IMPACT OF LAND LEVELING ON THE WATER BALANCE FOR AGRICULTURE IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laser land leveling (LL-leveling) on
infiltration. Therefore, herein, both the water balance at the land surface and the impact of LL-leveling on
infiltration was investigated. The field experiments were comprised of two parts: Farm-A underwent LL-
leveling, and Farm-B was used as the control farm with all other practices maintained the same. Also, this
research attempts to evaluate the relation of infiltration to field size, water depth (WD), irrigation interval and
cultivation age. The findings indicated a fairly negative correlation between field size and irrigation interval;
But, a positive association depicted between WD and infiltration. Infiltration has become reduced by increasing
field size and irrigation interval. While it decreased by increasing WD. However, cultivation age was not
significantly correlated to WD. In addition, the results were summarized on farms basis, in Farm-A, infiltration
was shown smaller than that of Farm-B. Moreover, the findings from Farm-A illustrate that, from a water
balance perspective, water infiltration was reduced due to larger field size, smaller water input, or prolonged
irrigation interval. Hence, in Farm-A, the infiltration was decreased by an average 77%, 25%, and 18 % in the
field of corn, eggplant and wheat, respectively. In brief, infiltration is significantly correlated to field size, WD
and irrigation interval. Further, LL-leveling has merits to reduce water input, increase the areal size of the field
and extend irrigation interval length.