Study on the Regulation Effects of Controlled Drainage in Farmland on Water Resources in the Huaibei Plain, China

Controlled drainage technology in farmland not only raises groundwater levels to provide additional water directly to crops but also improves rainfall utilization efficiency, thereby helping to alleviate agricultural water scarcity. In 2002, a large-scale field research area covering 80 km2 was established and equipped with controlled sluices, a weather station, groundwater observation wells, and monitoring gauges. An analysis of the impacts of controlled projects on water levels in the main drainage ditches, groundwater dynamics, drainage processes, and overall water resource regulation showed that the average water storage capacity in the main ditches increased to 1.14 m, the groundwater level rose by 0.64 m, and the total volume of water regulated through the sluice control project ac-counted for approximately 10% of the annual precipitation. Therefore, implementing controlled drainage in main ditches for agricultural water resource regulation represents an effective strategy suited to the characteristics of the Huaibei Plain. This approach not only mitigates water scarcity but also enhances the farmland ecological environment and supports the rational spatiotemporal allocation of regional water resources. Moreover, it provides valuable insights for other regions facing similar challenges.