ABSTRACT
Abstract An optimisation approach has been developed to aid decision making in the real time allocation of water in irrigation systems under stress, and to assist in the assessment of different operational rules and rotational systems and their impact on production. This work has been undertaken as part of the ODA funded TDR project on ’’Improved Irrigation System Planning and Management". The optimisation approach is based on quadratic programming, and has as its overall objective, to maximise crop production through appropriate water allocation, while maintaining equity between schemes and units within the system. The potential of the approach has been assessed through application of a simulation model of the Lower Ayung irrigation system on the Island of Bali in Indonesia. The indications are that significant improvements in crop production can be achieved through application of the optimisation approach. The paper reviews the basis of the optimisation approach and proposes means by which the model performance can be assessed, using the Bali Scheme as a working example to demonstrate result interpretation and to identify practical considerations. Keywords: Irrigation planning, optimisation, real time operation, simulation.
