Soil moisture sensors and hydraulic modeling play a vital role in managing surface irrigation systems. Crop water productivity can be improved by managing the inflow cut-off time and optimizing the other field scale measurements. As such, hydraulic modelling and field experiments were carried out at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad-Pakistan. The soil moisture sensor (SEN-13322) and the WinSRFR model were used for this purpose. In total, nineteen treatments including eighteen simulated treatments and one conventional treatment were designed at two levels of discharge (Q₁:0.0025 and Q₂:0.0035 m³s⁻¹), at three sensor positions (S₁:55%, S₂:65%, and S₃:75%) across the field length, as well as with three different border widths (B₁:6.4m, B₂:8.5m, and B₃:10.7m) after successful sensor and model calibration during the two growing seasons of 2016–2017 and 2017–2018. The results revealed a significant difference between the means and the treatment T₁₀ i.e., Q₂S₁B₁ that were found to be highly efficient and uniform.

Promising Land and Water Conservation Practices (LWCPs) play a vital role in restraining floods and keeping the land productive. Floods are usually destructive and increase the risk of drowning, waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and multiple long-term knock-on effects. Similarly, the 2022 monsoon season has prompted the most severe flood in Pakistan. The main objective of this review is to highlight the importance of LWCPs as an adaptation strategy for flood mitigation. Moreover, different LWCPs are discussed concerning studies carried out in different regions and published in scientific journals, technical reports, and notes from experts. It was observed that both the in situ and ex situ LWCPs have a significant effect on reducing land degradation and flood control. Additionally, most of the reviewed studies showed a positive impact of LWCPs on agricultural productivity, primarily due to the retention of nutrients and moisture. Hence, land conservation practices including biological and agronomic measures (i.e., contour farming, conservation tillage, strip cropping, vegetation, etc.), and mechanical or engineering methods (i.e., check dams, bunding, ponds/reservoirs, etc.) are aimed at reducing the run-off velocity and mitigating the floods. The results of this study will encourage the stakeholders to adopt LWCPs to lessen flood hazards and uplift agricultural production by limiting the land degradation processes.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa launched the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) in 2014. Pakistan also initiated a “10 billion trees in five years” project in 2018. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model was used to forecast the impacts of LULC changes on water yield under three scenarios: before planting, after 1 billion trees planted, and after 10 billion trees planted. Model calibration and validation were undertaken at the Bisham Qila gauging station from 1984 to 2000 and 2001 to 2010. The Tarbela reservoir’s mean annual runoff declined from 53.70 mm to 45.40 mm after 1 billion trees planted, while under the third scenario it approximated 35.05 mm.