Author(s): Moonhyung Park; Seong-Sim Yoon
Linked Author(s): Seongsim Yoon, Moonhyung Park
Keywords: Irrigation Return Flow Testbed Paddy field Kore
Abstract: Efficient water resource management is essential for addressing the challenges of water scarcity in agricultural systems. This study quantifies the irrigation return flow in the Mangyung River Basin, a key rice-producing region in South Korea, using a discharge monitoring testbed with advanced hydrological devices and a dual-scale approach encompassing micro-level paddy field observations and macro-level basin-wide assessments. Key water cycle factors, including water supply, discharge, and natural runoff, were analyzed, and the SWAT model was employed to isolate rainfall-induced runoff effects, ensuring accurate estimations. Observations from ten high-precision flow measurement devices indicated an average agricultural water return rate of 56.50% when rainfall periods were excluded. This study contributes valuable data for understanding irrigation return flows and supports the development of strategies to improve water use efficiency in rice-dominated agricultural landscapes.
Year: 2025