GIS based integrated modelling framework for agricultural canal system simulation and management in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

•The paper presents GIS framework for integration of models for crop management.•Application of integrated model is illustrated with real applications.•Water management scenarios such as change in rainfall sequences are illustrated.

Management of canal system for agricultural production is challenging. The work presents GIS based integrated modelling, which integrates soil moisture accounting and irrigation water requirement module, rainfall–runoff module, system loss module and groundwater flow system module. Developed model is employed to evaluate different water management scenarios such as change in rainfall sequence (wet, normal and dry season), change in canal water supply, impact of canal lining and impact of land use changes including their socio–economic implications. The application of model is illustrated with real application in a part of Indo-Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh in India. It has been demonstrated that canal water use efficiency in diversion canal systems can be increased up to 58 percent.