1

Toshihiko Anzai1*

Katsuyuki Shimizu2, Yoshinobu Kitamura2, and Jumpei Kubota3

1:The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University2 Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University

3 Research Institute for Humanity and Nature

Assessment on influence of seepage from canals and paddy rice fields on groundwater

level of upland fields. –A case study of paddy rice and upland crop rotation area in the Lower

Ili river basin, Kazakhstan-

IntroductionEnvironmental problems coursed by agricultural land

developmentAgricultural land development in Central AsiaThe Great Plan for the Transformation of NatureThe development policy of virgin land

In Kazakhstan, more than 10 million ha of grass land was transformed into agricultural land

Environmental problemsHuge amount of water withdrawalWater use adjustment

1989http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/aral_sea.php

2003 2011

　 Central Asia

IntroductionThe relation between Lake Balkhash and Ili River

Lake Balkhash Lake Balkhash has become the largest in Central Asia.Discharge of Ili River accounts for 80% of inflow to Lake Balkhash. → The water level of Lake Balkhash is affected by Ili River discharge.

Lake Balkhash

Kyrgyzstan

KAZAKHSTAN

CHINA

Ili River –Cross boundary river-

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=49857

Tien Shan

Kapchagai reservoir

Water use adjustment

vs

Lower Ili River Basin

Middle Ili River Basin

IntroductionAgriculture in Lower Ili River

Lower Ili River basinThe large irrigated agriculture has been conducted since 1960’s.The irrigated land is about 30 thousand ha.

Agriculture in lower Ili river basin Paddy rice and upland crops rotation system Upland crops use the groundwater which is raised by seepage

from canals and paddy rice fields. The problems that is concerned in this irrigation districtThe possibility of decreasing amount of water withdrawalWater logging and salinization

Water logging Salinization

Objectives

VS

Possibility of decreased amount of water withdrawal in the lower Ili River Basin

It is necessary to survey agricultural sustainability from the aspect of agricultural water and land use.

We investigate and clarify

Influence of the seepage from canals and paddy rice fields on condition of water supply to upland fields

6Google earth

Outline of study area

Akdara Irrigation district

Lake Balkhash

Ili river

Kapchagai reservoir

Kazakhstan

China

Outline of study area

Outline of farm land

7

Farm lot1 ～ 2 ha

Farm blockmonoculture

×50

Rotation block

The control of salinization by crop rotation

Paddy rice

Upland

Paddy rice Paddy rice

Upland Upland Upland

Rota

tion

bloc

k

The progress of salinization

The leaching of accumulated salt

15000 ha

Agricultural activity has been conducted by collective farming.

8

Outline of study area

9

Outline of irrigation systemAll the irrigation canals are unlined. →Large amount of water seep into the ground. →Conveyance and distribution efficiency is 45 %. Irrigation method　【 Paddy rice field 】　 ・ Continuous irrigation is practiced. 【 Upland field 】 ・ Irrigation is practiced once or twice in beginning of growing season. →Upland crops use the groundwater which is raised by seepage from canals and paddy rice fields.

Main canal

Paddy rice field Upland field

Methodology Influence of seepage from canals and paddy rice fields on

groundwater level was investigated in upland field.

0 250 m

Observation point

Irrigation canal

Upland field

Paddy rice field

Drainage canal

i. Installment of observation wells

ii Level survey on groundwater level and ground surface

MethodologyThe condition of water supply to upland field was clarified by

using result of groundwater level survey and GIS.

Upland field areaA

i

Paddy rice field

Canal

The area is affected by seepage from canals and paddy rice fields.

ii

iii The ratio = AB

B

Results

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.00 50 100 150 200 250 300

Groundwater level (m)

Distance from canal (m)

Groundwater level (AUG, 2011)

Groundwater level (NOV, 2011)

Result The influence of the seepage from canals Groundwater level survey which was conducted in 2011

From the point close to canalDuring irrigation period, groundwater level fell with increase

in the distance from canal

Groundwater level was raised by about 2.0 m by seepage from canal.

At the point close to the canal Groundwater level was about 3.5 m from ground surface in non-

irrigation period. was about 1.5 m in irrigation period.

At a distance of 300 m from canal Groundwater level during irrigation period was almost equal to

the level in non-irrigation period.

0 250 m

Observation point

Irrigation canal

Upland field

Paddy rice field

Drainage canal

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.00 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Grounwater level (m)

Distance from paddy rice field (m)

Groundwater level (AUG, 2011)

Groundwater level (NOV, 2011)

Result The influence of the seepage from paddy rice field Groundwater level survey which is conducted in 2011

From the point close to paddy rice field During irrigation period, groundwater level fell with increase in the

distance from paddy rice field

At the point close to the paddy rice field Groundwater level was about 3.0 m from ground surface in non-irrigation period. was about 1.0 m from ground surface in irrigation period.

