Evaluación hidrológica - hidráulica y optimización del sistema de riego “virgen de las nieves”, comunidad compañía obraje del cantón colta - provincia del Chimborazo mediante el uso de watergems y cropwat

Abstract

The management of water resources is considered a priority in Ecuador, however, in practice, the lack of hydrometeorological data, resources and political decision, make it difficult to carry out studies to optimize irrigation systems. Situation that occurs especially in rural areas of the country, as in the Compañía Obraje Community, in the Virgen de las Nieves irrigation system, where ineffective distribution and deficient hydraulic structures generate problems for the sustainability of irrigation systems. In this project, the CROPWAT software is used to determine the water requirement of the crops in the area (potato, carrot, onion and grass), in addition, the WATERGEMS software to analyze the operation of the current irrigation system. Three models were made, the first with the flows obtained by the flow transposition method (INAMHI data); the second and third models using the maximum and minimum measured flow rates, respectively. It was verified that the current system is operative in all three conditions, except in gravity irrigation, where the lack of maintenance in the terrocement and earth channels generates infiltration losses of up to 40%. It is also evidenced, in gravity irrigation, a 50% excess of provision with respect to the amount required by the analyzed potato crop. A shift redistribution is recommended, considering the maximum water requirement of the most demanding crop and the implementation of an additional sprinkler line in the day shift.