THE USE OF HYDROLOGICAL MODELS IN THE IRRIGATED AREAS OF MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

A proper understanding of the interaction of irrigation and drainage c anals with an aquifer system is necessary to improve the performance o f irrigation. This mechanism must be studied with a detail sufficient to identify operational guidelines for specific portions of an irrigat ion and drainage system. Numerical simulation models provide a useful support since specific operational procedures of irrigation and draina ge canals can be evaluated in this way. Regional hydrological models o f surface water and groundwater have been applied to an irrigated area of 36,000 ha in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The use of such m odels can support decision-making on water management aspects. The ben efit of a physically-based model is its use in situations with changin g conditions affecting the hydrological system. An important aspect is the need to simulate the hydrological processes as accurately as poss ible and to include operational irrigation practice. The drawback of a modelling approach is the great demand for reliable input data. (C) 1 997 Elsevier Science B.V.