Waterlogging is a kind of condition in which an area becomes flooded with water, often due to heavy rainfall or poor drainage. This can have severe consequences for agriculture, transportation, and human settlements.

In addition to damaging crops and infrastructure, waterlogging can lead to the accumulation of stagnant water, which can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. It is important to address waterlogging through effective drainage and land-use planning measures.

This article thoroughly elucidates water logging along with its causes, effects, types and preventive measures. It also describes the leaching process used for reclamation of soil which is affected by soil and also the quality of the irrigation water needed to increase the productivity of soil. This article would be very much important for your upcoming SSC JE Civil examination, GATE Civil Engineering and RRB JE Civil.

What is Water Logging?

Waterlogging is a situation where soil becomes saturated with water, either temporarily or permanently, due to an excess of water in an area. This can adversely affect the beneficial characteristics of the soil strata as the soil is unable to absorb the water as it should. It occurs when there is insufficient oxygen in the pore space for plant roots to be able to respire adequately. Waterlogging can also be caused by the rising of the water table to the point that the soil pores in the crop root zone get clogged. This phenomenon can occur through flooding or irrigation with poor drainage, causing the soil to become inundated with water. In summary, waterlogging refers to the temporary or permanent soaking of soil with water, which negatively impacts plant growth and soil quality.

Fig.1: Water Logged Soil

Waterlogging refers to a situation where the soil becomes submerged due to an increase in groundwater level or excessive rainfall. This condition limits the amount of oxygen available to plant roots, which can hinder plant growth or even lead to death. From a gardening perspective, waterlogging causes soil to harden, preventing air and water from penetrating the ground. In essence, waterlogging occurs when there is an excess of water in the soil that the ground cannot absorb, causing long-term or temporary saturation of the area.

Some of the causes of water logging are:-

• It can be caused due to over and intensive irrigation.
• Excessive rainfall is also one of the causes of water logging as it infiltrates the soil and thus increases the level of absorbed water by the soil.
• Seepage and runoff from higher elevations and canals also lead to water logging problems.
• The soil can also get submerged due to floods, which could lead to water logging problems.
• It is also caused due to inadequate natural drainage systems.
• Irregular topography or terrain conditions also lead to water logging.

Effects of Water Logging

Some of the adverse effects of the water logging problem are:-

• Poor Soil Aeration- Entrapped air from the voids of the soil gets removed due to water logging. As the soil gets completely submerged in water, the air in the voids of the soil gets replaced by the water. Thus, the plants do not get enough air for their growth and ultimately die.
• pH of the soil reduces- The pH of the soil reduces and becomes acidic due to the water logging situation. This condition reduces the productivity of the soil.
• Diminished soil nutrients- Due to the water logging situation, the nutrients in the soil reduce, which decreases the soil's yielding capacity.
• Increased salinity- Due to water logging, the salts in the water accumulate in the soil after drying and harm the soil. It is considered to be the major impact.
• Diseases- It also has adverse effects on human health. It leads to increased breeding places for insects, flies, and mosquitoes, leading to several communicable diseases. It also leads to foul smells and the spreading of various waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, jaundice, etc.
• Cultivation problem- It may be very difficult to grow crops in water logged soil. Only rice favors the condition of water logging as it requires lots of water for its growth.
• Reduced temperature of soil- This situation reduces the temperature of the soil, which hampers the growth and activities of microorganisms, which can fix nitrogen in the soil.

Types of Water Logging

Water logging can be classified based on the performance, location, water sources and causes. Some main types of water logging are discussed below. 

• Perennial Water logging- This type of water logging occurs when groundwater meets with nearby streams and runoff spreads in the nearby location.
• Seasonal Water logging- Due to poor drainage characteristics of the catchment, the rainwater is not drained off properly, which leads to water logging situations.
• Oceanic flood Water Logging- This type of water logging occurs due to flooding of the seawater in the nearby locations.
• Riverine flood Water Logging- This type of water logging occurs mainly in the rainy season when the river gets an increased volume of water due to excess rain. This excess water leads to water logging situations in the adjoining areas.
• Subsoil Water Logging- This type of water logging occurs due to increased groundwater levels.

