Crop Calendar Adjustment Study for Sathanur Irrigation System in India Using Genetic Algorithm

The multiple objectives and interests of various stack holders’ in reservoir operation bring forward many solutions to the problem. Possibly due to this complexity, in practice, the operating rules to be derived not only from heuristic approaches such as rules of thumb, rule curve, operator experience and engineering judgments but also through well defined mathematical models. An attempt is made to study the possibility of changing the crop (paddy crop instead of groundnut) and crop starting period for Sathanur irrigation system, India. This system is considered as one of the water-deficit irrigation system where the water is collected in the reservoir during north-east monsoon (Oct–Dec) and crops are cultivated after the rainfall season. Even though the first priority is to supply drinking water to Tiruvanamalai town and nearby villages, the quantity required for drinking water is very meagre when compared to irrigation demands. Genetic algorithm (GA) has been used to find the optimal crop-starting period that can give maximum performance and net benefit from the system. The results of the model study indicate that starting the cultivation of paddy crop between 1st and 10th of October every year provides maximum net benefit than starting the cultivation between 11th and 20th of December as practiced now. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010