CHANGE OF IRRIGATION WATER QUANTITY ACCORDING TO FARM MECHANIZATION AND LAND CONSOLIDATION IN KOREA

摘要

Since 3000 BC, rice has been the main crop in the Korean Peninsula, and where currently mostrnof the available irrigation water is used to grow paddy rice. Methods for calculating the quantityrnof irrigation water required developed in the 1990's were compared to quantities measured in thernfield. The largest difference between calculated and measured quantities occurred in April andrnMay. Based on field data we obtained in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula, significantrnchanges have occurred in rice management, which has changed the amount of irrigation waterrnrequired. Rice is now transplanted earlier, and duration of the transplanting phase on the regionalrnscale is shorter through mechanization and consolidation of land holdings. These changes need tornbe taken into account when calculating the quantity of water needed for irrigation.