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| DOI：10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.20180247 |
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| Groundwater Management in Texas High Plain |
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HU Yaqiong, LIU Jing, LIAO Lisha
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China Institute of Water Resource and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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| Abstract: |
| Texas High Plain is a major base for irrigated and dryland crops in USA. The main water source in the area is from the Ogallala Aquifer. However, since the development of irrigated agriculture in 1950, groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer has been overused with groundwater tables dropped to 50 meters below the ground surface in some regions. To protect groundwater resources and achieve sustainable groundwater application, comprehensive technical and management measures have been taken over the past 15 years to alleviate detrimental impacts caused by groundwater overuse. The main measures taken included introduction of the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration Network (TXHPET）for irrigation and groundwater management, increasing crop varieties and crop pattern, improving irrigation technologies, protection cultivation and rainfall management, and transforming some irrigated agriculture into rainfed agriculture. In 1958, the total irrigated area was 1 830 000 hm2, and peaked at 2 420 000 hm2 in 1974, followed by a reduction to 1 590 000 hm2 in 1989 prior to recovering to 1 870 000 hm2 in 2000 due to large-scale application of sprinkler irrigation. The main irrigation method in 1958 was surface irrigation, with only 11% of sprinkler irrigation area. Since 1974, the irrigated area has been reduced and the central pivot irrigation has been developed quickly. In 2000, about 72% of irrigated area was sprinkler-irrigated. The early sprinkler application was under high pressure, and low pressure sprinkler ushered in after 1980. As the north China plain is similar to the Texas High Plain, the experiences of Texas High Plain area could provide valuable help for groundwater management in north China. |
| Key words: Texas High Plain; groundwater over development; comprehensive management measures; agricultural water-saving measures; water-saving irrigation technology |
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