An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation

In many urban and peri-urban areas of India, wastewater is under-recognized as a major water resource. Wastewater irrigated agriculture provides direct benefits for the livelihoods and food security of many smallholder farmers. A rapidly urbanizing peri-urban micro-watershed (270 ha) in Hyderabad wa...

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Autores principales: Jampani, Mahesh, Amerasinghe, Priyanie H., Pavelic, Paul
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77536
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author Jampani, Mahesh
Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.
Pavelic, Paul
author_browse Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.
Jampani, Mahesh
Pavelic, Paul
author_facet Jampani, Mahesh
Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.
Pavelic, Paul
author_sort Jampani, Mahesh
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In many urban and peri-urban areas of India, wastewater is under-recognized as a major water resource. Wastewater irrigated agriculture provides direct benefits for the livelihoods and food security of many smallholder farmers. A rapidly urbanizing peri-urban micro-watershed (270 ha) in Hyderabad was assessed over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2010 for changes in land use and associated farming practices, farmer perceptions, socio-economic evaluation, land-use suitability for agriculture and challenges in potential irrigated area development towards wastewater use. This integrated approach showed that the change in the total irrigated area was marginal over the decade, whereas the built-up area within the watershed boundaries doubled and there was a distinct shift in cropping patterns from paddy rice to paragrass and leafy vegetables. Local irrigation supplies were sourced mainly from canal supplies, which accounted for three-quarters of the water used and was largely derived from wastewater. The remainder was groundwater from shallow hard-rock aquifers. Farmer perception was that the high nutrient content of the wastewater was of value, although they were also interested to pay modest amounts for additional pre-treatment. The shift in land use towards paragrass and leafy vegetables was attributed to increased profitability due to the high urban demand. The unutilised scrubland within the watershed has the potential for irrigation development, but the major constraints appear to be unavailability of labour and high land values rather than water availability. The study provides evidence to support the view that the opportunistic use of wastewater and irrigation practices, in general, will continue even under highly evolving peri-urban conditions, to meet the livelihood needs of the poor driven by market demands, as urban sprawl expands into cultivable rural hinterlands. Policy support is needed for enhanced recognition of wastewater for agriculture, with flow-on benefits including improved public health and protection of ecosystem services.
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spelling CGSpace775362025-06-17T08:24:21Z An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation Jampani, Mahesh Amerasinghe, Priyanie H. Pavelic, Paul suburban agriculture watersheds land use hydrology socioeconomic environment farmers wastewater irrigation groundwater irrigation water use water quality leaf vegetables aquifers nutrients labour costs irrigated land canal irrigation rice health hazards In many urban and peri-urban areas of India, wastewater is under-recognized as a major water resource. Wastewater irrigated agriculture provides direct benefits for the livelihoods and food security of many smallholder farmers. A rapidly urbanizing peri-urban micro-watershed (270 ha) in Hyderabad was assessed over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2010 for changes in land use and associated farming practices, farmer perceptions, socio-economic evaluation, land-use suitability for agriculture and challenges in potential irrigated area development towards wastewater use. This integrated approach showed that the change in the total irrigated area was marginal over the decade, whereas the built-up area within the watershed boundaries doubled and there was a distinct shift in cropping patterns from paddy rice to paragrass and leafy vegetables. Local irrigation supplies were sourced mainly from canal supplies, which accounted for three-quarters of the water used and was largely derived from wastewater. The remainder was groundwater from shallow hard-rock aquifers. Farmer perception was that the high nutrient content of the wastewater was of value, although they were also interested to pay modest amounts for additional pre-treatment. The shift in land use towards paragrass and leafy vegetables was attributed to increased profitability due to the high urban demand. The unutilised scrubland within the watershed has the potential for irrigation development, but the major constraints appear to be unavailability of labour and high land values rather than water availability. The study provides evidence to support the view that the opportunistic use of wastewater and irrigation practices, in general, will continue even under highly evolving peri-urban conditions, to meet the livelihood needs of the poor driven by market demands, as urban sprawl expands into cultivable rural hinterlands. Policy support is needed for enhanced recognition of wastewater for agriculture, with flow-on benefits including improved public health and protection of ecosystem services. 2015-04 2016-11-01T13:39:56Z 2016-11-01T13:39:56Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77536 en Limited Access Elsevier Jampani, Mahesh; Amerasinghe, Priyanie; Pavelic, Paul. 2015. An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation. Journal of Hydrology, 523:427-440. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.02.001
spellingShingle suburban agriculture
watersheds
land use
hydrology
socioeconomic environment
farmers
wastewater irrigation
groundwater irrigation
water use
water quality
leaf vegetables
aquifers
nutrients
labour costs
irrigated land
canal irrigation
rice
health hazards
Jampani, Mahesh
Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.
Pavelic, Paul
An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title_full An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title_fullStr An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title_full_unstemmed An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title_short An integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri-urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
title_sort integrated approach to assess the dynamics of a peri urban watershed influenced by wastewater irrigation
topic suburban agriculture
watersheds
land use
hydrology
socioeconomic environment
farmers
wastewater irrigation
groundwater irrigation
water use
water quality
leaf vegetables
aquifers
nutrients
labour costs
irrigated land
canal irrigation
rice
health hazards
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77536
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