Estimating crop water requirement in Madhya Pradesh's agro-climatic regions: A CROPWAT and CLIMWAT software case study

Estimating actual crop evapotranspiration is vital in water-scarce environment affected by climate change, particularly for optimizing irrigation and enhancing crop yield. This research focuses on assessing crop water and irrigation requirement for major crops across six districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, spanning diverse agro-climatic regions. Employing CLIMWAT 2.0 and CROPWAT 8.0 software, calculated crop evapotranspiration and devised irrigation strategies tailored to local climatic conditions. The FAO-Penman-Montieth (FAO-PM) equation for reference evapotranspiration (ET0), aiding in crop water requirement computation and irrigation planning. Our findings reveal substantial variations in crop water requirements across crops and districts. For instance, soybean in Indore requires the highest water input at 380 mm, while in Guna, was least at 303 mm. Wheat, on the other hand, register the highest water needs in Khandwa at 510.6 mm and the lowest in the Neemuch district at 370.8 mm, particularly during the rabi season. Besides that, this study underscores the need for district-specific considerations, taking into account climate and soil characteristics when formulating water management strategies. Employing efficient irrigation practices and techniques to manage water stress becomes imperative for optimizing crop yield and achieving economic returns. Implementing customized approaches to enhance water use efficiency and promote sustainability in agricultural production is crucial. These research outcomes provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural practitioners, and water resource managers to develop context-specific water management strategies.