Introduction to Sound Water Management

Good water management in lowland rice focuses on practices that conserve water (by eliminating the unproductive water flows of seepage, percolation, and evaporation) while ensuring sufficient water for the crop. In the following sections, water management practices are given for the different periods of the crop cycle from pre-planting activities to the ripening stage. It is assumed that farmers have access to sufficient irrigation to maintain flooded conditions. Water-saving technologies for conditions of insufficient water are described in subsequent paragraphs.