Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of subsurface drain spacing and depth on hydrological properties of waterlogged Vertisols under sugarcane in Sangli district of Maharashtra during 2012-13 to 2013-14. A total of 12 treatments consisting four drain spacings of 10, 20, 30 and 40 m and three drain depths of 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 m were laid in experimental plot. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil was determined before and after harvesting of sugarcane. Drainable porosity of soil corresponding to water table depth was determined from water table drawdown and drain discharge measurements after rainfall. It was found that the closely-spaced and deep drain recorded better hydrological properties of soil (drainage coefficient, water table depth, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and drainable porosity) as compared to widely-spaced and deep drains. But closely-spaced drains increased the initial adoption cost of subsurface drainage system, drained excess water, and leached more nutrients. Drain spacing and depth of either 40 m and 1-1.25 m, or 30 m and 1 m confirmed the recommended basic guidelines for Indian subsurface drainage design with optimum drainage coefficient of 2 mm.day-1 for semi-arid regions and drain spacing between 30-50 m and 1.2 m depth for fine-textured soils.
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