Pump-sizing software tool for small-scale solar-powered irrigation systems in water-scarce conditions : a case study in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Two small-scale well-irrigation systems in rural Uttar Pradesh which had previously operated via diesel pumps have been modified to operate via solar pumps. The regions where the irrigation systems are located are currently experiencing drought, and the well of one of the systems runs dry during irrigation. It is hypothesized that the 3HP solar pumps installed in the systems are larger than necessary, and are overdrawing from the water supply. A pump-sizing software tool was developed in Excel Spreadsheets to model and analyze the two specific systems, as well as to aid in future pump-sizing for long-term water sustainability for similar types of irrigation systems operating in water-scarce conditions. It was determined that the 3HP pumps installed in the irrigation systems are not unreasonably large for the crop water demands, and that under drought conditions, it was inevitable that continued irrigation at the two sites studied would eventually lead to well depletion and is thus unsustainable. Focusing on pump-sizing for these types of irrigation systems in water-scarce conditions may not be as effective for water sustainability as adjusting the irrigation systems and methods at the sites.