WATERLOGGING IN THE CANAL IRRIGATED AREAS WITH SPECIAL ANALYSIS OF THE UPPER BARI DOAB CANAL TRACT

Abstract

Punjab State, often called the "Grainaryof India" in which Uer Bari Doe:o Cap l tract lies, is losing hundreds of acres of valuable agricultural land annually as, a result of gradual rise of ground water table upto. and above the root zone levels which may affect the food product' tion of the in due eourc of time. Tht; State is considered to bo self sufficient at 71resent. This thesis is based on a study of the water logging problem in the canal irrigated. areas with special analysis of the U9.;)er Dar Doo.b Can:. l tract. Sorb im.:x)rtant factors contributing the rise of water table and creating conditions tending towards waterlogging in the tract have been considered. The data considered in the analysis per-tains to the period from 1947 to 1962 of the above tract lying in India after partition. The factors, namely rainr» fall anC volume water used for irrigation besides geological considerations rinich are said to affect the rise of water—table, have been considered in the analysis. It is found that the perdominant factor influencing the rise of water table in this tract, is the 2 amount of water used or irrigation, of course rainfall is also responsible for the rise of water table. The cummu-lative effect of both rainfall (-and volume of water used for irrigation is found to be high17 significant. Some suitable remedial measures have &.so been suggested