Mass balance criteria in soil salinity management: different irrigation water qualities and leaching ratio

We developed a numerical model to predict soil salinity from knowledge of evapotranspiration rate, crop salt tolerance, irrigation water salinity, and soil hydraulic properties. Using the model, we introduced a new weighting function to express the limitation imposed by salinity on plant available water estimated by the integral water capacity concept. Lower and critical limits of soil water uptake by plants were also defined. We further analysed the sensitivity of model results to underlying parameters using characteristics given for corn, cowpea, and barley in the literature and two clay and sandy loam soils obtained from databases. Results showed that, between two irrigation events, soil salinity increased nonlinearly with decreasing soil water content especially when evapotranspiration and soil drainage rate were high. The salinity weighting function depended greatly on the plant sensitivity to salinity and irrigation water salinity. This research confirmed that both critical and lower limits (in terms of water content) of soil water uptake by plants increased with evapotranspiration rate and irrigation water salinity. Since the presented approach is based on a physical concept and well-known plant parameters, soil hydraulic characteristics, irrigation water salinity, and meteorological conditions, it may be useful in spatio-temporal modelling of soil water quality and quantity and prediction of crop yield.

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Relationship between Soil Salinization and Groundwater Hydration in Yaoba Oasis, Northwest China

Water ◽

10.3390/w11010175 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 175 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Guoqing Cui ◽

Yudong Lu ◽

Ce Zheng ◽

Zhiheng Liu ◽

Jiamei Sai

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Soil Salinization ◽

Irrigation Water Quality ◽

Ion Content ◽

Soil Salt ◽

The Relationship

Precipitation is scarce and evaporation is intense in desert areas. Groundwater is used as the main water source to develop agriculture in the oases. However, the effects of using groundwater on the ecological environment elicit widespread public concern. This study investigated the relationship between soil salinity and groundwater characteristics in Yaoba Oasis through in situ experiments. The relationship of the mineral content, pH, and main ion content of groundwater with soil salt was quantitatively evaluated through a gray relational analysis. Four main results were obtained. First, the fresh water area with low total dissolved solid (TDS) was usually HCO3− or SO42− type water, and salt water was mostly Cl− and SO42−. The spatial distribution of main ions in groundwater during winter irrigation in November was basically consistent with that during spring irrigation in June. However, the spatial distribution of TDS differed in the two seasons. Second, soil salinization in the study area was severe, and the salinization rate reached 72.7%. In this work, the spatial variability of soil salinization had a relatively large value, and the values in spring were greater than those in autumn. Third, the soil in the irrigated area had a high salt content, and the salt ion content of surface soil was higher than that of subsoil. A piper trilinear diagram revealed that Ca2+ and K+ + Na+ were the main cations. SO42−, Cl−, and HCO3− were the main anions, and salinization soil mainly contained SO42−. Fourth, the changes in soil salt and ion contents in the 0–10 cm soil layer were approximately similar to those of irrigation water quality, both of which showed an increasing trend. The correlation of surface soil salinity with the salinity of groundwater and its chemical components was high. In summary, this study identified the progress of irrigation water quality in soil salinization and provided a scientific basis for improving the oasis ecosystem, maintaining the healthy development of agriculture, managing oasis water resources, and policy development. Our findings can serve as a reference for other, similar oasis research.

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Zero Tilled-Paddy Straw Mulched Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Cultivation in the Coastal Saline Soils Reduce Soil Salinity, Increase Yield and Profitability

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019036147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 147

Author(s):

Sukanta Kumar Sarangi ◽

Buddheswar Maji ◽

Parbodh Chander Sharma ◽

Saheb Digar ◽

Kshirendra Kumar Mahanta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Block Design ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Foliar Spray ◽

Cropping System ◽

Dry Season ◽

Paddy Straw ◽

Net Return

Rice is the predominant crop during wet season (July–December) and majority of land remain fallow during dry season (January–June) in the coastal saline region of West Bengal, India. Sustainable cropping system intensification in this salt affected region needs improved package of practices which conserve soil moisture, facilitate early crop establishment, ensures profitability and has positive effect on soil health. To achieve these objectives in a rice-based cropping system, we evaluated seven treatments for potato crop during the dry season viz. T1: ridge sowing (control), T2: Zero tillage (ZT) sowing with 9 t ha−1 paddy straw mulching (PSM), T3: T2 + foliar spray of nutrients, T4: ZT sowing with 12 t ha−1 PSM, T5: T4 + foliar spray of nutrients, T6: ZT sowing with 15 t ha−1 PSM, T7: T6 + foliar spray of nutrients in randomized block design with five replications. This study was conducted during 2016-2019 in the Gosaba island of the Indian Sundarbans. Cost of cultivation of potato reduced by about 27% due to ZT sowing (₹ 81,287 ha−1) compared to ridge sowing (₹ 1,11,260 ha−1). Tuber yield, net return and irrigation water productivity was significantly increased in T5, T6 and T7 over other treatments. There was reduction in soil salinity (ECe reduced from 5 to 3 dS m−1), bulk density (from 1.49 to 1.44 Mg m−3), irrigation water use (less 20 cm), conservation of soil moisture (4–8%), and increase in organic carbon (0.39 to 0.44%) due to ZT sowing with PSM. Rice-ZT potato-green gram cropping system was the most profitable one with highest net return (₹ 1,71,752 ha−1), however, the benefit-cost ratio was highest (2.33) with Rice-ZT potato cropping system.

