Abstract
This paper describes the impact of rice hydraulic loading (percentage area under rice crop) on groundwater levels and salinity in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area (MIA), Australia using a MODFLOW-based modelling approach. The model simulations show that the groundwater levels will be in equilibrium after a fall of approximately 1 m under most of the areas, however, the groundwater salinity levels will rise by more than 1,000 μs/cm in most parts of irrigation area. If the rice growing area is reduced by 50 and 75%, there can be a net decline in groundwater levels during the first 2 years and then a new quasi-equilibrium will be established. To downscale these results at the farm level, SWAGMAN Farm model in conjunction with groundwater outflow rates obtained from a three-dimensional MODFLOW model was applied for determining net recharge rates under rice for different areas within the MIA. The highest net recharge during 2005–2006 season was 0.84 ML/ha (84 mm) in parts of the irrigation system, whereas the average net recharge due to rice hydraulic loading for the whole MIA during 2005–2006 season was estimated as 0.34 ML/ha (34 mm).
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Acknowledgments
Collection of river and channel network cross sections data by Ms Nicola King is acknowledged. The funding support of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation and the CRC for the Sustainable Rice Production made this work possible.
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Khan, S., Rana, T., Carroll, J. et al. Assessment of rice hydraulic loading impacts on groundwater and salinity levels. Paddy Water Environ 8, 23–39 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-009-0171-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-009-0171-0