Unit VI - Water Logging and Drainage

Definition
When the conditions are so created that the crop root-zone gets
deprived of proper aeration due to the presence of excessive
moisture or water content, the tract is said to be waterlogged.
 To create such conditions it is not always necessary that under
groundwater table should enter the crop root-zone.
 Sometimes even if water table is below the root-zone depth the
capillary water zone may extend in the root-zone depth and
makes the air circulation impossible by filling the pores in the
soil.
Introduction
 The waterlogging may be defined as rendering the soil unproductive and infertile due to excessive
moisture and creation of anaerobic conditions.
 The phenomenon of waterlogging can be best understood with the help of a hydrologic equation,
which states that
Inflow - Outflow = Storage
 Here inflow represents that amount of water which enters the subsoil in various processes. It includes
seepage from the canals, infiltration of rainwater, percolation from irrigated fields and subsoil flow.
 Thus although it is loss for us, it represents the amount of water flowing into the soil.
 The term outflow represents mainly evaporation from soil, transpiration from plants and underground
drainage of the tract.
 The term storage represents the change in the groundwater reservoir.

Causes of Waterlogging
 After studying the phenomenon of waterlogging in the light of hydrologic equation
main factors which help in raising the water-table may be recognised correctly.
 They are:
i. Inadequate drainage of over-land run-off increases the rate of percolation and in turn
helps in raising the water table.
ii. The water from rivers may infiltrate into the soil.
iii. Seepage of water from earthen canals also adds significant quantity of water to the
underground reservoir continuously.
iv. Sometimes subsoil does not permit free flow of subsoil water which may accentuate
the process of raising the water table.
v. Irrigation water is used to flood the fields. If it is used in excess it may help
appreciably in raising the water table. Good drainage facility is very essential.
Effects of Waterlogging
 The waterlogging affects the land in various ways. The various after
effects are the following:
1. Creation of Anaerobic Condition in the Crop Root-Zone:
 When the aeration of the soil is satisfactory bacteriological activities
produce the required nitrates from the nitrogenous compounds
present in the soil.
 It helps the crop growth.
 Excessive moisture content creates anaerobic condition in the soil.
 The plant roots do not get the required nourishing food or nutrients.
 As a result crop growth is badly affected.
2. Growth of Water Loving Wild Plants:
 When the soil is waterlogged water loving wild plant life grows abundantly.
 The growth of wild plants totally prevent the growth of useful crops.
3. Impossibility of Tillage Operations:

 Waterlogged fields cannot be tilled properly.
 The reason is that the soil contains excessive moisture content and it does not give
proper tilth.
4. Saline and Alkaline soil:

 The upward water movement brings the toxic salts in the crop root-zone.
 Excess accumulation of these salts may turn the soil alkaline.
 It may hamper the crop growth.
5. Lowering of Soil Temperature:
 The presence of excessive moisture content lowers the temperature
of the soil.
 In low temperature the bacteriological activities are retarded which
affects the crop growth badly.
6. Reduction in Time of Maturity:

 Untimely maturity of the crops is the characteristic of waterlogged
lands.
 Due to this shortening of crop period the crop yield is reduced
considerably.
Detection of Waterlogging
 Waterlogging is indicated when the ground water reservoir goes on building up
continuously.
 When the storage starts building up in the initial stages the crop growth is actually
increased because more water is made available for the crop growth.
 But after some time the waters table rises very high and the land gets waterlogged. Finally
the land is rendered unproductive and infertile.
 The problem of waterlogging develops in its full form slowly. Therefore its early detection is
possible by keeping a close watch over the yields and also on the variations in the
groundwater level.
 A comparative reduction in crop yields in spite of irrigation and fertilisation and early
maturity of crops indicate the symptoms of waterlogging.
 Also when harmful salts start appearing on the fields as white incrustation or deposit it
indicates that waterlogging is likely to follow.
 In worst cases the water-table rises so high and close to the ground surface that the fields
turn into swamps and marshes.
Preventive Measures
Preventive measures include the following:
(a) Controlling the loss of water due to seepage from the canals:
The seepage loss may be reduced by adopting various measures for example
i. By lowering the FSL of the canal:
Loss may be due to percolation or absorption but when FSL is lowered the loss is
reduced to sufficient extent. It is course essential to see that while lowering the FSL
command is not sacrificed.
ii. By lining the canal section:
When the canal section is made fairly watertight by providing lining the seepage loss is
reduced to quite a good extent.
iii. By introducing intercepting drains:
They are generally constructed parallel to the canal. They give exceptionally good
results for the reach where the canal runs in high embankments.
Preventive Measures
(b) Preventing the loss of water due to percolation from field channels and fields:
The percolation loss can be removed by using water more economically. It may also be
affected by keeping intensity of irrigation low. Then only small portion of the irrigable tract
is flooded and consequently the percolation loss takes place only on the limited area. It
keeps the water-table sufficiently low.
(c) Augmentation of outflow and prevention of inflow:

It may be accomplished by introducing artificial open and underground drainage grid. It
may also be achieved by improving the flow conditions of existing natural drainages.
(d) Quick disposal of rainwater:

Quick removal of rainwater by surface or open drains is a very effective method of
preventing the rise in water table and consequent waterlogging of the tract. It is needless
to state that the rainwater removed is net reduction in inflow.
Curative Measures
Curative measures include the following:
(a) Installation of lift irrigation systems:
 When a lift irrigation project in the form of a tube well irrigation system is
introduced in the waterlogged area the water table gets lowered sufficiently.
 It is found to be very successful method of reclaiming waterlogged land.
 Thus a combination of a canal system and a supplementary tube well
irrigation system may be considered to be most successful and efficient
irrigation scheme.
(b) Implementation of Drainage Schemes:

 The waterlogged area may be reclaimed by introducing overland and
underground drainage schemes.
Extent of Waterlogged Area
In our country water-logging is a problem of great concern. It is estimated that total
area of waterlogged land is 86.92 lakh hectares. It includes area in irrigation
commands as well as other area outside the command.

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Definition

 The term storage represents the change in the groundwater reservoir.

3. Impossibility of Tillage Operations:

4. Saline and Alkaline soil:

6. Reduction in Time of Maturity:

(c) Augmentation of outflow and prevention of inflow:

(d) Quick disposal of rainwater:

(b) Implementation of Drainage Schemes:

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