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Impact of cultivation year, nitrogen fertilization rate and irrigation water quality on soil salinity and soil nitrogen in saline-sodic paddy fields in Northeast China

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s002185961500057x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 154 (4) ◽

pp. 632-646 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

L. H. HUANG ◽

Z. W. LIANG ◽

D. L. SUAREZ ◽

Z.C. WANG ◽

M. M. WANG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Northeast China ◽

Paddy Fields ◽

Inorganic N ◽

N Application ◽

Total N ◽

Application Rates ◽

Soil Inorganic N

SUMMARYSaline-sodic soils are widely distributed in the western Songnen Plain of Northeast China and planting rice has been found to be an effective and feasible approach for improving saline-sodic soil and increasing food production. Assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of this method requires monitoring of the changes in soil salinity and nutrient content. The objective of the current study was to investigate the changes of soil salinity and nitrogen (N) contents over 1, 3, 6 and 9 years of cultivation, four application rates of N (N0: no N, N1: 100 kg N/ha, N2: 200 kg N/ha and N3: 300 kg N/ha) and two irrigation water types: ground water irrigation (GWI) and river water irrigation (RWI). Salinity and N contents of soil and water samples were analysed before planting and after harvest throughout the experiments. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), especially in the surface layer of 0–40 cm depth, decreased with years of cultivation with both GWI and RWI, while soil inorganic N and total N contents increased. Moreover, with increasing N application rates, soil inorganic N and total N contents increased significantly in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Increasing N application had little effect on soil pH and EC. Reclaiming and planting rice promoted desalination of the surface and formation of a fertile tillage layer in saline-sodic paddy fields. In terms of irrigation and drainage in saline-sodic paddy fields, both soil salinity and N contents increased. Soil total salinity increased annually by 34 and 12·8 kg/ha, and inorganic N contents increased annually by 9 and 13·5 kg/ha with GWI and RWI, respectively. Therefore, comprehensive agricultural practices should be adopted for improving and cropping rice in saline-sodic paddy fields.

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Soil Salinity Management in Agriculture

10.1201/9781315365992 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Soil Salinity ◽

Salinity Management

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Long-term effects of saline irrigation water on 'Valencia' orange trees: relationships between growth and yield, and salt levels in soil and leaves

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar06199 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 349 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

L. D. Prior ◽

A. M. Grieve ◽

K. B. Bevington ◽

P. G. Slavich

Keyword(s):

Soil Salinity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Citrus Sinensis ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Balance Model ◽

Salt Treatment ◽

Saline Irrigation ◽

Valencia Orange ◽

Eastern Australia

This study documents changes in yield, growth, soil salinity (ECe) and leaf sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) concentrations in mature Valencia orange [Citrus sinensis (L.Osbeck)] trees on sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) rootstock in response to increased levels of Na and Cl in irrigation water. Four levels of salt, ranging from the river-water control (0.44 dS/m) to 2.50 dS/m, were applied over a 9-year period through an under-tree microsprinkler system to trees in the Sunraysia area of the Murray Valley in south-eastern Australia. A salt-balance model showed that evapotranspiration was reduced by salinity, whereas leaching fractions increased from an average 24% in the control to 51% in the most saline treatment. The high leaching fractions were achieved as a result of freely draining soils and good irrigation management, and allowed us to maintain low to moderate levels of soil salinity throughout the trial and minimised the effect of salt treatment on fruit yield. Soil salinity increased almost linearly in response to irrigation-water salinity during the first year, and fluctuated seasonally thereafter; however, very few readings exceeded 3 dS/m, even in the highest treatments. By contrast, leaf Na and Cl concentrations in the highest salt treatment continued to increase over the first 4 years. The relationship between yield and soil salinity was extremely weak, but yield did decrease as foliar concentrations of Na and Cl increased: in Year 9, leaf Na in the highest treatment relative to the control was associated with a predicted reduction of 17% in yield and 59% in annual trunk-diameter growth.

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EFFECT OF SALINE IRRIGATION WATER ON MUSTARD (BRASSICA JUNCEA) CROP YIELD AND SOIL SALINITY IN A SEMI-ARID AREA OF NORTH INDIA

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479711000780 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 99-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

AJAY SINGH ◽

SUDHINDRA NATH PANDA

Keyword(s):

Brassica Juncea ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Water Source ◽

North India ◽

Canal Water ◽

Saline Irrigation ◽

Saline Groundwater

SUMMARYThe groundwater in some parts of north India is generally saline and not suitable for drinking. However, it can be used for growing salt-tolerant crop plants. To explore the potential of using saline groundwater for farm production, a field experiment was conducted at Shahpur village, near Hisar in Haryana State, India, to study the effect of different qualities of irrigation water on mustard (Brassica juncea, cv. RH–30) crop growth, yield, water use efficiency and soil salinity. Treatments consisted of combinations of irrigation with saline groundwater (electrical conductivity (EC) 7.48 dS m−1), and a good quality canal water (EC 0.4 dS m−1) applied either alone, as blends or in alternate applications. In all treatments, canal water was used for pre-sowing irrigation. In mustard cultivation, saline groundwater with an EC of 7.48 dS m−1 can be used safely to supplement all post-sowing irrigations with marginal decline in crop yield. Irrigation with saline groundwater gave a yield as high as 95% of the optimum crop yield obtained with fresh canal water. The temporal variation in salinity showed that mustard yield responds to the average salinity of the soil during the growing season. Thus saline groundwater is a good water source to exploit for supplemental irrigation.

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