Modelling Water Consumption Efficiency Based on Perlis State Soil Series

Abstract

Water is a limited resource for Perlis state. Domestically, meeting the water supply in the state requires improving the current supply facility and repairing water leakages in the supply system. However, an even more important aspect of water resources management is the water consumption from agricultural activities such as the over-irrigation in the crop field. This study identifies the soil series of Perlis state, determines its soil textures, estimates the field capacity, permanent wilting point, and plant available water. Additionally, the water infiltration studies were carried out. Results showed there were ten soil series present in the state, and this soil can be categorized by four soil textures that the clay soil texture dominates in seven soil series. Fully saturated soil in the Perlis state potentially losses 27-56% of its soil moisture content drains by gravity, which is unavailable to crop consumption, hence, wastage. An estimated 1.7 x 10^-4 to 2.1 x 10^-3 m/s water infiltration rate over the soil depths from 0.15-1.5 m. Knowing the soil surface area for the crop field allows the estimate of water volume needed in a unit time needed for storage tank estimation and distribution system designs. The water requirement increases by including the water evaporation rate into the water infiltration rate.