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Why can canal irrigation cause waterlogging in the Indus River plain?

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Physical map showing the Indus River basin and its drainage network across parts of Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan. The map details river courses, tributaries, canals, dams, irrigated and marsh areas, sand regions, and elevation changes with shaded relief. International, disputed, and control boundaries are marked, and a small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within South Asia. — Indus River The Indus River basin and its drainage network.

Canal irrigation in the Indus River plain can cause waterlogging because water from unlined canals seeps through the soil, which raises the water table. When this occurs, the soil becomes saturated and unsuitable for cultivation. In some instances, this rising groundwater reaches the surface to form shallow lakes. Furthermore, in the intense summer heat, the water evaporates and leaves behind layers of salt, which can make crop production impossible. To mitigate these issues, adequate drainage systems are required to manage the water levels and prevent salt buildup.1