Waterlogging is a kind of condition in which an area becomes flooded with water, often due to
heavy rainfall or poor drainage. This can have severe consequences for agriculture,
transportation, and human settlements.
In addition to damaging crops and infrastructure, waterlogging can lead to the accumulation of
stagnant water, which can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying
insects. It is important to address waterlogging through effective drainage and land-use planning
measures.
This article thoroughly elucidates water logging along with its causes, effects, types and
preventive measures. It also describes the leaching process used for reclamation of soil which is
affected by soil and also the quality of the irrigation water needed to increase the productivity of
soil.
Waterlogging is a situation where soil becomes saturated with water, either temporarily or
permanently, due to an excess of water in an area. This can adversely affect the beneficial
characteristics of the soil strata as the soil is unable to absorb the water as it should. It occurs
when there is insufficient oxygen in the pore space for plant roots to be able to respire
adequately. Waterlogging can also be caused by the rising of the water table to the point that the
soil pores in the crop root zone get clogged. This phenomenon can occur through flooding or
irrigation with poor drainage, causing the soil to become inundated with water. In summary,
waterlogging refers to the temporary or permanent soaking of soil with water, which negatively
impacts plant growth and soil quality.
Waterlogging refers to a situation where the soil becomes submerged due to an increase in
groundwater level or excessive rainfall. This condition limits the amount of oxygen available to
plant roots, which can hinder plant growth or even lead to death. From a gardening perspective,
waterlogging causes soil to harden, preventing air and water from penetrating the ground. In
essence, waterlogging occurs when there is an excess of water in the soil that the ground cannot
absorb, causing long-term or temporary saturation of the area.
Causes of Water Logging
Some of the causes of water logging are:-
o It can be caused due to over and intensive irrigation.
o Excessive rainfall is also one of the causes of water logging as it infiltrates the soil
and thus increases the level of absorbed water by the soil.
o Seepage and runoff from higher elevations and canals also lead to water logging
problems.
o The soil can also get submerged due to floods, which could lead to water logging
problems.
o It is also caused due to inadequate natural drainage systems.
o Irregular topography or terrain conditions also lead to water logging.
Effects of Water Logging
Some of the adverse effects of the water logging problem are:-
o Poor Soil Aeration- Entrapped air from the voids of the soil gets removed due to
water logging. As the soil gets completely submerged in water, the air in the voids
of the soil gets replaced by the water. Thus, the plants do not get enough air for
their growth and ultimately die.
o pH of the soil reduces- The pH of the soil reduces and becomes acidic due to the
water logging situation. This condition reduces the productivity of the soil.
o Diminished soil nutrients- Due to the water logging situation, the nutrients in the
soil reduce, which decreases the soil's yielding capacity.
o Increased salinity- Due to water logging, the salts in the water accumulate in the
soil after drying and harm the soil. It is considered to be the major impact.
o Diseases- It also has adverse effects on human health. It leads to increased
breeding places for insects, flies, and mosquitoes, leading to several communicable
diseases. It also leads to foul smells and the spreading of various waterborne
diseases like cholera, typhoid, jaundice, etc.
o Cultivation problem- It may be very difficult to grow crops in water logged soil.
Only rice favors the condition of water logging as it requires lots of water for its
growth.
o Reduced temperature of soil- This situation reduces the temperature of the soil,
which hampers the growth and activities of microorganisms, which can fix nitrogen
in the soil.
Prevention of Water Logging
Some of the important measures which can be taken to counter water logging situations are-
o Constructing artificial open and underground drainage grids can help prevent
water logging. Similarly, it may be advantageous to improve the current flow
conditions of natural drainage systems.
o Percolation loss can be avoided by using water more wisely. It is also possible to
achieve this by reducing irrigation intensity.
o Alkaline water should be avoided for irrigation purposes as it is susceptible to
water logging conditions.
o Rainwater harvesting can be promoted to reduce stormwater runoff to the
drainage system.
o The mulching process can be adopted to minimize moisture losses and ultimately
reduce the intensity of irrigation.
