Improvement of irrigation management towards the sustainable use of groundwater in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

• Published in: Agricultural water management 1999-05, Vol.40 (2), p.195-205
• Main Authors: de Santa Olalla Mañas, F.Martı́n, Brasa Ramos, A, Fabeiro Cortés, C, Fernández González, D, López Córcoles, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AGUAS SUBTERRANEAS; Biological and medical sciences; CALENDARIO DE LOS RIEGOS; CALENDRIER DES IRRIGATIONS; DURABILITE; EAU SOUTERRAINE; ESPAGNE; ESPANA; EXTENSION; EXTENSION ACTIVITIES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; GESTION; GROUNDWATER; Irrigation Advisory Service; Irrigation management; Irrigation requirements; IRRIGATION SCHEDULING; Irrigation sheduling; Irrigation. Drainage; MANAGEMENT; SOSTENIBILIDAD; SPAIN; SUSTAINABILITY; VULGARISATION
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-3774(98)00121-8

The great expansion of irrigated lands using groundwater has often caused the exploitation of aquifer reserves beyond their recharge capacity. The development of management tools which can harmonize resource exploitation with reserve sustainability is the objective of an interesting experience being accomplished in the aquifer 08.29 in Mancha Oriental, Spain. This paper offers a summary of this ongoing project (GESMO), pointing out the specific role of the Irrigation Advisory Service. The general objective of the project is to create an integrated and integral management system of the aquifer as well as to prepare appropriate techniques for its adequate exploitation. Integral management means that both supply and demand management are considered, including the socio-economic and environmental perspectives. The concept of integrated management implies that the process must involve the majority of economic and social agents affected. Management is founded on a Decision Support System (DSS) which takes into consideration different possible options. The DSS must contemplate the impacts on the environment, mainly the aquifer reserve losses and the increase of nitrates concentration in groundwater. The project directly affects more than 5000 agricultural users, irrigating about 100 000 ha with the aquifer water resources, as well as the whole population living in this region. Results of this project, including irrigation technologies developed may be useful for other areas in the Mediterranean Basin where similar cases occur.