping the seasonal and spatial variability of water productivity of citrus crops at different farms of the upper awash (UAAIE irrigation) scheme using remote sensing-derived datasets, GIS-based spatial analysis, and programming. The physical crop water productivity (kg/m3) is the ratio of crop yield (ton/ha) to the amount of water used (m3/ha). Using AETI (as denominator) and yield (as numerator), the water productivity is calculated in kg/m3. In 2009, the calculated crop water productivity was 3.1 kg/m3, 2.9 kg/m3, 3.2 kg/m3, and 2.7 kg/m3 for the crop seasons of 2013, 2020, and 2021, respectively. When spatially and temporally comparing the two sub-schemes (Merti-Jeju and Nurahera) with each other and at the enterprise level, the seasonal varying crop water consumption, land yield, and water productivity performance are visualized. Initially (2009– 2017), the Nurahera units and the 10th and 9th areas in the UAAIE irrigation system showed high WP values ranging from 3.1 to 3.75 kg/m3, but the majority of this productivity shifted south to the Abadiska farm, the scheme's only pump-supplied area. High WP values between 3.6 and 2.9 kg/m3 were observed for the crop season 2020–21. Nurahera Farm, south of 6th Camp, showed lower values (0-2.6 kg/m3) between July 8, 2020, and June 8, 2021, which could be attributed to extensive new planting and land preparation operations that left the plots fallow. While this study is done for citrus in one irrigation scheme, The techniques used can be applied to examine other crops grown in various fields and irrigation systems throughout Africa and the Middle East regions covered by FaO WaPOR. Better crop management, frequent canal (conveyance) maintenance, reduction in seepage losses, and canal water reallocation with small-scale farmers, updating and implementing the existing schedule with existing conditions, and shifting the irrigation system to advanced systems such as pivot and drip are recommended to improve the schemes' WP.