The paper of Dr. Yukio Okuda entitled “Problems and Measures for the Adoption of Cut-drain and Its Applicability to Soil Conditions in Uzbekistan” published in the Journal of the Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Engineering (JSIDRE, DOI https: //doi.org/10.11408/jsidre.85.II_83) was awarded as 2018 JSIDRE Best Paper. The award ceremony was held at the JSIDRE Annual Meeting held in Kyoto on September 4, 2018. The award was presented to Dr. Okuda and co-authors including Dr. Haruyuki Fujimaki (Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University), Dr. Yoshinobu Kitamura (International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University) and Dr. Iwao Kitagawa(NARO Institute for Rural Engineering).

In this study, the possibility of introducing a drain drilling machine (Cut-drain) which has been developed recently in Japan was investigated focusing on the soil moisture conditions suitable for the construction of Cut-drain and the effectiveness of a method for mitigating preferential flow. The results showed that there was a border soil moisture condition needed in the construction of Cut-drain. More than 9-11% moisture was required in the first soil layer (from the surface to 20 cm below it) and 12-15%, in the second layer (from 20 to 40 cm). Furthermore, it was found that the preferential flow could be mitigated by irrigating the furrows before the construction.