WATERLOGGING

Dr. M. Dhakshinamoorthy
Professor (SS&AC)
IMTI, Trichy
 CAUSES FOR WATER LOGGING
Poor natural drainage

Heavy downpour coupled with poor natural

drainage

Spilling of rivers and continuous submergence

Poor irrigation management without

considering soil properties

Heavy seepages from canal, distributaries and

water sources
 Development activities (road/bridges/railway line)
choking of natural drains
Poor drainage system
Poor upkeep of water sheds
Hydraulic pressure from upper irrigated areas/
Seepage in low lying areas
 EFFECTS OF WATER LOGGING
Accumulation of excess soluble salts in shallow
water table

Reduction of soil strength

Oxygen diffusion is 10,000 times lesser then

running water

Redox potential is 400mV

Accumulation of Co2 , CH4, HCo3-, Co32- and H2S

 Change in the soil pH and stabilization
(Neutral)
Anaerobes microbes exists with low energy
level
Reduced nutrient availability
Accumulation of toxicants (H2S, CH4)
Poor crop growth/nutritional disorders and
yield reduction
 ILL EFFECTS ON SOIL

Lack of aeration (Oxygen)

Reduced soil temperature

Creation of salinization

Inhibiting/Reducing microbial activity

Problems in managing the soil

 Obstruction to seed germination
/growth
Excess weed growth
Affecting salt and water balance
Damage to building, wells, pipelines,
roads etc.
Water logging causes soil salinity
Poor drainage
Sea water intrusion
 SALINITY AND WATERLOGGING IN THE COMPOSITE THANJAVUR Dt.

Districts Ill drained & Salinity/Sodicity

waterlogging
Soil Area (ha) Soil series Area (in
series ha)
Thanjav Kallivaya 482(0.14 Kallivayal 482
ur l %) (0.14%)
Thiruvar Kallivaya 1535 Kallivayal & 3727
ur l (0.8%) Kivalur (1.9%)
Naga- Kallivaya 10486 Kallivayal, 36845
pattinum l & (4.6%) Kivalur & (16.3%)
Naga- Nagapattinum
pattinum
MANAGEMENT OF WATERLOGGED SOILS
Provision of surface drainage
Lining the canals to avoid seepage and
associated Stalinization
Harvesting of the run off water and its
recycling in the post rainy season
Increasing the carrying capacity of the
drainage channels by strengthening the
bunds
MANAGEMENT OF WATERLOGGED SOILS
Conjunctive use of ground water, canal
water and stored rainwater to
arrest/reverse the rise of water table
Provision of check dams to prevent the
sea water intrusion
Growing saline resistant, high yielding
deep water rice varieties (ADT40, CO43,
TRY 1 & 2, IR 36, IR 42, Pokkali)
 OTHER CONSTRATINTS

Irrigation induced water

logging
Poor quality irrigation
water
Salinity due to prawn
culture
 Coastal Soils
Characteristics
Clay < 10 % Sand > 90 %
Very low water retention capacity
pH varies from 7.9 to 8.1
EC is generally < 0.23
CEC 3.8 to 8.4 me/100g
High CaCO3 and SOM
 Management of Coastal soils
Provision of Protective Embankment
Levelling the land to provide uniform
drainage of excess water
Avoid summer fallow to avoid sea water
intrusion
Mulching during post harvest period to
improve soil properties
 Management of Coastal soils

Lowering water table through deep drains

Grow Rice varieties that tolerate water
logging and salinity
Transplant more seedlings per hill
Apply suitable amendments as and when
necessary
 Acid Sulphate soils
Low pH (3 4) and medium to high salinity
High OM decomposition in brackish water
under anaerobic conditions results in Iron
Pyrites
Pyrites on oxidation give H2SO4 lowering
soil pH
Found in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam, India, Senegal,
 Acid Sulphate soils
Toxic concentration of Fe and Al
Low availability of Ca and P,
Shallow water table resulting in water
logging,
Low base saturation.
 Acid Sulphate soils
Water logged Soils Suitable for Rice only
Never drain these soils Pyrites gets oxidized
to sulphuric acid pH further lowered
Apply lime to increase pH and reduce toxicity
of Fe and Al
Heavy doses of lime 5 10 t/ha every 2 to 3
years
 Soil Physical Constraints

Slow permeable soils

Excessive permeable soils
Sub soil hard pan
Shallow soils
Fluffy paddy soils
Surface crusting
 Slow Permeable Soil

High clay content

Low Infiltration Rate 6 cm/day
High Surface Runoff
Impeded Drainage
Low nutrient availability due to fixation
in clay lattice
 Slow Permeable Soil
739 sq.km in Coimbatore, 526 sq.km in
Dharmapuri 1243 sq.km in Trichy and 420
sq.km in Salem district

Apply organic manures 10 to 15 t/ha to

improve soil physical properties

Form Ridges and Furrows to Provide

aeration to roots and provide adequate
drainage
 Excessive Permeable Soil

High sand > 70 %

Low water and nutrient retention capacity
Weak aggregate structure due to low OM and
finer fractions
6,519 sq.km in Coimbatore, 3,774 sq.km in
Dharmapuri; 2,800 sq.km in Trichi, 1,837 sq.km
in Madurai, 1,845 sq.km in Salem and 524
sq.km in North Arcot Districts.
 Excessive Permeable Soil

Plough the soil uniformly 24 hours after rains

or irrigation
The soil should be rolled 10 times with 400 kg
stone roller of 1 met long (or) an empty tar drum
filled with 400 kg sand
 Sub soil hard pan
Occur in red soils 8 m ha in T N
illuviation of clay to the sub soil horizons coupled
with cementing action of oxides of iron, Aluminium
and calcium carbonate
High BD 1.8 g/cc
low infiltration, WHC, available water and
movement of air and nutrients
1,320 sq.km in Coimbatore, 2,450 sq.km in Madurai
and 1,448 sq.km in North Arcot districts.
 Sub soil hard pan
Advantages of chisel ploughing
Reduces the BD by 0.2 to 0.4 mg. m-3.

The hydraulic conductivity was almost doubled in sub

soil

Conserves 30-40% more soil moisture.

Roots proliferation is improved by 40-45%.

Nutrient mobility especially N & K increased by 20-

30% and 30-40%
Shallow Soils:

Parent rock immediately below the soil

surface at about of 15-20 cm depth.

This restricts the root elongation and

spreading.

209 sq.km and 384 sq.km in Salem

and North arcot districts .
Fluffy Soils:

Continuous submergence and intense

cultivation Soil structure destroyed

Low BD, Mechanical Strength, poor

anchorage to plants

Situation further aggravated by stubble

incorporation
Fluffy Soils:

After the harvest of Rice, when the soil is

under semi-dry condition, compact the field
by passing 400 kg stone roller (or) an
empty tar drum filled with 400 kg of sand 8
times.
 Surface Crusting
Found in red soils of Trichy, Pudukottai, Ramnad and
Tirunelveli.

Colloidal oxides of iron and aluminium in alfisols bind

the soil particles under wet regimes. On drying it
forms a hard mass on the surface.

It prevents germination of seeds; inhibits root growth

poor infiltration, accelerates surface runoff, poor
aeration, affects nodule formation in leguminous
crops.
 Surface Crusting
Plough the soil at optimum moisture and apply lime 2
t/ha and plough again

Apply FYM or CPC 10 t/ha to improve soil physical

properties

Scraping surface soil by tooth harrow will be useful.

Sprinkling water at periodical intervals may be done

wherever possible.