Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science | Okayama University

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Irrigation and Drainage

Staff

  • Prof. MOROIZUMI Toshitsugu
  • E-mail:morot@(@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp)
  • Soil hydrology, Irrigation and Drainage
> Directory of Researchers > Research Introduction
  • Assoc.Prof. SOMURA Hiroaki
  • E-mail:somura@(@okayama-u.ac.jp)
  • Water resources management, Irrigation and Drainage
> Directory of Researchers > Research Introduction

Research Topics

Study on balancing agricultural practices with nature to protect water resources

Agriculture is essential to modern civilization but often has unintended negative effects upon the natural environment, especially regarding water quality. Overuse of fertilizers is costly both economically and environmentally. We evaluated regional agricultural cultivation practices to determine optimal irrigation and fertilizer, timing and amounts, to maximize production while minimizing nutrient-driven eutrophication of local water bodies.  Agricultural fields are used not only by farmers, but also by wildlife. We studied the effects of the Tundra Swan on nutrient levels in rice paddies. Tundra Swans, from Far East Russia, overwinter in flooded paddy-fields from November to March. They roost in the paddy-fields at night and forage nearby in other agricultural fields during the day. We measured Tundra Swan manure-nutrient component of paddy-field soil and water nutrient concentrations to determine optimal farmer-applied fertilizer amendments required for rice production, without over-applying.  Our ultimate goal is to find a win-win-win relationship among the environment, humans (farmers), and wildlife with respect to water quality.

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Study on irrigation management for stabilizing agricultural production

Water is critical for agriculture and irrigation practice is an important part of farm management. Irrigation water is often wasted or poorly applied (i.e., amount or timing) leading to lowered agricultural production from poor crop health or damage. It is important to evaluate water resource availability to effectively manage irrigation timing and amounts required for efficient crop production.  We assessed watershed-level water availability upon a local irrigation scheme. Data were gathered through field observations and farmer questionnaires. Data were evaluated by computer modeling. At the watershed level, irrigation water allocation is spatially unbalanced among upstream, midstream, and downstream observations. We attempted to determine alternative management methods and/or improve current methods for efficiently allocating irrigation water equally to the fields.  By improving irrigation water use efficiency through better allocation management, there is an apparent increase in water availability. This will lead to an expanded cultivation area, higher production, and ultimately, better agricultural stability.

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Publication List

  • V.N.Q. Tram H. Somura*, T. Moroizummi (2021): The impacts of land-use input conditions on flow and sediment discharge in the Dakbla Watershed, Central Highlands of Vietnam, Water, 13(5):627. DOI: 10.3390/w13050627.
  • K. Sasaki, J. Hada, S. Yanagisako, T. Moroizumi (2019): Study on change of water quality by infiltration of sodium chloride into underground, Ground Engineering, 37(1), 131-137.(in Japanese with English abstract)
  • R. D. Yustika, H. Somura*, S. B. Yuwono, T. Masunaga (2019): Impact of human activities and natural processes on the seasonal variability of river water quality in two watersheds in Lampung, Indonesia, Water, 11:2363. DOI: 10.3390/w11112363.
  • R. D. Yustika, H. Somura*, S. B. Yuwono, B. Arifin, H. Ismono, T. Masunaga (2019): Assessment of soil erosion in social forest-dominated watersheds in Lampung, Indonesia, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191:726. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7890-5.
  • H. Somura, S.B. Yuwono, H. Ismono, B. Arifin, F. Fitriani, R. Kada (2019): Relationship between water quality variations and land use in the Batutegi Dam Watershed, Sekampung, Indonesia, Lakes & Reservoirs, 24 (1): 93-101. DOI: 10.1111/lre.12221.
  • H. Somura, H. Kunii, Y. Yone, I. Takeda, H. Sato (2018): Importance of considering nutrient loadings from small watersheds to a lake – A case study of the Lake Shinji watershed, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11 (5): 124-130. DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181105.4351.
  • K. Sasaki, J. Hada, T. Moroizumi, M. Nishigaki (2017): Report on simple accelerated corrosion tests on the corrosion of copper by the chloride ions contained in groundwater, Journal of Groundwater Hydrology, 59 (4): 355-368. doi: 10.5917/jagh.59.355 (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • K. Sasaki,J. Hada, T. Moroizumi (2017): Effects of road de-icing agents on farmland soil and agricultural water, Transactions of the Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering, 304: Ⅱ_45−Ⅱ_52. doi: 10.11408/jsidre.85.II_45 (in Japanese with English abstract)

Introduction Video