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This dissertation has been 64—7015 microfilmed exactly as received GREENWOOD, Ned H, 1932- WATER RESOURCES AND IRRIGATION POTENTIAL OF THE RSFSR. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1963 G eography University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan WATER RESOURCES AND IRRIGATION POTENTIAL OF THE RSFSR DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ned H Greenwood, B .S ., M.S. The Ohio State University 1963 Approved by / j Adviser ' Department of Geography PREFACE The speech by Premier Khrushchev at Volgagrad on September 17, 1963, indicates that irrigation has been returned to its former promi­ nence, following a period of low emphasis immediately after the death of Stalin in 1953. Since extensive agricultural programs such as the New Land scheme have failed to solve permanently the Soviet grain problems, the latest political tack has been a shift toward intensive agriculture. An increased use of mineral fertilizer combined with expansion of irrigation is now viewed by the Premier as the panacea for uncertain grain harvests. And perhaps there was political and economic justification for the timing in both the New Land programs and the apparent emphasis on intensification. This recent change in high level thinking makes the technical data and its evaluation, as approached in this study of greater concern than was anticipated a few short months ago. The background research and a considerable part of the manuscript of this dissertation were completed in the period between June 1962 and September 1963. In September 1963 the author was a member of the U.S. delegation which spent twenty-three days studying irrigation and reclamation in the Soviet Union. During this period, eight of the fifteen Soviet republics were visited, including all but three of the republics in which irrigation is practiced. The insight gained through observations of Soviet facilities and techniques has added i i greatly to the author's understanding of existing projects and develop­ ments in expanding irrigated agriculture, and stimulated a great personal interest in the subject. The preparation of the dissertation entailed the help of a number of persons. The aid give by professors and friends has proven in­ valuable in conducting research and composing the materials. The author desires to express his appreciation to the following persons: to Professor Guy-Harold Smith for his overall supervision and con­ structive criticism as well as his careful attention to format and the details of physical geography; to Professor Jack R. Villmow for his advice and criticism, especially in the regional aspects of the study; to Professor Lawrence A. Hoffman for his critical reading of the draft; and to his wife for the many hours spent in correcting and typing the several drafts. In addition to those directly involved with the preparation of the dissertation the author is much indebted to Commissioner Floyd E. Dominy and the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of Interior, whose sponsorship and selection of delegates included the author, thereby making possible the study of Soviet irrigation facilities and techniques under field conditions. i i i CONTENTS Page PREFACE ................................................................ i i TABLES.................................................................................................................. v i FIGURES........................................................... v i i i Chapter I . INTRODUCTION. ..................................... 1 I I . THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE SOVIET UNION PRIOR TO THE SEVEN-YEAR PLAN....................................... 1U Development Prior to the First Five-Year Plan The Decade 1928-1938, and the Initiation of the Five-Year Plans The War Years The Five-Year Plan for Rehabilitation and Development of the National Economy in the Period 1946-1950 The Fifth Five-Year Plan, 1951-1955 The Sixth Five-Year Plan and i t s Abandonment Irrigation Resources of the Soviet Union Prior to the Opening of the Seven-Year Plan I I I . IRRIGATION IN THE SEVEN-YEAR PLAN, 1959-1965 ................. 46 The Seven-Year Plan Long Range Planning Plan Progress in the RSFSR IV. LAND RESERVES AND WATER SUPPLY PATTERNS ......................... 59 Arable Land Reserves The Influence of Topography upon Irrigation Development Water Supply Patterns V. IRRIGATION WATER REQUIREMENTS ............................................... 115 Determining Consumption Water Requirements for Crop Production Regional Water Requirements for Selected Crops in the RSFSR Diversion Requirements. i v VI. PRODUCTION INCREASE AND ESTIMATED.INPUT REQUIREMENTS OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE RSFSR....................................................138 Input Requirements Production Increases Under Irrigation Input-Output Relationships VII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 163 The Physical Resources and Water Requirements Economic Aspects of Irrigation Developments Irrigation Planning in the RSFSR and Prospects for Attaining Plan Goals Problems Conclusions APPENDIXES 175 A. Definition of Terms Used in the Text B. Climatic and Daylight Data Used in Computing Consumptive Use and Supplemental Water Requirements in Table 20 BIBLIOGRAPHY 183 AUTOBIOGRAPHY 190 v TABLES Table Page 1. Increase of Irrigation Area in the USSR, 1928-1938 «... 21 2. Index of Irrigated Area in the RSFSR, Central Asia, Transcaucasus, and USSR, 1938 and 1951 .................................. 25 3® Irrigation and Water Supply Goals for I960 as Outlined in the Draft Directive for the Sixth Five-Year Plan. 31 4. Area of Irrigation Networks in the Soviet Union Selected Years, 1913 to 1958 ....................................................... 33 5. The Relationship of Irrigation Network, Utilized Land, and Irrigated Cropland in the Soviet Union as Shown in Official Publications, Selected Years, 1950 to 1957. • ♦ 35 6. The Relationship of Irrigated Cropland and Irrigation Net By Union Republic, 1957 .................................................. 36 7. Percent of Irrigation Network by Region, Selected Years, 1913 to 1958 ...................................................... 37 8. Index of Area of Irrigated in 1958 ........................ 40 9. Ir rig a te d Areas by Crop-Types, 1957 ................................. 43 10. Comparative Investments in the USSR, Showing Water Economy, A g ricu ltu re, and T otal Investm ent, S elected Years, 1918 to 1958 ......................... 44 11. Planned Increase of New Irrigation Development in the USSR, 1959 to 1965 ......................... 48 12. Lands Brought under Irrigation in the USSR and RSFSR, 1946—i 960 «.o«».o......09000000.0 56 13. Ir rig a te d Land in the USSR According to the Source of Irrigation Water, 1956 ...................................................... 95 14. Average Discharge and Runoff of the Volga Basin ..... 97 15. The Percent of Seasonal Discharge for the Lower Volga and the Athuba Distributary, 1958 ........................................... 100 vi 16. Discharge Characteristics of Selected Rivers of the North Caucasus ..................................................................................... 103 17. Discharge Characteristics of the Don R iver ............................. 105 18. Average Discharge of Selected Rivers in the Altay Area of West S i b e r i a ............................................................... I l l 19. The Average Surface Flow of Major Streams in the Less Humid Areas of the RSFSR ..................... 114 20. Estimated Consumptive Water-Requirements for Irrigated Crops in the RSFSR, 1961 ......................... 126 21. Average Water Requirements for Crops in the i-iajor Irrigated Regions of the RSFSR ............. 134 22. Representative Yields of Irrigated and Nonirrigated Crops in the Major Irrigated Regions of the RSFSR. 151 23. Gross Value of Increased Production in Field Crops Due to Irrigation in the RSFSR. .................................. 152 24. Gross Value of Increased Production in Vegetable Crops Under Irrigation in the RSFSR ....................................... 154 25. Net Value of Increased Production of Field Crops under Irrigation in the RSFSR ................................. 156 26. Net Value of Increased Production of Vegetable Crops under Irrigation in the RSFSR .......................... 158 27. Percent of Agricultural Crops Grown on Irrigated Lands in the RSFSR, 1957 and F u t u r e ................................. .. 160 28. Labor Requirements in Irrigation, Soviet Union and the United States ..... ...... 162 v ii FIGURES Figure Page 1. Major Irrigated Sectors of the Soviet Union . 7 2. Irrigated Regions of the RSFSR ....................................................... 9 3. Irrigation Networks and Zones of Potential Irrigation Development of the RSFSR ......................................... ...... 34 4. Area of Irrigation Networks in the Soviet Union, 1913-1958 ............................................................................ ..... 38 5. Index of Increase in Area of Irrigation Network, . 1949-1958 ....................................................................... 39 6. Ir rig a tio n Networks in Subhumid USSR, Selected Years, 1938-1958 ........................................................................... 42 7. Index to Topographic Maps, Figures 8-18 ..................................... 62 8. Topographic Map of the Don Delta ........................ 65 9. Topographic Map of the Confluence

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