Artificial drainage is essential to sustain irrigated agriculture, in order to control the water table and avoid waterlogging and salinisation. Biodrainage systems rely on vegetation rather than mechanical means to remove excess water, and can provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly drainage option. This publication presents a range of formally published and unpublished literature on the current level of knowledge of biodrainage, in order to inform further research and promote pilot testing schemes.

In India, farmers loose precious cultivable land due to waterlogging and salinity. To overcome this problem, the groundwater table needs to be managed and kept at a safe depth below the ground surface. The practice of providing sub-surface drainage through pipes and drains pollutes water bodies into which the saline drainage water is discharged. It is, therefore, necessary to find alternative methods that are environment-friendly. Biodrainage through tree plantations can be an option to achieve this. This book describes the prevailing conditions and status of irrigation across the globe. It also presents the relevant aspects of groundwater salinity, plant physiology, and the uptake of water and minerals by crops and trees. Along with recent research studies in India, the book also incorporates a few case studies from different regions of the world. It will be useful for irrigation/drainage engineers, soil scientists, groundwater managers, agro-forestry and ecology planners, and researchers in the field of water and land management.