DRAINMOD

Lecture No. 22

PROF. DR. ALTAF ALI SIYAL

USPCAS-W
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
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JAMSHORO

Learning Objectives:
After completion of the lecture, the students will be able:
To describe DRAINMOD model
To explain the input parameters of DRAINMOD

To elaborate application and Limitations of DAINMOD model

DRAINMOD
DRAINMOD is a computer simulation model that may be used to describe the
hydrology and drainage water quality of poorly drained soils, including
Waterlogged soil.
DRAINMOD was developed at North Carolina State University in the mid
1970's.

It is based on a water balance in the soil profile and uses climatological

records to simulate the performance of drainage and water table control
systems.
The model was developed specifically for shallow water table soils.
Approximate methods are used to quantify the hydrologic components:
subsurface drainage, sub-irrigation, infiltration, evapotranspiration (ET) and
surface runoff.

Inputs to the model include soil properties, weather data, crop variables and
site parameters.
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DRAINMOD
Soil property inputs include the saturated hydraulic
conductivity (by layers), the relationships between
drainage volume and water table depth, and information
concerning upward flux from the water table.
The effective root zone depth as a function of time is also
an input.
Hourly precipitation and daily maximum and minimum
temperatures are read from weather records and the
water balance is conducted on an hour by hour basis
The effects of water management system design on
yields may also be evaluated.
The reliability of DRAINMOD has been tested for a wide
range of soil, crop, and climatological conditions.
The model can be used to reliably predict water table
elevations and drain flow rates

Application of the Model

DRAINMOD simulates the performance of a given system for a long period of
weather record.
It predicts water table depth, drainage rates, surface runoff, ET, etc. on a
continuous basis.
Several drainage and associated water management practices can be
analyzed with DRAINMOD.
A short discussion of these are given below.
Conventional Drainage
Subsurface drainage is considered to be that drainage provided by evenly
spaced parallel drains with a free (not submerged) outlet.
The performance of a drainage system consisting of both surface and
subsurface components may be analyzed.
By conducting simulations for several combinations of surface and subsurface
drainage, the best depth spacing combination of subsurface drains can be
determined in terms of the drainage objectives.
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Application of the Model

Controlled Drainage
Controlled drainage is used to conserve water and reduce pollutant loading
from drained lands.
The effectiveness of controlled drainage depends on the elevation and timing
of the water level control (weir depths), depth and spacing of the drains, soil
properties, and other system parameters such as layout and the dimensions
of the outlet ditch or canal.
The effects of these factors can be determined by conducting simulations for
a range of parameter values.

Surface (sprinkler) Irrigation (Wastewater irrigation)

Sprinkler irrigation is an option for the model.

The effect of depth and spacing of the subsurface drains and surface drainage
intensity on number of days of irrigation and loading rates may be determined.
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Application of the Model

Hydrologic Analysis of Wetlands
Since DRAINMOD describes the soil water balance for high water table soils
and predicts water table depth on a day-by-day basis, it can be used to
determine whether or not a particular site meets the wetland hydrologic
criteria
Four inputs were added to the model to define the beginning and end of the
growing season, the threshold water table depth, and the number of
consecutive days with the water table above the threshold required to meet a
wetland criteria
Analysis for Nitrogen Movement and Loss

DRAINMOD-N can be used to predict nitrogen concentrations in the soil profile

and in surface and subsurface drainage.
This is particularly useful for determining the effect of water management of
fertilizer management on nitrogen loading from agricultural fields
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Limitations of the Model

Hydrologic Analysis of Wetlands
Snow, snowmelt, and the effects of frozen conditions on soil water processes
are not considered in DRAINMOD.

Therefore, application is confined to periods when the soil is not frozen.

The program was designed for use in humid regions and its routine
application is limited to those regions.

It may be used for irrigated arid regions where the water table is shallow and
drainage is required.
The rainfall files or the irrigation routine must be modified to insure that the
irrigation amounts and timing are correct for this application of the model

The DRAINMOD Interface

The DRAINMOD window is divided into five main areas: The Menu Buttons,
The Project Window, The Project Navigation Tree, The Project Buttons, and The
Editor.

The DRAINMOD Interface

1.

The Menu Button

DRAINMOD's general functions are accessed primarily through the Menu

Buttons. It is divided according to tasks.

