Application of Satellite Remote Sensing for Irrigation Management Practices in Sri Lanka - A Case Study of Performance Assessment in the Kirindi Oya Project

K. M. P. S. Bandara
2005 Engineer Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka  
The potential use of space borne remotely sensed data to obtain accurate information on land surface processes and conditions has been spreading widely in the international research field of water resources management. Such studies have demonstrated that quantitative assessment of the transfer processes between the land surface and the atmosphere can lead to a better understanding of the relationships between crop growth and water management. As fresh water becomes an increasingly scarce
more » ... e, the application areas of these research tools are more important for the water managers, for the benefit of society. This paper presents how to assess the performance of irrigation systems using space borne remotely sensed data associated with regular field measurements. The results of a case study carried out by the author for a large irrigation scheme in Sri Lanka are analyzed and presented to assess the feasibility of applying remote sensing techniques as a tool for irrigation practices. The wetness parameters such as actual evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration, above ground biomass growth, and volumetric soil moisture content are estimated using satellite measurements.
doi:10.4038/engineer.v38i2.7212 fatcat:2vsqw5dbtzccpod4kpka2pmcnq