Technical Communication: Two-Phase Stochastic Dynamic Programming Model for Optimal Operation of Irrigation Reservoir

A two-phase stochastic dynamic programming model is developed for optimal operation of irrigation reservoirs under a multicrop environment. Under a multicrop environment, the crops compete for the available water whenever the water available is less than the irrigation demands. The performance of the reservoir depends on how the deficit is allocated among the competing crops. The proposed model integrates reservoir release decisions with water allocation decisions. The water requirements of crops vary from period to period and are determined from the soil moisture balance equation taking into consideration the contribution of soil moisture and rainfall for the water requirements of the crops. The model is demonstrated over an existing reservoir and the performance of the reservoir under the operating policy derived using the model is evaluated through simulation.