Estimation and Characterization of Deep Percolation from Rice and Berseem Fields Using Lysimeter Experiments on Sandy Loam Soil

Abstract

AbstractDeep percolation from the root zone of water intensive crops reduces irrigation efficiency, minimizes water productivity and becomes an environmental threat by carrying chemical residues to groundwater systems. Quantification of the percolation process is often made indirectly without actual field observations. In the present case study, simple, locally constructed drainage type lysimeters were utilized to monitor daily deep percolation from the root zone of unpuddled sandy loam soil throughout the growth periods of rice and berseem fodder crops. Similarly, other water balance components were monitored on daily time steps during the crop growth periods (2013 and 2014). It was observed that a large volume of water is returned as deep percolation loss as physically demonstrated from lysimeter measurements. Overall, approximately 82% of the input water volume in rice season and 61.8% in berseem season accounted for deep percolation in unpuddled sandy loam soil of the experimental field. A simple wate...