An Improved Analytic Hierarchy Process Method for the evaluation of agricultural water management in irrigation districts of north China

Agricultural water management is the core part of agricultural efficient water use in irrigation districts, which provides basic guarantee and decision-support for improving the efficiency of water production. This study was conducted in three typical irrigation districts in Huang-huai-hai river basin of north China. The evaluation index system of agricultural water management in irrigation districts was established which included technology index, engineering index, management index, environment index and economic index, classified 5 sorts of second-grade indices, 14 third-grade indices and 35 fourth-grade indices. The weight of each index was confirmed through improved AHP method. The grades of agricultural water management of Fenhe, Shijin and Renmin Shengliqu irrigation districts in Huang-huai-hai riverbasin were obtained using Grey Correlation method and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation method. Results showed that the evaluation indices ranked according to the descending order of their weights as engineering index, 0.2147; management index, 0.2138; technology index, 0.2128; economics index, 0.1797; environment index, 0.1791 in the criterion level. The engineering and management index were the most two important factors which influenced the agricultural water management in irrigation districts. The grades of Fenhe, Shijin and Renmin Shengliqu irrigation districts were good, good and average, respectively. The study provides a theoretical basis in improving the level of agricultural water management and water use efficiency in irrigation districts of north China.