About Book

An agricultural drainage system is a system by which the water level on or in the soil is controlled to enhance agricultural crop production. It is the artificial removal of water from land; drainage is employed in the reclamation of wetlands, in the prevention of erosion and as a concomitant of irrigation in the agriculture of arid regions. It may involve any combination of stormwater control, erosion control, and water table control. Agriculture drainage is mainly of two types; surface drainage and sub-surface drainage. The function of the field drainage system is to control the water table, whereas the function of the main drainage system is to collect, transport, and dispose of the water through an outfall or outlet. In some instances one makes an additional distinction between collector and main drainage systems. Field drainage systems are differentiated in surface and subsurface field drainage systems. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts of this field. It deals with subsurface drainage, tile drainage, water quality, soil salinity control, irrigation, technical efficiency and acid mine drainage. Factors determining the most efficient drainage system design for a particular property include soil type, land configuration, amount and pattern of rainfall and types of crops to be grown. Soils of high sand or silt content are generally suited to subsurface drainage, while soils of high clay content generally require surface systems. Different approaches, evaluations and methodologies have been included in it. This book will assist in imparting better skills and understanding to students, research scholars and professionals in the field of agricultural engineering.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Assessment of Impacts of Acid Mine Drainage on Surface Water Quality of Tweelopiespruit Micro-Catchment, Limpopo Basin......1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Research problems and objectives...................................................11

3. Study area.............................................................................................12

4. Methods and materials......................................................................14

5. Results and discussion.......................................................................15

6. Conclusions..........................................................................................22

Acknowledgements.............................................................................22

Chapter 2 Irrigation and Drainage in Agriculture: A Salinity and Environmental Perspective.....................................................................27

Abstract ................................................................................................27

1. Introduction..........................................................................................28

2. Salt tolerance of plant species..........................................................29

3. Irrigation and salinity........................................................................32

4. Impact of groundwater......................................................................35

5. Drainage dimensioning and advanced options............................39

6. Plastic mulching..................................................................................40

7. Re-use of wastewater and soil sodicity..........................................44

8. Conclusions..........................................................................................46

Acknowledgements.............................................................................47

Chapter 3 Soil Salinity Control in Irrigated Land with Agricultural Drainage

Systems........................................................................................................52

1. Introduction..........................................................................................52

2. Theory...................................................................................................53

3. Application...........................................................................................59

4. Results and discussion.......................................................................62

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................69

Chapter 4 Comparison of Two Nonlinear Radiation Models for Agricultural

Subsurface Drainage .............................................................................74

1. Introduction..........................................................................................74

2. Materials and methods .....................................................................76

3. Application...........................................................................................81

4. Conclusions .........................................................................................89

5. Acknowledgments .............................................................................90

Chapter 5 Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems.................................................93

1. Introduction..........................................................................................93

2. History of SUDS..................................................................................96

3. Hydrologic concepts used in SUDS................................................98

4. The effect of urbanization...............................................................101

5. Types of sustainable systems.........................................................102

6. Final considerations..........................................................................113

Chapter 6 Technical Efficiency of the Subsurface Drainage on Agricultural

Lands in the Moldova River Meadow...............................................118

Abstract ..............................................................................................118

1. Introduction........................................................................................119

2. Material and method .....................................................................120

3. Results and discussions...................................................................124

4. Conclusions........................................................................................131

Chapter 7 Water Quality of Agricultural Drainage Systems in the Czech

Republic — Options for Its Improvement.......................................133

1. Introduction........................................................................................133

2. Case study A......................................................................................136

3. Case study B......................................................................................142

4. Discussion...........................................................................................150

5. Conclusions........................................................................................152

Acknowledgements...........................................................................153

Chapter 8 Tile Drainage on Agricultural Lands from North-East Romania -

Experimental Variants and Technical Efficiency.............................160

1. Introduction........................................................................................160

2. Surface and pipe drainage systems .............................................164

3. Experimental drainage site - Baia depression.............................169

4. Conclusion .........................................................................................193

5. Acknowledgment .............................................................................195

Citation......................................................................................................199

Index...........................................................................................................201

About Author

Tanya Birant pursued her Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from Public Technological University, Astrakhan. She specializes in Soil and Water Engineering with emphasis on agricultural drainage engineering, remote sensing and GIS, etc. She has served as a Visiting Professor at numerous universities across Europe. Her interests are in drainage engineering, watershed management, hydrology, water harvesting, fluid mechanics, etc. Birent has also won the “Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching” award for her outstanding contribution towards the student community especially in the undergraduate programs. She has contributed many research papers in international journals and conferences.