Simulation of Subsurface Drainage in the Sugarcane Crop under Different Spacing and Drain Depths

Abstract

Agricultural land drainage is an instrument for growing production and a tool for the conservation of land resources. The performance of land drainage systems is thus critical for achieving sustainable agricultural production Recently, many types of software have been developed in this field for modeling and simulating the performance of these systems. SISDRENA is a simulation model of the performance of underground drainage systems. The main objectives of this paper are to simulate different combination of depths and spaces between drains and to analyze their impact on potential sugarcane productivity in the western plains of Venezuela using a land drainage system model. Therefore, three climatic scenarios were defined by annual precipitation: dry years (25% below average), normal (mean) and humid (75% above average). The scenarios were implemented in three different soil types: sandy loam, loam and silt loam, with a hydraulic conductivity of 0.19, 0.26 and 0.04 m day−1, respectively. The simulation of the yield related to soil deficit (YRD) and water stress (YRW) indicated that the highest yields were reached for the larger spacing between drains and the high conductivity hydraulic of soils. In relation to the average relative productivity (YT), it was shown that in soils with a greater water retention capacity there is an inversely proportional relationship between the spacing between drains and the productivity. We concluded that in order to reach the maximum sugarcane yield, the effect of hydraulic conductivity is more important than the changes in the precipitation pattern.

An Evaluation of Possible Sugarcane Plantations Expansion Areas in Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia

“…Good water drainage canals are very important for sugarcane plantations because stagnant water causes root rot [66]. Several studies have also revealed that it has a significant impact on productivity and plays a role in the conservation of agricultural land [67]. These are in accordance with the previous study that drainage is very important for sugarcane plants because the drainage system can prevent the loss of nutrients due to soil erosion [68].…”