3.2. Advantages and disadvantages of water ponding in paddy fields

The fact that rice is cultivated under water ponding condition in most cases implies the water ponding has the advantages even if it requires much water. Main advantages of the water ponding are listed as follows:


Most of these advantages come from stable water ponding on the field and could be potentially replaced with other materials or methods than water except stable "water" supply listed as No. 1 above.

On the other side, the water ponding induces some adverse effects on rice production and local environment. They include:


Consequently, taking both merits and drawbacks of water ponding into account integrally in addition to field irrigation and drainage conditions, actual water management in the fields for each growing stage is performed.
