Field salinity profile development under drip irrigation with high-sulfate water

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Soil Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-198803000-00007· OSTI ID:6247971

Papadopoulos, I

This field study investigated the buildup of soil salinity and distribution of salts as influenced by gypsum-saturated water applied through a drip-irrigation system and leaching that occurs by winter rains. Amounts of water applied were 50 and 60 L/plant per week in the first and second irrigation seasons, respectively. The soil was a Pellic Vertisol that contained no gypsum. Although highly soluble salts accumulated during the irrigation season, particularly in the soil surface at a lateral distance of 20 to 40 cm from the emitter, they decreased to their initial values after leaching by winter rains. Precipitation of Ca with SO/sub 4/ as gypsum during the irrigation season was greater than dissolution of gypsum and leaching of these ions deeper in the soil by the 390 mm of winter rains. This resulted in a soil profile saturated with gypsum with a uniform EC/sub e/ of 3 dS m/sup /minus/1/ and Ca and SO/sub 4/ concentration levels of about 30 mol /plus minus/ m/sup -3/ throughout the soil profile in the 0- to 120-cm depth. An increase in soil EC/sub e/ occurred throughout the wetting front, which must be considered the lowest starting salinity for the beginning of each irrigation season. The increase in sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) was not at a level to adversely affect the infiltration capacity of the soil.

• Research Organization: Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia (Cyprus)
• OSTI ID: 6247971
• Journal Information: Soil Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci.; (United States) Vol. 145:3; ISSN SOSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
DISSOLUTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GYPSUM
IRRIGATION
LEACHING
MINERALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION
SALINITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS