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Limited surface supplies without considering crop water demand has created gap between water applied and its requirement. It results into extensive groundwater pump-age. It is therefore required to study crop water demand and supply at a specific hydrological unit level. In the current study crop water supply and demand was assessed in command area of two main distributaries (Killianwala and Mungi) of Lower Chenab Canal (LCC) based on unique hydro-geology. Three parameters including land use, soil type, and topography were used to develop Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and GIS. Forty-one and forty-two HRUs were developed for Killanwali and Mungi distributaries, respectively. The daily reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) for the canal commands was estimated using CROPWAT 8.0 model for the period of six years (2007-12). The crop water requirement was estimated using ETo, crop coefficient (Kc) and cropping period at HRU level. The water shortages observed were more than 50% at both distributaries. Results showed that the maximum water shortfall at Killianwala and Mungi distributary were 4.1 MCM/Year and 4.9 MCM/Year, respectively. It was concluded that canal water supplies should be scheduled with the consideration of water requirements of each zone. Eventually, a shift from supply based to demand-based irrigation is highly recommended.

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Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. maritima) belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. It was introduced first in the Europe and then to USA in 1800 and is currently being grown under cool environmental conditions of the world. It can be cultivated at temperature ranging from 8°C to 25°C. Both shoots and roots of fodder beet can be used as a feed for livestock. In the face of changing climate, there is a dire need to find out climate-resilient crops in new niches that can fulfill the growing needs of farming communities. In this context, fodder beet could be a good option for growers having sizable marginal as well as salt-affected soils. The chapter discusses in detail the efficient salinity-tolerance mechanism of fodder beet that enables it to survive under moderate salinity. Selective ion uptake mechanism, efficient antioxidant defensive mechanism and osmoregulation by accumulation of compatible solutes enable it to thrive well under saline environment. Hence, fodder beet is a relatively salt-tolerant crop that can be successfully grown on normal, marginal as well as salt-affected soils to fulfill the fodder requirements of livestock in fodder-scarce times and salinity amelioration.