Optimized Main Ditch Water Control for Agriculture in Northern Huaihe River Plain, Anhui Province, China, Using MODFLOW Groundwater Table Simulations

Rong Tang,Xiugui Wang,Xudong Han,Yihui Yan,Tao Shen,Shuang Huang,Jiesheng Huang,Jia Liu,Youzhen Wang

doi:10.3390/w14010029

Rong Tang, Xiugui Wang + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w14010029

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Abstract

Controlled drainage by regulating the groundwater level in open ditches is necessary to ensure the normal growth of crops in Northern Huaihe River Plain, China. The groundwater model MODFLOW was calibrated and validated in a representative area, and was then conducted to simulate the groundwater under different main drainage ditch water depth control schemes during the growth period of corn and wheat. Then the scenario with highest water depth (Scenario 20) from 1989 to 2019 was simulated, and the annual cumulative drought and waterlogging intensity (ACDWI) were analyzed in each decade and in different hydrological years. The results showed that the study area was dominated by drought stress. The lowest level of drought stress was achieved under Scenario 20. The frequency of drought gradually decreased from north to south in the study area. Moreover, the ACDWI decreased with increase of precipitation during 1989 to 2019. The results indicated that it was important to store water during the dry season, while it is also necessary to control the drainage in the rainy season to drain excess water on time. The results suggested that the water depth of the main drainage ditch should be regulated by zoning and by season to alleviate crop drought and waterlogging.

Highlights

At present, the world’s population is growing at a rate of approximately 1.1% per year
According to the medium-variable scenario of the future population growth model predicted by the United Nations Population Division, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050; global food production will need to increase by 70%, and demand for irrigation water will increase by as much as 50% [1]
The groundwater-flow model MODFLOW was applied in a study area of

Summary

Introduction

The world’s population is growing at a rate of approximately 1.1% per year. According to the medium-variable scenario of the future population growth model predicted by the United Nations Population Division, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050; global food production will need to increase by 70%, and demand for irrigation water will increase by as much as 50% [1]. Agricultural drought and waterlogging have become increasingly frequent in recent years and may endanger future agricultural production [2,3]. Effective water resource management is essential for global food production. Designing a proper drainage system is often an essential component of an overall water management system, and developing a proper drainage control scheme can improve crop production and reduce adverse environmental impacts [4]

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