Water is essential for every living biological system. Indian irrigation resources are one of the largest in the world and imparting a high degree of stability to agricultural production. Even with full utilization of our irrigation potential, nearly half of our cultivated area will remain rainfed. Enormous losses of irrigation water occurs during conveyance, through over-irrigation and other faulty practices. Besides high yielding crops, efficient soil and water management practices play a crucial role in achieving major advances in agricultural production.

Water management is a multi-disciplinary subject with a complicated technology. The present document gives basic information about water resources, soil, water use efficiency, irrigation methods etc. and summarizes latest, information in water management. This book, in its conception and creation, is perhaps the only book of its kind should prove to be valuable source of information for a wide group of scientists, planners, irrigation engineers, teachers and taught extension officers and farming community who are interested in water use efficiency.