Groundwater level was raised by about 2.0 m by seepage from paddy rice field

At a distance of 400 m from paddy rice field Groundwater level during irrigation period was almost equal to the level in non-irrigation period.

0 250 m

Observation point

Irrigation canal

Upland field

Paddy rice field

Drainage canal

Result The influence of the seepage from paddy rice field Groundwater level survey which is conducted in 2010

At the point close to the paddy rice field Groundwater level fell sharply from neighboring point close to

the canal to point about 500 m. From the distance, groundwater level fell gently.

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.00 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Distance from paddy rice field (m)

Groundwater level (m)

Groundwater levelApproximate curve

Result The influence of the seepage from canals and paddy rice fields 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.00 50 100 150 200 250 300

Groundwater level (m)

Distance from canal (m)

Groundwater level (AUG, 2011)

Groundwater level (NOV, 2011)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.00 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Grounwater level (m)

Distance from paddy rice field (m)

Groundwater level (AUG, 2011)

Groundwater level (NOV, 2011)

In light of these results, seepage can raise groundwater level and extent of groundwater level which can use for upland crops is 500m.

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.00 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Distance from paddy rice field (m)

Groundwater level (m)

Groundwater levelApproximate curve

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1994 1997 1999 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Ratio

(%)

ｙｒ

80-100 %

60-80 %

40-60 %

20-40 %

0-20 %

Result The ratio of area organized by ratio of upland field area

covered by the extent of the influence

Influence of the seepage on condition of water supply to upland fields is considered to reach whole upland fields in irrigation district.

The upland field area which is not affected by seepage from canals and paddy rice fields was very low.

Upland field area

A

i

Paddy rice field

Canalii

iii The ratio =A

B

B

Result The influence of the seepage from canals

The ratio of paddy rice field Irrigation district has

maintained the ratio of paddy rice field area to 30 % to 40%.

The relation between paddy rice field area and water supply from seepage is not observed.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1994 1997 1999 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Ratio

(%)

ｙｒ

80-100 %

60-80 %

40-60 %

20-40 %

0-20 %

0

10

20

30

40

50

Ratio

(%)

Ratio of paddy rice field

Result The effect of position of paddy rice fields on extent of the

seepage from canals and paddy rice fields.2007 2008

In case that paddy rice field does not exist, water does not flow in canal.

According to position of paddy rice fields, extent of influence of seepage changed.

Conclusion Paddy and upland crop rotation system Protection of salinization

Irrigation management is only for paddy rice field .

Upland crops use groundwater whose level was raised by seepage.

Seepage from canals and paddy rice fields can supply water to whole upland field.

Land use system

Water use system

Influence of seepage

Influence of the seepage from canals and paddy rice fields is considered to 500 m.

The condition of water supply was affected by position of paddy rice fields.

Water supply to Upland field

Future plan

Decrease of water withdrawal

• Changing climate

• Water use adjustment Lowering of

Groundwater level

It is Impossible to cultivate upland

crops under current irrigation system.

i. Prediction of groundwater level in case that water withdrawal decreases.

ii. Recommendation of appropriate water management for sustainability of irrigation district

It is imperative to conduct

Development of groundwater flow model

Thank you for your attention

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

19941997199920002001200220042005200620072008 yr

FallowOthersFodderRice

0102030405060708090

100

1967196919711973197519771979198119831985198719891991199319951997199920012003200520072009 yr

103 m3/ ha Design irrigation requirmentActural irrigation rate

0.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.0 1946

194919521955195819611964196719701973197619791982198519881991199419972000200320062009

Groundwater depth (m)

yr0200400600800100012001400Mm3

Water withdrawal Groundwater depth (Well G)Groundwater depth (Well I)

404405406407408409410411

2005/ 1 2005/ 7 2006/ 1 2006/ 7 2007/ 1 2007/ 7 2008/ 1 2008/ 7

Groundwater level (m) (MASL)

yr050100150200250300350400450500

Mm3Water withdrawal Well F Well L Well X

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

0.0

1.0

3.0

4.0

Depth

(m)

EC (dS/ m)

Outline of study area

28

Meteorological data

Annual precipitation is about 100 mm.Average monthly precipitation during irrigation period is about 10 mm.

Irrigation is essential to crop production in this study area.

0

5

10

15

20

1994 1997 1999 2001 2005 2007 2008

Precipitation (mm)

year

Average monthly precipitation fromMay to August