Abstract
Field experimental study was performed to examine characteristics of nutrient export from paddy rice fields with irrigation practices. Experimental fields with surface-water and ground-water irrigation were monitored and analyzed during rice culture period. The water balance showed that outflow generally balanced the inflow showing that about half (58~68%) of total outflow was lost by surface drainage. Water and nutrient export are more in surface-water irrigation paddy than in ground-water irrigation paddy. The reasons might be more irrigation water available and easy to use in surface-water irrigation. If irrigation water reduced, it could result in reduction of nutrient export in paddy rice fields, which can save water and protect water quality. However, deviation from conventional standard practices might affect the rice yield and further investigations are necessary.