Author(s):

Khushboo Gupta, Ravish Chandra and SK Jain

Abstract: Water is not only an essential element for our survival but is also an important vehicle for economic development of any nation. Groundwater meets nearly 55% irrigation, 85% of rural and 50% of urban and industrial needs. Pumping groundwater for irrigation is the main energy consumption activity in agriculture in India. As small and marginal farmers dominate in agriculture sector, farm mechanisation is limited and groundwater abstraction becames the highest energy consuming process. Mostly diesel and electric pumps are used for abstraction that emits carbon dioxide a major component of green house gases which is of concern. To meet the increasing demand for water further abstraction of groundwater from declined water tables is inevitable. Farmers have been pumping ground water for successful crop production which demands higher energy consumption. Energy consumption and green house gas emission are the important concerns of any developing country. In the present study energy consumption and carbon emission through groundwater abstraction in different districts of Bihar state was studied. The impact of different water management options on the total annual groundwater draft, energy consumption and carbon emission was studied. Different water management scenarios were considered for energy conservation and carbon emission reduction. The different water management scenarios considered included:1. If 5- 20% of total tubewell irrigated area is converted into sprinkler irrigation system.2. If 5- 20% of total tubewell irrigated area is converted into drip irrigation system. 3. If 10% combination of tubewell irrigated area comes under drip irrigation system and 10% under sprinkler irrigation system and remaining 80% under conventional irrigation system. The total energy requirement for pumping of groundwater from different irrigation structures in Bihar state was found to be 6672233 MWh. The highest energy requirement for groundwater pumping was found to be 770108 MWh for Patna district and lowest 22787 MWh for Banka district. The total CO₂ emission from pumping of ground water for the whole state was found to be 2276732 tonnes. Patna contributes highest and Banka contributes lowest carbon emission. The reduction in the total energy requirement and carbon emission from ground water pumping under water management options of case-1(a), case-1(b), case 1 (c) and case 1(d) were 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% respectively. The total carbon emission reduction under water management options case-2(a), case-2(b), case-2(c) and case-2(d) were 3%, 6%, 9% and 12%. The total reduction in energy requirement and carbon emission from ground water pumping under water management option case-3 was 11%. The water management option which includes combination of sprinkler, drip and conventional irrigation seems to the most suitable and feasible alternative for Bihar state.

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