Subject- Water Resources Engineering

Water-logging

By
Denish Jangid
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department
Water logging, Effects & its control

Salinity, Effects & its control

1. The soil whose surface layers are saturated with water is
called as waterlogged soil.
2. The phenomenon of rising of water table is known as
waterlogging
 INTRODUCTION
 Ministry of Water Resources estimated in 2001 that an
area of 2.04 million hectare was suffering from the
problem of water logging under irrigation commands.
 This accounts for nearly 4% of net area irrigated in the
country
 Out of this, an area of 1.4 million hectare was estimated
to be suffering from surface water stagnation and 0.64
million hectare through rise in water table.
 Worldwide, about 10% of all irrigated land suffers from
water logging.
 INTRODUCTION
AN IRRIGATED AREA IS SAID TO BE
WATERLOGGED
 WHEN THE SHALLOW WATER TABLE RISES TO SUCH AN
EXTENT THAT SOIL PORES IN THE ROOT ZONE OF A CROP
BECOME SATURATED, RESULTING IN RESTRICTION OF THE
NORMAL CIRCULATION OF THE AIR IN O2 &CO2

 WHEN THE SURPLUS WATER STAGNATES DUE TO POOR

DRAINAGE
Water logging causes yellowing of leaves, stunted growth, small and
shallow root systems. Also particularly nitrogen deficiency causes
yellowing of the leaves in winter
The States mainly affected and the extent of area rendered infertile
and unproductive are given in Table 11.1.
INTRODUCTION
1. Water-logging refers to the saturation of soil with water. Soil may be
regarded as waterlogged when the water table of the groundwateris
too high to conveniently permit an anticipated activity, like
agriculture.
2. In agriculture, various crops need air (specifically, oxygen) to a
greater or lesser depth in the soil. Water-logging of the soil stops air
getting in. How near the water table must be to the surface for the
ground to be classed as waterlogged, varies with the purpose in view.
A crop's demand for freedom from water-logging may vary between
seasons of the year, as with the growing of rice.
3. In irrigated agricultural land, water-logging is often
accompanied by soil salinity as waterlogged soils prevent
leaching of the salts imported by the irrigated water.
4. From a gardening point of view, water-logging is the process
whereby the soil blocks off all water and is so hard it stops air
getting in and it stops oxygen from getting in.
CAUSES OF WATERLOGGING
1. Seepage of water from canal system
 The main cause of waterlogging in pakistan is
seepage of water from network of canal system.40-
50% water is lost from main canals
,seeps through soil and rised the ground water.
 In some cases the water table has risen upto root zones
or even surface of soil.

2. Poor surface runoff and slow drainage

 The soil surface of pakistan is flat so surface runoff is
poor and hence slow drainage, result in accumulation
of water on soil surface and move to the water table
under the influence of gravity.
 The water table has risen causes water logging
 CAUSES OF WATERLOGGING
3. Interruption of surface runoff.
 Construction of irrigation networks and housing colonies
in the path of natural drains interrupted surface runoff
,resulting in accumulation of water in
rainy season contributes to waterlogging through
seepage.

4. Rainfall.
 After heavy rainfall rain water percolates down the
pores between soil particles under the action of gravity.
5. Floods.
 Flood water spreads on the surface of soil in plains. Due
to inappropriate drainage system, this water percolates in
soil and raise water table cause waterlogging.
 CAUSES OF WATER LOGGING
6. Poor water management
 Sometimes farmers use their land unscientifically.
 Excessive irrigation
 Lack of inadequate drainage system.

7. By breaking hardpan at a canal bed.

 During cleaning season ,the digging of canals breaks
the hardpan of the soil at canal bed. It enhances the
seepage of water.
8. Railway lines /Roads.
 The construction of railway lines and roads in food plains
interrupted the passage of runoff water ,water collected in
rainy season in the form of ponds ,percolates to soil, Result
in waterlogging.
 EFFECTS OF WATERLOGGING ON PLANT GROWTH
 Some important effects of waterlogging on plant growth are given below;

i. The air in the soil pore is replaced by water ,leading to oxygen

deficiency and hence reduce the plant growth.

ii. In waterlogged soil transport of gases is reduced disturbing

normal growth.

iii. Limited exchange of gases increase amount of co2 which affect

transpiration and water absorption.

iv. In absence of oxygen, microbes produce toxis substances such as

methane and effects growth of plants.
EFFECTS OF WATERLOGGING ON PLANT GROWTH
Salinity
If the concentration of harmful salts in
the root zone of a plant increases to such on extent
that plant growth is effected, this situation is called
Salinity.
 SOIL SALINITY
 Soil salinity refers to presence of salt in root zone of
soil. It adversely affects the growth of plants.
 General symptoms of salinity;

 Retarded growth.

 Smaller plants with few leaves.

 Dark green than normal leaves.

