ABSTRACT

This study is conducted to investigate the function of paddy fields for flood reduction under different water saving irrigation techniques. A daily water balance component data including rainfall, percolation, and overflow through the paddy field levee were collected from experimental paddy rice fields during rainy season cultivation. Results show that paddy field was very effective in flood reduction. More than 40% of rainfall could be stored in the paddy fields. However, the effectiveness of paddy fields in flood reduction was highly depends on the WSI technique used. Semi dry cultivation technique was the most effective one in terms of flood reduction. It retained the rainfall up to 55.7% (365 mm) of the total rainfall (636 mm) without reducing the yield. In terms of flood volume reduction, the alternate wetting and drying performed similarly with traditional continuous flooding, i.e., 37.2% and 40.8%, respectively.

1. Introduction

Paddy rice cultivation with paddy field irrigation has multi-functional roles not only to provide food securely but also to maintain other functions such as economic, culture and environment [1-3]. One of the important functions related to environment issues is flood prevention and water conservation. A number of studies of these functions have been carried out mainly in Japan from the early 1980s. The studies described the functions of paddy fields to increase the water storage capacity of river basins, lower the peak flow of rivers, and increase groundwater recharge [2].

Recently, a number of studies have been done to investigate the function of paddy fields in storing rainfall water [3-6]. Unami and Kawachi [4] studied a flood simulation method to investigate the effect of irrigation tanks and paddy fields in flood reduction of drainage canals. It is easy to understand the function of paddy fields in detaining floods in their field systems as they temporary store rainfall. Kim et al. [5] mentioned that the paddy field has a flood reduction function more scattered compared with dam. The large amount of water stored in paddy fields has a function as many small reservoirs or dams [3]. Kim et al. [6] developed a daily paddy water balance model at two field experimental locations. The study indicated that on average the amount of paddy storage during flood period is 333 mm to rainfall ranging from 425 mm to 851 mm. Sujono [7] mentioned that flood routing analysis indicated that paddy fields is also very effective in flood reduction both flood peak and volume. This paper presents the effect of water irrigation management technique used in the paddy rice cultivation on flood reduction.

2. Water Saving Irrigation

Traditionally, a lot of water is needed for the paddy rice growing, since rice is grown under continuously flooded condition in paddy fields except for a short period of sun drying at the late stage of rice tiller [8]. The method has also been reported only yields a low of rice or low water productivity [9]. There is a major challenge for paddy rice cultivators to increase the productivity of water used to grow rice. To grow rice with much less water in the scarce water condition due to increasing demand of water for domestic and industry is necessary and possible [10]. Efforts have been conducted to increase the water productivity for growing rice [8,10,11].

The formal research on water saving irrigation (WSI) techniques for rice in China was started around 1985. The impetus came from different aspects such as shortages of food, electricity and water demand for industrial, domestic increased sharply. The research on improvement of water management for paddy rice was given priority for funding from the Government [9]. Since then, a number of WSI techniques in China have been studied [9,12]. Recently, another WSI technique, called the system of rice intensification (SRI) has been attracting more attention following the reports of its dramatic yield and water productivity advantages in Madagascar. Among the available WSI techniques are presented as the following.

2.1. System of Rice Intensification

The SRI technique has been evaluated at a number of countries outside Madagascar. Great results of the SRI practice have been reported [13,14]. In Sri Lanka, a team of IWMI researchers surveyed 60 farmers using the SRI method and 60 farmers not using it, randomly selected in two districts. There was a 44% increase in yield/ha and that water productivity was increase by 90% [13]). In Indonesia, Nippon Koei [14] has promoted the SRI practice in eastern Indonesia, i.e., South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara provinces. By using the SRI method, the yield are 9.5 t/ha. It was increase by 93% compare with non SRI yields of 4.9 t/ha. Water saving with the SRI is 40%. McDonald et al. [15] compiled a database of experiments where SRI was evaluated against accepted best management practices (BMP). Among 40 experimental reports/papers that applying SRI, five from Madagascar and the others from Asian countries, there was no evidence outside of Madagascar that SRI produced remarkable yield when compared to the accepted BMP.

