Performance assessment of satellite-based precipitation products (SPPs) is critical for their application and development. This study assessed the accuracies of four satellite-based precipitation products (PERSIANN-CDR, PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-DIR, and PERSIANN) using data of in situ weather stations installed over the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. All SPPs were evaluated on annual, seasonal, monthly, and daily bases from 2010 to 2017, over the whole spatial domain and at point-to-pixel scale. The assessment was conducted using widely used evaluation indices (root mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient (CC), bias, and relative bias (rBias)) along with categorical indices (false alarm ratio (FAR), probability of detection (POD), success ratio (SR), and critical success index (CSI)). Results showed: (1) PERSIANN and PERSIANN-DIR products efficiently traced the spatio-temporal distribution of precipitation over the Himalayan Mountains. (2) On monthly scale, the estimates of all SPPs were more consistent with the reference data than on the daily scale. (3) On seasonal scale, PERSIANN and PERSIANN-DIR showed better performances than the PERSIANN-CDR and PERSIANN-CCS products. (4) All SPPs were less accurate in sensing daily light to medium intensity precipitation events. Subsequently, for future hydro-meteorological investigations in the Himalayan range, we advocate the use of monthly PERSIANN and PERSIANN-DIR products.

Drip irrigation has long been proven beneficial for fruit and vegetable crops in Pakistan, but the only barrier in its adoption is the high cost of installation for small landholders, which is due to overdesigning of the system. In the present study, the cost of a conventional drip irrigation system was reduced by redesigning and eliminating the heavy filtration system (i.e., hydrocyclon, sand media, disc filters (groundwater source), pressure gauges, water meters, and double laterals).Purchasing the drip system from local vendors also reduced the cost. Field trials were conducted during 2015 and 2016 to observe the productive and economic effects of low-cost drip irrigation on vegetables (potato, onion, and chilies) and fruits (olive, peach, and citrus). The low-cost drip irrigation system saved 50% cost of irrigation and increased 27–54% net revenue in comparison with the furrow irrigation system. Further, water use efficiency (WUE) was found from 3.91–13.30 kg/m³ and 1.28–4.89 kg/m³ for drip irrigation and furrow irrigation systems, respectively. The physical and chemical attributes of vegetables and fruits were also improved to a reasonably good extent. The present study concluded that low-cost drip irrigation increased the yield by more than 20%, as compared with traditional furrow irrigation, and thus, it is beneficial for the small landholders (i.e., less than 2 hectares).

Potential Evapotranspiration (ETo) is a major component of the hydrologic cycle whose precise estimation is central to water allocation, water resource management, irrigation scheduling, and hydrologic water balance studies. Present study was conducted to quantify the spatio-temporal variation in the command of Lower Chenab Canal (LCC) East, Rechna Doab, Pakistan. The ETo was calculated using globally recognized Penman Monteith method in Cropwat 8.0 for 30-year average climatic data of four weather stations. Spatial analysis of data was performed by employing IDW interpolation technique in Arc GIS-10.1. The increasing trend was more pronounced from January to June and decreasing trend was observed from June to January. The maximum ETo 7.95 mm/day was observed in hottest month of June, whereas minimum ETo 1.55 mm/day was observed in month of January. The interpolated results of ETo showed resemblance to local climatic condition and observed lowest ETo 1641mm/yr at head and highest ETo1777 mm/yr at tail of the study area. The results revealed that the 72% ETo occurs in kharif season whereas, only 28% remains in rabi season. Local weathers parameters i.e. air temperature and sunshine hours are main cause of spatial variation in ETo whereas, regional climate conditions contribute for temporal changes. Study confirmed high water demand during kharif period and increasing aridity toward tail of canal command. The results of research are useful for planning and efficient use of available water resources. Future work could be performed by using advanced techniques and should be linked to climate change scenario.