Determination of the Appropriate Irrigation Methods Based on Soil Analysis for Upland Fields in Mie Prefecture of Japan

Abstract

Inappropriate irrigation methods lead to loss much water in most upland fields worldwide. Land suitability is one of the good management practices for determining appropriate irrigation methods in upland fields. To determine land suitability, various soil experiments as determination of basic physical soil properties, permeability, saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture characteristics method are important. This study was conducted on soil experiment with the aim to provide a detailed comprehensive understanding of soil capabilities for applying certain irrigation methods in two upland fields, broccoli field (BF) and tomato field (TF), in Mie prefecture of Japan. Soil physical structure properties, water holding capacity, and hydraulic properties were determined using disturb and undisturbed soil samples on laboratory bases. The results obtained showed that TF had deeper effective soil layer of 30 cm, better structure (more porosity, better pores connectivity, and channeling), the water holding capacity of 0.082 mm mm -1 , and higher hydraulic conductivity, compared to BF. It is concluded that TF is suitable for applying shallow surface irrigation method, while the BF have better response on micro-irrigation methods which prevents water pounding in this fields. Application of this approach can improve irrigation practices and efficiency and decreases water loses through accurate irrigation scheduling and application management of irrigation water in upland field agriculture system, especially in dry areas.

Irrigating the Uplands: A Case Study Analysis to Understand the Potential and Challenges in Northern Laos

“…The third component, the users’ demand, corresponds to the water requirement analysis. Overhead irrigation and drip irrigation require different amounts of water and the existing soil structure and moisture retention capacity also affects agricultural water demand. − Between these two components, we additionally consider the supply network, which supplies the available water to users. , In the uplands, the distribution of water is challenging because of the topography. For example, a field might be located higher than the water source, making conventional gravity-fed distribution impossible .…”

“…Besides this geophysical (hardware) dimension, there is the human or social dimension (software), ,, such as the importance of local knowledge and social institutions in governing the use of water. For example, if users’ demand is higher than what is supplied, agricultural water will be deemed insufficient, and there is a need for managing the agricultural water budget.…”