Irrigation Technology in Israel

ANKIT BINDAL

ANCHAL GUPTA
ANKIT SINGHAL

Physiography

Area of 20,770 km2 Population of about 6.0 million , 90% lives in urban areas and 10% in rural areas Land is divisible into three longitudinal strips running from north to south, comprising a coastal plain, a long inland escarpment and a large desert area in the south. Main river is the jordan Mountains are the judean hills, carmel mountain and galilee mountains. Flat in the coastal plain and flat to hilly

Continues
20% of the land is culturable Israel is arid or semi-arid Average annual rainfall in the coastal plain varies from 600 mm in the north to 150 mm in the south, (November march). Major soil types sand dune, sandstone in coastal area and clay in other part.

Water Resources
Average annual precipitation:- about 10,000 MCM, Of which 60 % evaporates, 10 % flows down the dry river beds , 30 % seeps into the ground The kineret watershed contributes about 33% of the total resources.

Water Quality
10 mg/l of chlorides on avg. the mineral and other pollutants like nitrate contents in groundwater. Some salt conc in ground water because of kind of rock available there.

Water Supply and Demand

Water Production and Supply:- 2,000 MCM, of which 75% were potable and rest is treated water. Water Demand:- 2000 MCM/year , about one half is used for agriculture and the remaining is used by the urban and industrial sectors. Agricultural Consumption:- 1250 MCM (60% of fresh resources, compared to 77% in the sixties), agriculture is still the largest consumer.

Irrigation Technology
Low volume irrigation:- drip irrigation and micro-sprinklers Computer-assisted irrigation management . Soil and plant moisture sensors:information on moisture. Automatic operation of the system when needed Fertigation via the irrigation systems Water metering and pricing policy

Technology continues
The emphasis in these drainage works has been on: (a) Improvement of poorly drained soils (b) Flood protection (c) Diversion of runoff water from agricultural lands (d) Swamp drainage (e) Concentration of the runoff from local or regional drainage works and their integration into the water supply network.

CHALLENGES AND DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES

Increases in spatial and annual climate variability Higher frequency of extreme rainfalls and decreasing precipitation Decrease of rainfall because of environmental pollution. Winter temperature of 1.5C in the coastal areas and 2.5C in land. Rapid increase in population and urbanization, pressure on natural resources An increase of undesirable chemical loads in soil and water because of fertilizers.

Advancement
To avoid excess standing water To prevent exposure to water shortage. Pressurized irrigation with sprinklers and increasing water use efficiency To prevent soil salinization

The Role of Research in Arid Zones

Methods for bettering salinated soils Use of saline water for irrigation, Development of new varieties of seeds vegetables and crops Methodology for incorporating fertilizers Cooling facilities and water-intensive devices in industry Control and monitoring of municipal water systems Climatic control systems Soil-less culture Biological pest control.

Israel Science Report

Hybrid seeds and other propagation material, Production of medicinal plants Engineered organisms for crop protection Utilization of reclaimed wastewater Biotechnology, genetic intervention and crop breeding Lower water use by drip irrigation To reduce the transpiration rate, change of leaves radiation characteristic Intensive form of aquaculture Advanced water purification techniques, oxygen diffusion and protein rich food for

Continues
Automation has increased the average efficiency to 90% as compared to 64% Production from 0.5 to 20 kg/cumec