Sustainable Irrigation and Importance of Technological Irrigation Systems for Konya Basin

Abstract

In this study, available water potential, excess water use in agriculture was briefly analyzed first and then sustainability of irrigation and importance of pressurized irrigation methods for efficient water resources use were discussed in Konya basin of Turkey. Basin water resources
are scant with 2.5% of total available water potential of Turkey. Present agriculture has resulted excess surface and groundwater uses in basin. The main reasons of this are unplanned increase of the irrigated areas and current crop patterns. This has caused 1.4 billion m3 excess water extractions from basin groundwater resources. There is almost 70 000 unplanned open illegal wells resulted excess water extraction. Portable sprinkler irrigation system is widely used for field crops so average irrigation efficiency is high. Excess water use has not resulted from the farmers irrigation applications. In summary, to irrigate all areas open for the irrigation by present available water resources, new irrigation techniques and water resources development works are needed.