Development of subsurface drainage systems: Discharge – retention – recharge

Sufficient freshwater is needed for water dependent sectors such as agriculture, nature, drinking water, and industry. However, even in low-lying, flood prone countries like the Netherlands, climate change, weather extremes, economic growth, urbanization, land subsidence increased food production will make it more complex to guarantee sufficient all sectors. Furthermore, frequency amplitude of extremely dry wet conditions expected increase. The current Dutch management system not designed anticipate these extremes. Over last decades, drained agricultural fields, consolidation urbanization resulted declining groundwater tables. Additionally, fresh demand different (agriculture, industry, water) increased, causing an pressure on regional system. As a consequence, annual table sandy soil areas dropped over time with effect that, nowadays, becoming scarce periods. In this paper we provide insight shifting strategy Netherlands (1950–2020), corresponding drainage systems, developing from conventional (approx. 1950–1990), controlled (1990’s onwards), adaptive (2010 onwards) subirrigation systems (2018 onwards). levels crop yields, based both international literature measurements field pilots. Although can contribute improved moisture growth scale, show that volume be large could put significant available sources. Therefore, efficient responsible use external sources (e.g. surface treated waste or groundwater) required. Finally, implementation asks correct balance: requires integral, catchment-wide approach.