2.2. Alternate Wetting and Drying

The alternate wetting and drying (AWD) has spread and widely practiced in China [16]. By 2002 the AWD irrigation technique was applied in 40% of the rice production areas or 12 million ha in China [8]. The AWD practice increases the water productivity on-farm level remarkable up to 1.52 kg/m³ of water compare with the traditional one, i.e., 1.04 kg/m³ of water on average in the four provinces in China [9]. The AWD increased the water productivity by 46% and grain yield marginally by 6% compared to traditional method. Application the AWD in Tuanlin Irrigation Experimental Station from 1991 to 2000 showed that the yield difference between the AWD and the traditional method was not statistically significant. However, under the AWD the water productivity was much higher (average 27%) than under the traditional practice [16].

2.3. Semi-dry Cultivation

Comparing the SRI and AWD, semi-dry cultivation (SDC) is the most high water efficiency. The water productivity could reach 70% higher than traditional method whereas the yield could increase by 9%. SDC can be used in different soils, and it deserves further studying and spreading due to high water use efficiency, beneficial environmental impact and high yield [9].

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Study Location

The research was carried out at the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The paddy plot consists of 5 blocks with equal size, i.e., 2 m × 3 m and 0.8 m depth, as shown in Figure 1.

The paddy plots were constructed as impermeable as possible to avoid leakage and percolation water flow out from the plots. At the bottom of the plot, a porous pipe (ɸ10 cm) was installed to collect the percolation water. The pipe was connected with a tap, so that the percolation water can be measured from outside the plot. To store water used for water irrigation, a small storage was

also constructed. In addition, pan-evaporation and rainfall gage were installed near the plots. The research was done from March 2007 until mid of June 2007 starting from land preparation up to harvesting.

3.2. Paddy Rice Cultivation

Paddy rice called IR-64 variety was selected for the experiments. This variety was released in 1986, a medium duration variety (100-115 days). Transplanting rice in plots was done following the SRI method, i.e., young seedling (10 days) and wide spacing (25 cm × 25 cm).

3.3. Nutrient Control

Following the guideline from Nippon Koei [14] fertilizer was applied three times as follows: 1) first fertilizer at rate of 125 kg Urea/ha, 100 kg SP36/ha and 25 kg KCl/ha was given at 7 DAT (days after transplanting); 2) second fertilizer was applied at 25 DAT using 125 kg Urea/ha and 3) last fertilizer as a top dressing was given at 40 DAT using 100 kg ZA/ha.

3.4. Water Management Technique

Four water management irrigation techniques namely traditional continuous flooding (TRI), SRI, AWD and SDC were applied in the research as shown in Figure 2.

The amount of water and when it should be irrigated vary among the techniques. In the TRI, after transplanting the standing water depth in paddy plot was kept at 30

mm depth. For all the WSI techniques, except the SDC, the upper limit water depth in the plot was 2 cm. There was no water depth on paddy field under the SDC technique after 10 DAT. The minimum water depth was set up at 70% soil moisture capacity (SMC) for the AWD and SDC, whereas for the SRI the minimum was at 0 mm depth. The extra limit levels for all water management techniques used were set up to 8 cm for storing more rainfall and spill occurred when the water level goes beyond the extra limit level. When the depth of water in the plot or average moisture content in the root zone falls to the lower limit level, the plot was filled to the upper limit level by irrigation.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1. Effects of Water management Technique on Yield

Table 1 shows the effect of water management technique on yield. The maximum rice production was obtained under SDC technique with 2.06 kg/6 m² (3.43 ton/ha) followed by AWD with 1.83 kg/6 m² (3.05 ton/Ha). The production reduced almost 50% compared with dry season cultivation [17]. The lower production was affected by lower number of tillers due to high rainfall intensity during growing period. The average productive tiller for all the water management studied was only 12-15 tillers for each hill. During growing period, rainfall almost occurred every day and up to 40 DAT the amount of rainfall was 572 mm as shown in Figure 3.