Bam. Bouman et al., WATER-USE EFFICIENCY OF FLOODED RICE FIELDS .2. PERCOLATION AND SEEPAGE LOSSES, Agricultural water management, 26(4), 1994, pp. 291-304
The concept of a constant seepage and percolation (SP) rate in monitor
ing the water balance of flooded rice fields, as often used in e.g. ir
rigation system design and management, was investigated. First, magnit
ude and variability of percolation rate were studied for different com
binations of soil-hydraulic properties and hydrologic conditions using
the validated water balance model SAWAH. Percolation losses from fiel
ds with relatively low subsoil permeability (k(s,sub) < 10(-1) cm d-1)
are either limited by a poorly permeable plow sole (k(s,top) < 10(-2)
cm d-1) or by the low hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil itself. T
ypical percolation losses of 0-0.5 and 1-1.5 cm.d-1 respectively are h
ardly affected by ponded water depth, subsurface water content and dep
th of ground water table. Percolation losses from fields with relative
ly high subsoil permeability (k(s,sub) > 10(1) cm.d-1) may vary from 0
-0.5 cm d-1 with a poorly permeable plow sole, to 1-5 cm.d-1 or more f
or a relatively permeable plow sole (k(s,top) > 10(-2) cm d-1). Only i
n the latter case, percolation rates are largely affected by the depth
of ponded water. Next, the constancy of combined SP rates was studied
in a field experiment on a permeable subsoil. Simple book-keeping of
the water balance using a fixed SP rate proved accurate to predict the
depth of ponded water in time in case of a poorly permeable plow sole
and a small seepage component. A decision tree was suggested based on
soil-hydraulic properties and characteristics of bunds to estimate th
e magnitude and variation of SP rates, and to decide whether book-keep
ing with a fixed SP rate is an appropriate tool in monitoring the wate
r balance of paddy fields.