GROUNDWATER CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR PADDY IRRIGATION

Abstract

Hydrological modelling is representative of current, past or future hydrologic balance. It has been used widely in water-related problem such as drought, flood, water contamination and irrigation. Crops irrigation requires a lot of water to irrigate the root zone layer especially for paddy crops. With the current issues of water such as drought and pollution, an alternative source is needed to overcome the problem of water scarcity.  Generally Malaysia depends on the surface water to irrigate the crops with no aided of groundwater. This study focuses on the availability of groundwater resources to irrigate the paddy crops. Hence, a conceptual model of groundwater flow was developed to shows the current situation of the groundwater flow at the study area. Several models were developed to see if groundwater can be extracted using wells and be used as an alternative source for irrigation. The study area is located at Sawah Sempadan, which is one of Malaysia’s greeneries areas under Tanjung Karang Rice Irrigation Scheme (TAKRIS). The conceptual model is built by using Visual MODFLOW 4.2. The conceptual model shows the current water balance, water table elevation and equipotential head in the study area. Simulations with pump wells have been done to shows the availability of groundwater sources for paddy irrigation. The result shows that groundwater flows from area of higher elevation towards the lower elevated area. It is also shows that groundwater extraction could not be too excessive as it may dry up the aquifer storage.