Field salinity profile development under drip irrigation with high-sulfate water
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), Vol. 145:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GYPSUM
PRECIPITATION
SOILS
SALINITY
SULFATES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
IRRIGATION
LEACHING
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
DISSOLUTION
MINERALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)