Author(s)

T. Nagasawa, T. Yamamoto & A. Jalaldin

Abstract

The water resources of Turphan are composed of snow and glaciers from the Tian Shang Mountains. People in Turphan have continued with a consolidated agriculture method since old times, depending on traditional channels and Kareez (underground conduits). In recent years, arable land has increased with the population and the demands of the irrigated water have increased abruptly for the assurance of productivity. Traditional systems of irrigation could not supply the essential water to the extended arable land, so dams and wells have been constructed for irrigation. The construction of large scale reservoirs, canals and wells enabled the enlargement of the irrigated area and an increase in the production of agricultural products. But, the excessive irrigation caused an increase in the evapotranspiration and salinization. In conditions like this, the extensive arable land has progressed to desertification and abandonment. The more traditional systems of irrigation have been largely ignored because of the interference problems caused by various facilities that have decreased the use of traditional Kareez irrigation systems. The potentiality of water resources development is comparatively small, judging from the present condition of water use in Turphan, because the developed water resources must be utilized effectively and strong measures must be taken to save irrigation. The management of irrigation systems must be intensified, the new technology of irrigation must be popularized and the efforts of saving water must be made for the irrigation system Keywords: Kareez, irrigation, Turpan basin, arid area. 1 Introduction In an arid area, stable agricultural production depends heavily on irrigation. Irrigation systems consist of intakes, irrigation/discharge canals and the irrigated

Keywords

Kareez, irrigation, Turpan basin, arid area.