Prior to exploitation of groundwater, Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERS) is the most widely used technique to determine the target drilling and identify the nature and thickness of the aquifers in the areas of interest. The art of the state equipment followed by the interpretation of results by computer software is available with Regional office PCRWR for quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the sub-surface water. Technical assistance regarding groundwater investigation and management is provided to public, private and industrial sectors in groundwater and geo-technical disciplines on no loss no profit basis.

Lysimeter name derived from a Greek word ‘Lysi’ meaning ‘Water’. Lysimeter is an experimental set-up comprising of soil-filled tank in which research can be conducted very precisely under well controlled conditions on almost all aspects of optimal utilization of surface and ground water resources. It is a basic tool to determine crop water requirement, crop coefficient, groundwater contribution, deep percolation, evapo-transpiration, solute transport and other related aspects of water management and sustainability of agricultural lands. Its use has been extended to other scientific fields, like quantitative and qualitative studies of the leaching from waste products or contaminated soils in order to evaluate the environmental impact of these materials. PCRWR has constructed eighteen drainage type Lysimeters (3m x 3m x 6m) at Directorate of Land Reclamation (DLR), Canal Bank Road Mugalpura Lahore in 1974, filled with four representative soils in the Punjab with close collaboration of Punjab Irrigation Department. This was the first lysimeters facility ever established in Pakistan. Regional Office, PCRWR, Lahore has conducted a series of studies to determine the actual water requirement for major crops under various water-table levels.
The function of “Lysimeter Studies on Soil Water Control” was to activate scientific research on various problems related with optimal depth of water table for different crops, irrigation scheduling, attainment of maximum crop yields with optimum use of water and other similar problems connected with land and water use.
At present, a research study is ongoing to determine crop water requirement of rice, maize and wheat crops. This study will help to optimize the irrigation events and formulate irrigation schedule for rice, maize and wheat crops in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping systems. Rice, maize and wheat are being used extensively in human and animal food.

Use of appropriate soil moisture instruments to monitor soil water status in the root zone of crops is vital for judicious and efficient utilization of available surface and groundwater resources. In Pakistan, use of such instruments is not very common due to high prices of imported instruments. In order to fill the gap, PCRWR established a Cell in its Lahore office for local designing and fabrication of soil moisture instruments (Tensiometer, Water Sampler, Water Bird, and Water Level Indicator) and this office has the facility of troubleshooting and repairing of the instruments.
Soil moisture tensiometer measures the availability or water potential of the soil.  This is a vital tool in irrigation scheduling also helpful for common farmers to have optimum irrigation interval. Readings are in units of pressure or more exactly negative pressure or suction expressed as centibars (cbar) or kilo Pascals (kPa).

I. A porous ceramic cup possessing structural strength as well as permeability to water flow.
II. Rigid body tube; fully or partially (at least portion above Vacuum gauge ) transparent so that water within the tensiometer can be easily seen.
III. Vacuum gauge; measures water potential or tension in units of centibars (English system), or kilo Pascal’s (metric units).

(PCRWR) has made the use of tensiometers farmers’ friendly by colored ranges.

Blue: Soil is at saturation.
Green: Sufficient moisture available.
Yellow: Irrigate the field.
Red: Water must be applied without delay