Integrating technological solutions to identify the potential locations for rainwater harvesting interventions in ICAR-IIHR farm at Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru

Abstract

Water constitutes the prime requirement for existence and sustenance of all life forms. It is also the most vital component for enabling economic and social development. The quantum of rainfall and surface water availability have remained constant leading to overexploitation of ground water, declining water table levels and deterioration of water quality. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru is wholly dependent on rains and borewell water for irrigation of experimental plots and laboratory needs apart from demand from other utilities and residential colony. There is water shortage because of reduced output from borewells, change in rainfall pattern, and, the dried up Aivarakhandapura lake. This resource scarcity has to be balanced critically with increasing water demand due to enhancement of cultivated land, more experimental activities, construction of new buildings and additional environment controlled polyhouses/ greenhouses. Devising practical solutions for management of scarce water resource is a big challenge. This paper focuses on Water Conservation and Water Balance in farm area of ICAR - IIHR (in Arkavathy basin near Hesaraghatta) with morphological and hydro-geological analyses to understand the in-situ percolation / infiltration and runoff characteristics taking into account the topographical features of the area. The study also covers the application of Penman-Monteith equation standardized by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO56-PM) simultaneously with crop coefficient approach (single crop coefficient) for estimation of values of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop evapotranspiration under standard conditions (ETc). A series of systematic, logical and scientific steps are adopted to arrive at validated conclusions. This paper presents the data collected from various sources and tests which are compiled and collated using advanced computer applications like AutoCAD, Arc GIS, MS Excel and Adobe Photoshop. The results obtained from these applications are used to analyze and arrive at potential locations for engineering interventions in the farm area for effective and efficient harvesting of rainwater leading to conservation and ground water recharge.