The main menu buttons focus on four main program areas: Project, Utilities,
Window, and Help.
These buttons are available at any time DRAINMOD is open

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The DRAINMOD Interface

1.1

Project

This option controls common operations such as opening

projects, saving, printing, and exit.
Open Project
Opens window to allow user to open a project file.
Copy Project Files
Bulk copying of input files.
Save As
Save the current project with a different name.
Automatically saves the GEN file and nitrogen file if applicable.
Print
User can print an input or output file.
Settings
Set the default directories for accessing inputs files.
Exit
Exit DRAINMOD without option of saving or discarding changes
to open projects.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

1.2

Utilities

This menu houses the DRAINMOD utilities such as create soil or weather file

Create Weather File

Allows user to generate DRAINMOD formatted rainfall, PET, or temperature
files.
Create Soil File
Generate DRAINMOD formatted soil files.
Contributing Area Runoff
Create contributing area input file
Batch Run
Allows user to run multiple hydrology and / or nitrogen projects
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The DRAINMOD Interface

1.3

Window

These options control placement of project windows within the DRAINMOD

interface.

1.4

Help

These options allow the user to access the help file, check for updates, and read
release notes on the latest version of DRAINMOD.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

The Project Window
The Project Window allows the user to edit and simulate each individual
project.
Multiple projects into the Explorer can be loaded and work on them all at the
same time. Just select Project > Open Project to load in a new project.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

The Project Navigation Tree
The Project Navigation Tree on the left provides direct
access to all the input screens for your project.

Sections of the tree can be expanded or hidden by

clicking on the plus or minus sign to the left of the section
heading.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

The Project Buttons
Project buttons control the running of project simulations, viewing output,
graphing results, running an analysis, or exiting the project.
These buttons only function with the project in which project window they
are contained.

Simulate
Simulates the project
Output
Allows user to open output file or open graphing utility.
Analysis
Opens analysis routine. User can automatically run multiple simulations where drain
depth and / or spacing can be incrementally changed for each new simulation.
Exit Project
Will exit the project and allow the user to save or discard any changes to the project
input files.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

The Editor
This is the large area to the right of the Navigation Tree.
When you select project sections in the Navigation Tree, the associates input
screen will appear in this area.

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The DRAINMOD Interface

The editor allows the user to specify general project settings (shown above). Input
files can be selected (below).

And project parameters can be modified.

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INPUT DATA
Soils Data
DRAINMOD requires the following soil dependent data:
Soil water content versus pressure head (pf curve)
Lateral conductivity of each soil layer
Infiltration parameters versus water table depth

Volume drained versus water table depth

Upward flux versus water table depth

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INPUT DATA
Weather parameters
Weather information is entered through a screen accessed by selecting
Weather from the Input Menu.
The Weather input screen displayed depends on the type of weather file
specified in the project file.
Potential evapotranspiration, PET, is the sum of the evaporation from the soil
and plant surfaces and transpiration from the plants when there is a sufficient
supply of soil water.
PET demands may be satisfied with the upward movement of water from the
water table (upward flux) and available soil water in the root zone.
If the sum of upward flux and the water in the root zone is less than PET, the
actual evapotranspiration (ET) will be less than PET.

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INPUT DATA
CROP DATA
Rooting depths are specified under the Manage Input Data > Crops section.
The values indicate the rooting depth attained at different times of the
calendar year.
The parameters for calculating the effect of salinity stress on crop yield are
entered in the Salinity Stress tab of the Crop input screen.

This tab is enabled if the project type is Salinity.

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Managing Input Data

Project Settings

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Managing Input Data

Climatological
Data

Soil Physical
Data

Drainage System
Parameters

Crop Parameters

Max, Min Air Temperature

Solar radiation
Rainfall intensity
Wind speed and direction
Soil Temperature
PET Values (deduced from Pristley-Taylor equation)

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Managing Input Data

Climatological
Data

Soil Physical
Data

Drainage System
Parameters

Crop Parameters

Soil water content versus pressure head (pf curve)

Lateral conductivity of each soil layer
Infiltration parameters versus water table depth

Volume drained versus water table depth

Upward flux versus water table depth

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Managing Input Data

Climatological
Data

Soil Physical
Data

Drainage System
Parameters

Crop Parameters

Managing Input Data

Climatological
Data

Soil Physical
Data

Drainage System
Parameters

Crop Parameters

Planting (sowing date, crop duration)

Yield (wet stress, dry stress)
Salinity (initial salt concentration, diffusion, dispersion)

Nitrogen (organic matter, yield and uptake)

Irrigation (date, amount)

ANY
QUESTION
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