为了了解漳河灌区节水型社会的特征及其目标体系，更好地利用有限的水资源，结合国际合作项目对漳河灌区各部门的水量分配及其变化趋势进行分析，并从灌区各级水利设施的作用、节水灌溉对农业生产的影响和节水灌溉的发展方向等方面对节水型社会的特征及目标体系进行了研究。分析结果表明：建设节水型社会有利于农业节水，可以将更多的水资源应用于工业生产及其他重要行业。同时可以促进水资源的合理利用，还可以降低灌溉成本，减轻农民负担。

To optimize the use of limited water resources, surface irrigation systems in parts of China have introduced a new water saving irrigation method for rice termed alternate wetting and drying (AWD). The basic feature of this method is to irrigate so that the soil alternates between periods of standing water and damp or dry soil conditions from 30 days after crop establishment up to harvesting. However, many Chinese rice farmers still practice the continuous irrigation method with late- season drying of the soil. A comparative assessment of these two methods of on farm water management for rice was conducted at two sites within the Zhanghe Irrigation System (ZIS) in Hubei province of China for the 1999 and 2000 rice crops. The objective was to evaluate the impact of AWD on crop management practices and the profitability of rice production. In conjunction with irrigation district officials, two sites within ZIS were selected for study, one where AWD was supposed to be widely practiced (Tuanlin, TL) and one where it had not been introduced (Lengshui, LS). It was found that farmers at both sites do not practice a pure form of either AWD or continuous flooding. However, farmers in TL did tend to let the soil dry more frequently than their counterparts in LS. Because most farmers practice neither pure AWD nor pure continuous flooding, an AWD score was developed that measures the frequency with which farmers allow their soil to dry. This AWD score was not significantly correlated with yield after controlling for site and year effects and input use. AWD scores were also not correlated correlated with input use. We conclude that AWD saves water at the farm level without adversely affecting yields or farm profitability.

The main purpose of the study was to determine the impact of ponds on the adoption of water-saving irrigation (WSI) practices. We hypothesized that access to ponds would increase the likelihood of practicing alternate wetting and drying (AWD). While it seems reasonable that the ability to access pond water would reduce the risk involved in letting the paddy dry temporarily, and thus encourage adoption of AWD, we can find no solid empirical evidence to support the proposition. The result showed that adoption of AWD is not driven by farmer desire but rather imposed on them due to increasing water scarcity. Furthermore, we found that farmers who were more reliant on pond irrigation were less likely to adopt AWD – the ponds were used to avoid soil drying. Because of the numerous benefits, it is assumed that pond water sources will continue to play an important role in sustaining crop production.

Ponds are common property resources that allow users to obtain water on-demand because of their capacity to store rainwater and other surplus water close to users. Effective management of these ponds is crucial, especially with increasing water scarcity and decreasing water deliveries for agriculture that are taking place in many irrigation systems, including the Zhanghe Irrigation System (ZIS) in China. The purpose of this study was to determine the nature and performance of collective action in pond management, and to quantify the factors affecting that collective action. We used two different approaches to measure the performance of collective action: a performance indicator based on soil conditions, and farmer’s perceptions based on their satisfaction with the current level of management activities. The results using the two approaches were consistent, and indicated that, among other variables, dependency on pond water, pond size, and household size were important variables affecting the performance of collective action. There was also limited evidence that clarification of property rights through the use of contractors for pond management improved outcomes for farmers.

Faced with growing demand for water for non agricultural uses – industry, domestic, and hydropower – China has been adopting a range of water saving irrigation practices. A study has been undertaken in two sites in China to identify the water saving practices and policies and determine the impact on water productivity at farm, system, and district level. The sites are the Zhanghe Irrigation System in the Yangtze River Basin approximately 200 km west of Wuhan and the Kaifeng City Prefecture located just south of the Yellow River in Henan Province. The study is being conducted by scientists from Wuhan University, the International Water Management Institute, and the International Rice Research Institute. A first step in this study has been to examine the long term trends in water allocations between agricultural and non-agricultural uses and in crop and water productivity. In both sites there have been substantial gains in crop and water productivity although with a slowing down or modest decline in crop production. In this paper we describe briefly trends in water use and water productivity from the late 1960s until 2000. We describe the range of factors that may have contributed to water savings and gains in water productivity, and understand how these factors play role in different contexts (Yangtze River and Yellow River basins). As our study proceeds we hope to identify more clearly the relative importance of the various factors and some management strategies can be presented to the water managers to improve irrigation efficiency in their districts.