Study of vertical water flows contribution to the crop water consumption in suka kollus using a mixed drainage system

The results showed that the distance of 6.5 m between drainage channels, commonly used in traditional suka kollus, was less than the calculated distances. As such, it was possible to expand the area of the platforms by setting the drainage channels between 10 and 14 m apart. Crops yield in the T2 and T3 treatments (10.67-11.35 Mg/ha, respectively) are significantly higher compared to the traditional open drainage system, T1 (8.33 Mg/ha) and the wider platform width of 25 m, T4 (7.3 Mg/ha) due to the higher height of plants and the greater number of tubers per plant, compared to the control. Likewise, the high clay percentage of the second stratum of the T3 treatment could be beneficial in terms of greater retention of water at the root level, mainly for periods of water deficit. The crop water requirements were covered by the upward flows from the water table and by precipitation, demonstrating that the suka kollus system is sustainable under current climatic conditions.