Characteristics of water balance in a rainfed paddy field in Northeast Thailand

摘要

Rice productivity in rainfed paddy fields varies with seasonal changes of water availability in which the conditions of flooding are affected by the water balance. Hydrometeorological measurements were performed in a rainfed paddy field in Northeast Thailand from July 2004 to December 2006 to analyze the water balance. As a result of our measurements, climatologically conditions were classified as semi-humid with an annual precipitation of 1,100 mm/year and annual potential evaporation of 1,660 mm/year in both the year. The surface layer of the paddy soil was clayey and the hydraulic conductivity was very low, so groundwater levels remained below the soil surface even under flooded conditions during the rainy season. Seasonal changes in the amount of soil water were very small, comprising only less than 16% of the total precipitation during the rainy season. Consequently, an effective precipitation of less than 180 mm was enough to establish standing water in the rainfed paddy field.