Optimizing Irrigation Efficiency: A Case Study of the Bakbakti Rice System in Akdala Massif

Aida Ismagulova^1*Malis Absametov²Dauren Umbetaliev¹Vitaly Kulagin²Timur Rakhimov²Vladimir Mirlas³Valentina Rakhimova²

• ¹K I Satbayev Kazakh National Research Technical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ²U M Ahmedsafin Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ³Ariel University, Ari'el, Israel

Water scarcity poses severe challenges to irrigated agriculture in arid and semiarid regions, particularly in Kazakhstan's northernmost rice-growing zone, the Akdala irrigation massif of the Ile River basin. This study investigates the technological and environmental feasibility of reusing collector-drainage water, together with groundwater and surface water, for rice irrigation in the Tasmurun section of the Bakbakty system. Field experiments were conducted between 2022 and 2024 on two rice fields (311 ha) to assess water and salt balances, soil and groundwater dynamics, and water-saving irrigation tech-nologies. The findings indicate that the incorporation of 25–30% collector-drainage water into irrigation practices led to a 14% reduction in freshwater withdrawals, amounting to 1.674 million m³ annually. This outcome was achieved without compromising soil or water quality. The irrigation norm was reduced from 26,082 to 22,900 m³/ha, while rice yields exhibited an increase of 6.8–9.2% compared to the 2022 control year. The economic efficiency of the company exhibited a 25% increase, while profitability reached 35%. These outcomes confirm that on-farm reuse of collector-drainage waters not only offsets irrigation deficits but also enhances socio-environmental conditions by reducing anthropogenic pressure on transboundary water resources. This is the inaugural field-based study in Ka-zakhstan to experimentally validate the reuse of collector-drainage water at the farm level for rice cultivation. In contrast to previous methodologies, which entailed the diversion of drainage into river channels, a practice that frequently led to water quality degradation, this research presents a novel, environmentally safe technology that offers direct benefits to the agricultural sector. The established parameters for water and salt balance provide practical guidelines for adjusting irrigation practices in the context of water scarcity. The findings indicate that the rational reuse of collector-drainage waters is a viable strategy to ensure sustainable rice cultivation, strengthen water security, and improve economic resilience in Kazakhstan's vulnerable semi-desert zones.