Explains the causes of waterlogging and suggests remedial measures to prevent it

Causes of waterlogging are as follows rises in the water table lead to waterlogging.

1. Over or intensive irrigation:

When an intensive irrigation scheme is adopted, then maximum water for irrigation is applied to the area. Which converts into more percolation in soil and rise in subsequent water table which causes the waterlogging. So instead of intensive irrigation, an extensive irrigation scheme should be taken into account. So it means more water applied to the field than required by crops leads to a rise in the water table due to percolation which causes the waterlogging.

2. Seepage of water from high lands in the surrounding:

The water from surrounding high land seeps towards the lower side of the sub-soil and after a point rise in the water, table is converted into waterlogging.

3. Seepage through canals:

The Water table works on the law of the state of equilibrium. This means the amount of water inflow is equal to the amount of water outflow. But during canal construction seepage takes place through the bed and sides and causes the rise of the water table. Increased inflow in groundwater is balanced by the outflow through evaporation and discharge through seepage drains.

4. Impervious obstruction:

Water through seepage flow in soil horizontally. Sometimes it may be obstructed by impervious obstruction. Then rise in water table occur upstream of obstruction or may in the same strata where it seeps down. So water will not be able to go down further so it causes a quick rise in the water table and waterlogging.

5. Inadequate natural drainage:

Soil has less permeable subsoil like clayey soil which obstruct water from further seeping and increases the water table.

6. Inadequate surface drainage:

If rainwater is not drained properly then it accumulated at the lowest slope in the area. Which percolates and increases the water table. In case natural drains or surface drains are obstructed due to a railway line or something else then it goes in deep down to the soil which raises the water table.

7. Excessive rainfall:

Excessive rainfall has more intensity of inflow which can’t give sufficient time to get water drain properly which temporarily causes waterlogging.

8. Submergence due to flood:

Land area continuously goes under submergence due to floods then unwanted weed growth takes charge and obstructs the natural land surface drainage by not giving sufficient space to go water. which causes waterlogging.

9. Irregular or flat topography:

If proper slopy topography is there then water can easily make its way to drainage or runoff. But on flat and irregular surface proper smooth drainage can not be possible so water detention increase the water table.

10. Inadequate capacity of arterial drains:

If the drain capacity to handle flood water is less than the required one then water will flow out to the city, on-road for days until inflow will decrease. In this case, water percolation will be heavier which increases the water table rapidly.

Remedial measures to control waterlogging are as follows:

1. Every canal and other watercourses which provides water for irrigation should be lined. This comes out as a very effective way to control waterlogging.
2. Irrigation intensity needs to be reduced in areas where waterlogging can be possible quickly.
3. Its water table is high, and farmers need to irrigate only during the Kharif season, in the rabi season they need to irrigate from the well only.
4. Need to educate farmers( cultivators) on the importance of efficient use of water. They should arrange the field in such a way that deep percolation will not take place.
5. The raw canals can cause more seepage, so they should be designed for lesser depth. lesser depth will need a lesser head which results from a lesser seepage head.
6. Different crops require a different amount of water. Some crops need more amount of water than any other and repetitively sawn the same crop cause waterlogging and damages the field. So to avoid it rotation of crops in the same field is adopted.
7. Fixed amount of water for a particular crop gives you the best yield. More or less can give you great results. But every farmer has a monopoly of applying more water gives you a good yield. This need to be changed by educating them.
8. Disrupts drainage needs to be constructed along the canals, especially for higher embankments. These drains block seepage and percolation from the canal. They constructed such a distance that they should not draw water from canals.
9. Irrigation should be done well. Well irrigation used groundwater for irrigation. so if any area is likely to be waterlogging then there should be a need to use water from the well rather than canal irrigation. using groundwater reduces the water logging problem by reducing the water table.
10. Natural drainage needs to be improved so that no water will stand for long on the surface. So the slope of the surface should be proper and slope drains are maintained by clearing silt and other sediments.
11. Method of irrigation is adopted that irrigate field without intensive water use yet sufficient for crops. Like sprinkler irrigation or drip irrigation.
12. A properly maintained drainage system is provided. This includes surface drainage plus subsurface drainage. They need to maintain time to time for efficient functioning