Management and Usage of Nallamada Drain Water – a Qualitative Assessment

Abstract

The Krishna Western Delta is drained naturally by 7 major natural drains, out of which Nallamada drain is very important feeder of agriculture, which falls in Guntur and Prakasam districts. Peak outflow in all the years was observed in the month of November. It was found that the total quantity of water flow in Nallamada drain in a year was 49 TMC, out of which, only 6 TMC of water was used for all the lift irrigation schemes and for all the crops under Nallamada command in Krishna Western Delta. The remaining 43 TMC of quantity of water joins sea every year. The electrical conductivity of Nallamada drain water below Kommamuru Canal Zone during cropping season is found well below 1.5 dSm^-1 and during pre-monsoon season it ranges between 4 dSm^-1 to 14 dSm^-1 from the year 2008-2013, which is due to back water flow from the sea to the drain till 21.2 km. The maize crop showed substantial tolerance against salinity of drain water used for irrigation. The quality analysis of Nallamada water and nearby canal (Kommamuru Canal) revealed that they can be planned for conjunctive use for getting assured irrigation with better quality throughout the season.