Utilisation of natural resources for irrigation in Vojvodina

Abstract

Significant area of fertile arable land with good soil properties and available amounts of water, as the most important natural resources, provide Vojvodina with favourable conditions for more intensive irrigated crop production. Also, there have been real requirements for irrigation given the relatively high crop water deficit (100-300 mm), as well as more frequent water shortage (droughts) and uneven precipitation distribution during the vegetation period recently. The majority of water resources include a hydrographical network of the Danube, Tisa and Sava Rivers, smaller natural streams, then the basic (in total length of 930 km) and detail (in total length of 20,000 km) channel network, which allow for water extraction and use for irrigation. The greatest portion of irrigated land (crop and gardens cca 95% and the rest cca 5% are orchards) uses sprinkler systems (80-90%) and water from the natural river flows and channel network (>90%). Irrigated land area covers around 20-30 thousand hectares. Development potential is far greater.

Keywords

• water resources
• irrigation systems
• irrigation areas
• vojvodina