Prevention of Water Logging

Some of the important measures which can be taken to counter water logging situations are-

• Constructing artificial open and underground drainage grids can help prevent water logging. Similarly, it may be advantageous to improve the current flow conditions of natural drainage systems.
• Percolation loss can be avoided by using water more wisely. It is also possible to achieve this by reducing irrigation intensity.
• Alkaline water should be avoided for irrigation purposes as it is susceptible to water logging conditions.
• Rainwater harvesting can be promoted to reduce stormwater run off to the drainage system.
• The mulching process can be adopted to minimize moisture losses and ultimately reduce the intensity of irrigation.

Crop and Land Management Techniques to Reduce Water Logging

Leaching Process for Water Logging

The reclamation of saline soil is done by the process of leaching. In this process, the land is flooded with adequate water. The salts in the soil get dissolved in this water, which percolates down to join the water table or is drained away by surface or subsurface drainage systems. This process is repeated until the salts in the top layer of the land are reduced to such an extent that some inferior crops can be grown. This whole process is called leaching.

Inferior crops- Inferior crops are those crops that can be grown in adverse conditions such as poor conditions of the land, poor irrigation facilities, etc. Ex- tobacco.

Effect of Salt in Soil

• Every agricultural soil contains certain minerals in it. Some of these benefit the plants, while others harm plant growth. The harmful salts are called alkali salts, and their common examples are- \((Na_2CO_3), (Na_2SO_4) \)and NaCl.
• The phenomenon of salts forming a thin crust on the surface after the evaporation of water from the surface is called efflorescence.
• NaCl and \((Na_2SO_4)\) are called white alkalis as they produce white efflorescence, and \((Na_2CO_3)\) is called a black alkali as it produces black efflorescence.
• White alkalis are more soluble in water as compared to black alkalis.
• Black alkali is more harmful as it is less soluble and becomes difficult to remove by leaching.
• Therefore, gypsum should be added to soil or into the leaching water to remove black alkali.
• Plant roots are semi-permeable membranes, and water can easily flow through them along with dissolved solids.
• Salt absorbs a large amount of water and thus reduces the water available to the roots of the plants.
• As per Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), salt-affected soil is classified into the following three categories-

Fig.2: Efflorescence

Effect of Waterlogging on Plant Growth

Waterlogging is adversely affecting plant growth and has long been recognized as a significant challenge that adversely affects plant growth. The massive usage of water in the soil oxygen availability to plant roots, leading to reduced respiration and impeded nutrient uptake. This unfavourable condition also promotes the growth of anaerobic microorganisms, which produce toxic by products harmful to plants.

Tools for Monitoring Water Logging

To stop water logging, we first need to know where and when it happens. These days, technology makes it easier to check large areas for water buildup. With the help of satellite images and smart sensors, engineers can track water levels and fix drainage issues faster. Below is a table explaining a few such modern tools:

Nature-Based Solutions for Managing Water Logging

In many places, people have learned how to live with water instead of fighting it. They grow food on floating beds or raise fish in flooded land. These simple, local solutions turn a problem into something useful, without needing much money or machines.

Water Logging Problems 

Waterlogging refers to the accumulation of excess water in soil, which negatively impacts plant growth and soil productivity. It occurs when the soil is unable to absorb or drain water adequately. Waterlogging leads to oxygen deprivation in the root zone, causing root decay and reduced nutrient uptake. It also increases the risk of soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and the proliferation of waterborne diseases.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article on Water Logging will reinforce your understanding about the topic deeply. This article will be effective for AE/JE Civil Engineering Exam, and GATE CE. You can check out the Testbook app for accessing comprehensive study material, affordable online courses, Previous Years' SSC JE Civil papers and free AE/JE Civil Mock Tests to boost your preparation.