Effect of the tile drainage parameters (depth and spacing) on the water table depth and drain discharges at rice fields

Abstract: The present work was conducted in Agriculture Experimental Station at EI-Zankalon, EI-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of tile drainage criteria (drain depth and spacing) on the water table depth and the drain discharges in the rice fields. The study was carried out through two following summer season, experiments included the effect of drain depth in the first and drain depth + spacing in the second one.
Results show that during the first summer season, as a result of drain depths of the average water table depths were 0.18,0.23 and 0.35 cm below soil surface for 0 cm (poor drainage), 60 cm (controlled drainage) and 120 cm (conventional drainage), respectively. While the drain out flow was reduced to zero and 44.4 % by restricting the out let (poor drainage) and using controlled drainage, respectively as compared to the conventional drainage.
At the second summer season as a result of both drain depth and spacing, the average water table depth were 0.33, 0.27 and 0.29 cm below soil surface for conventional drainage (120 cm drain depth and 20 m spacing), controlled drainage (60 cm drain depth and 20 m spacing) and wider drain spacing (120 cm drain depth and 40 m spacing) treatments, respectively. The drain discharges were reduced by using controlled drainage and wider drain spacing by 45.4 % and 30.0 %, respectively as compared to the conventional drainage treatment.
Under the new strategy in which farmers free to choose the crops they like, controlled drainage and wider drain spacing should be recommended in the conditions where rice cultivated with other summer crops (cotton and maize) in the same command area to maintain shallow water table and to reduce drain out flow and in turn saves irrigation water

Publication year

2001

Pages

531-540

Availability location

Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC

Availability number

Organization Name

Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI)

City

Minufiya

serial title