About 48 lakh ha are estimated to be

affected by salinity and 25 lakh ha by
alkalinity. Saline soils include 10 lakh ha
in arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan
and Gujarat and 14 lakh ha in black cotton
soils. The alkali problem is mainly in
Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
 Causes of Salinity
 The factors contributing towards the problem of
salinity are almost same as that of water logging.

 Every agricultural soil has certain mineral salt is also

called alkali salts in it like NaCl, Na2CO3, Na2 SO4 etc.

 When these soluble alkali salts are excess in soil

and further ground water table is very near to
ground, these salts get mixed with ground water
and with upward movement of water not only
accumulated in first 3~4ft of soil layer below
ground surface but also form a tin 2”~3” crust on
surface.
Effects of Salinity

 Corrosive Action to Plants.

 Formation of Alkali Soil.

Measures To Control Salinity

 Preventive Measures

 Curative Measures
 Preventive Measures

 Controlled Irrigation.
 Providing adequate surface drainage.
 Allowing lower intensity of irrigation.
 Reducing surface evaporation.
 Not using alkaline water for irrigation purpose.
Treatment by Leaching Process

Chemical Treatment

Treatment by Mulching
 Treatment by Leaching Process
Leaching is the process of extracting minerals from a solid by
dissolving them in a liquid, either in nature or through an industrial
process. In the chemical processing industry, leaching has a
variety of commercial applications, including separation of metal
from ore using acid, and sugar from beets using hot water.
Step 01.
Providing adequate sub surface artificial drainage.

Step 02.
Leaching salts from the top 3~4ft of soil to
ground water table by flooding the land.

Step 03.
Growing salt resistant crops (e.g. rice) for one
or two seasons.
 Chemical Treatment

PRINCIPLE
Mixing gypsum CaSO4 (@ 1 ton/acre) with
salt effected soil in presence of water.
CaSO4+Na2CO3 ---------> Na2So4 +CaO +CO
 Treatment by Mulching
Mulch is simply a protective layer of a material that
is spread on top of the soil. Mulches can either be
organic -- such as grass clippings, straw, bark chips,
and similar materials -- or inorganic -- such as
stones, brick chips, and plastic
It involves covering the effected land with a
covering of soil (Mulch) to reduce evaporation
losses.
 SALT EFFECTED OR THUR SOILS
 The soils in which concentration of salt is very high are called
salt effected soil or thur soil. Salt effected is a collective term
which includes saline, sodic and saline sodic soil.
 It occur commonly in arid and semiarid regions, as well as
humid and sub humid regions.
 Salt effected soil has
sodium,calcium,potassium,carbonates and bicarbonates.
 TYPES OF SALT EFFECTED
a)Primarysalt effected soil.
b)Secondary salt effected soil.

a)Primary salt effected soil.

 The soil that develops as a result of natural causes
(imperfect drainage of surface and ground water).are called
primary salt effected soil.

b) Secondary salt effected soil.

 The soil that develops due to accumulation of salt as a result
of rise in ground water table are under faulty system of
irrigation are called secondary salt effected soil.
PROCESSES OF FORMATION OF SALT EFFECTED SOIL.
a) Salination.
 Salination is the process of accumulation of
soluble salts by which saline soil are formed.

b) Desalination.
 The process of leaching of soluble salts out of
root zone is called desalination.
c) Sodication.
 Sodication is the process of accumulation
exchangeable sodium in the soil which results in
the formation of sodic soil.
 PREVENTION OF WATER LOGGING

1. Reducing percolation from irrigation channels

2. Reducing percolation from water courses and fields

3. Encouraging economical use of water

4. Increasing outflow from the ground water reservoir

 PREVENTION OF WATERLOGGING

REDUCING PERCOLATION FROM

IRRIGATION CHANNELS

 lining of channels

 lowering of full supply level of irrigation channels

 providing interceptor drains among channels

LINING OF CHANNELS REDUCING FSL
 PREVENTION OF WATERLOGGING

REDUCING PERCOLATION FROM

WATER COURSES AND FIELDS

 lining of water courses

 controlling intensity of irrigation

 PREVENTION OF WATERLOGGING

ENCOURAGING ECONOMICAL USE OF

WATER

 Educating the cultivators to use water economically

 Changing crop pattern

 Changing revenue policy

 PREVENTION OF WATERLOGGING

INCREASING OUTFLOW FROM THE

GROUND WATER RESERVOIR

 Providing a drainage system

 Improving the natural drainage of the area

 Pumping ground water

END
MEASURESTOREDUCEIT
· Construction of dams & embankments along the
coast to restrict saline to enter the agricultural lands.
Could be an effective measure of reducing the water
logging.
· Providing adequate number of bridges & culverts,
along the roads, railroads, highways, across the canal
etc could be a handy measure against waterlogging.