Estimating Water Balance and Identifying Crops for Sustainable Use of Water Resources in the Bundelkhand Region of India

HighlightsA crop suitability index was constructed for the Bundelkhand region of India.The cropping pattern in the region has shifted from cereals to oilseeds and pulses.Nearly 33% more water is needed to meet the total irrigation water requirement of the region.Pearl millet, sesame, and soybean were found to be the most suitable crops for sustainable use of water resources. ABSTRACT.The Bundelkhand region of India is characterized by acute shortages of water due to recurrent failures of the monsoon. This study estimated the water availability, water requirement, and water deficit in the Bundelkhand region using geographic information system (GIS) data. The study identified suitable crops that can be promoted for sustaining the water resources in the region. Total water availability is estimated to be 17.48 billion cubic meters (BCM), of which 91.3% is available for irrigation. The irrigation water deficit is estimated to be 5.31 BCM, which is 1/4 of the crop water requirement. Farmers in the region give high priority to irrigation of water-guzzling cereal crops instead of pulses and oilseed crops, which have lower water requirements. A crop suitability index revealed that pearl millet, sesame, and soybean are the most suitable crops for sustainable use of water resources in the region. An optimum cropping plan to allocate existing land and water resources, coupled with efficient modern technology such as direct-seeded rice, micro-irrigation, etc., can be the best solution to sustain the natural resources and the income of farmers in the study region. Keywords: Bundelkhand, Crop suitability index, Geographical information system, Water.