A Bi-level Optimization Approach for Joint Operation of Multi-reservoir Systems in Northwest China’s Arid Irrigation Districts

WANG Ting, LIU Bing, WANG Shu-hong, CAO Biao, LI Xin-wei, Tilare Akelamu

Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2026, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (8) : 52-60.

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Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2026, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (8) : 52-60. DOI: 10.11988/ckyyb.20250482
Water Resources

A Bi-level Optimization Approach for Joint Operation of Multi-reservoir Systems in Northwest China’s Arid Irrigation Districts

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Abstract

[Objective] There are significant differences between source reservoirs and receiving reservoirs in arid regions of Northwest China in terms of spatial distribution and functional positioning. Traditional single-level operation models are difficult to achieve the global optimal allocation of water resources. To improve the scientific basis of reservoir operation and the efficiency of intensive water resources utilization, this study constructs a joint operation model for reservoir groups based on bi-level optimization. [Methods] A bi-level optimization model was established for the joint operation of reservoir groups, and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to solve the model. The upper-level model takes the source reservoir as the operation core and aims to minimize water transfer deviation and evaporation-seepage losses. The lower-level model takes the receiving reservoirs as the regulation objects and aims to minimize water shortage in irrigation districts. Hydrological methods were used to quantitatively evaluate ecological flow, which was incorporated into the operation model as a rigid constraint. [Results] The variation trends of water transfer amount and water diversion amount were consistent, and the ratio between them remained within the range of 0.87-1.07. The multi-year monthly average evaporation-seepage loss decreased from 413.14×104 m3 before optimization to 348.46×104 m3 after optimization, with a reduction of 15.66%. The water supply reliability of each sub-irrigation district reached 87.33%-95.63%. [Conclusions] The proposed reservoir group joint operation model based on bi-level optimization can coordinate the relationship between source reservoir regulation and receiving reservoir water demand, reduce evaporation-seepage losses, and improve irrigation water supply reliability under ecological flow constraints. The research results can provide a reference for the joint operation of reservoir groups in similar regions.

Key words

bilevel optimization / joint dispatching of reservoir group / PSO / AHP-entropy weight method / arid irrigation district / ecological flow

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WANG Ting , LIU Bing , WANG Shu-hong , et al . A Bi-level Optimization Approach for Joint Operation of Multi-reservoir Systems in Northwest China’s Arid Irrigation Districts[J]. Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute. 2026, 43(8): 52-60 https://doi.org/10.11988/ckyyb.20250482

References

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Abstract
【目的】资源型缺水严重制约干旱灌区的农业生产,传统玉米生产模式地膜投入量大。在极端高温和生态环境污染的挑战日益加剧的情境下,探讨通过免耕地膜重复利用维持较高水分利用的可行性,以期为构建试区地膜减量玉米高效生产技术提供理论支撑。【方法】2017—2018年,在甘肃河西绿洲灌区,设置免耕地膜重复利用(免耕覆膜,NM)、秋免耕春覆膜(少耕覆膜,RM)与传统耕作每年覆盖新膜(传统覆膜,对照,CM)3种地膜覆盖利用方式,研究其对玉米田土壤水分利用的影响,以期为优化试区玉米高产高效栽培管理技术提供理论依据。【结果】NM与RM处理较CM处理提高玉米播种时0—120 cm土层平均土壤重量含水量,分别为7.8%与5.1%,这为玉米播种创造良好的土壤水分环境。玉米播种—拔节期及吐丝—灌浆初期,NM处理较CM处理提高0—120 cm土层平均土壤重量含水量,分别为5.0%与4.7%,弥补了灌浆期玉米植株旺盛生长对土壤水分的大量需求。与CM处理相比,NM处理增加了玉米播种—大喇叭口期的耗水量,降低了玉米吐丝—灌浆初期的耗水量,增大了玉米灌浆初期—收获期的耗水量,有效协调玉米各生育阶段的水分需求关系。虽然NM处理较RM与CM处理提高了玉米吐丝期之前的棵间蒸发量,分别为11.7%与26.0%,提高棵间蒸发量占耗水量的比例(E/ET),分别为13.4%与19.9%,但是NM处理较RM与CM处理降低了玉米吐丝期之后的棵间蒸发量,分别为9.2%与19.4%,降低E/ET,分别为9.7%与20.7%,说明NM处理有利于增强玉米吐丝期之后土壤水分的有效利用。因而,在地膜减投与免耕措施下,NM处理获得与RM及CM处理相当的籽粒产量与水分利用效率。【结论】在西北干旱灌区,应用免耕地膜重复利用并没有导致玉米产量和水分利用效率的降低,具有稳定产量及水分利用效率的作用,是玉米生产中地膜减投的可行措施。
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【Objective】Water resource scarcity is one of the most prominent constraints for agricultural production in arid irrigation areas, so maize production are mainly mulched with traditional plastic film. However, this process is increasingly challenged by extreme high-temperature and ecological environment pollution. This study investigated the feasibility of maintaining high water use via no tillage with plastic film reusing pattern, and the aim was to prove the theoretical support for the construction of efficient maize production technology with plastic film reduction.【Method】In 2017 and 2018, a field experiment was carried out in Hexi oasis irrigation region from Gansu province to determine the effects of different plastic film mulching and using patterns on soil water utilization of maize field. The treatments included no tillage with plastic film reusing pattern (no tillage with plastic film mulching, NM), no tillage in fall and new plastic film mulching in spring (reduced tillage with plastic film mulching, RM), and conventional tillage with annual new plastic film mulching (conventional tillage with plastic film mulching, the control, CM). 【Result】Compared with CM, the mean soil weight moisture content across the 0-120 cm soil depth was increased by 7.5% and 5.1% with NM and RM before the maize sowing, respectively, which created a good soil moisture environment for sowing of maize. NM had greater mean soil weight moisture content across the 0-120 cm soil depth by 5.0% and 4.7% than thant that under CM from sowing to jointing and silking to early-filling stages, respectively, which made up for the abundant demand of soil moisture for the vigorous growth of maize filling stage. Evapotranspiration under NM was increased until maize big-flare stage, decreased from maize silking to early-filling stage, and increased after maize early-filling stage, which was effectively coordinated with water demand contradiction of maize at each growth stages. Compared with RM and CM, NM increased soil evaporation before silking stage by 11.7% and 26.0%, and increased the ratio of soil evaporation to evapotranspiration (E/ET) by 13.4% and 19.9%, respectively. However, NM reduced soil evaporation after silking stage by 9.2% and 19.4%, and reduced E/ET by 9.7% and 20.7%, respectively. The results indicated that NM was beneficial to enhance the effective utilization of soil water after maize silking stage. Therefore, NM with no tillage and plastic film reduction obtained the same grain yield and water use efficiency for RM and CM.【Conclusion】The results showed that no tillage with plastic film reusing pattern did not lead to a decrease in the grain yield and water use efficiency of maize, compared with conventional tillage with annual new plastic film mulching, but it stabilized grain yield and water use efficiency, thus, this practice was a feasible measure to reduce plastic film input and stabilize productivity of maize production in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China.

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