Effects of bentonite on water infiltration in a loamy sand soil

Abstract

Water loss as deep percolation is considerable in furrow irrigation in light soils due to the high infiltration rate. Application of soil conditioners such as bentonite reduces the infiltration rate and improves irrigation application efficiency (Ea) in these soils. The effects of bentonite application rates (BAR) of 0, 2, 4 and 6 g L−1 on infiltration of a loamy sand soil were determined in a soil column in the laboratory. The exponent of the Kostiakov infiltration equation was not influenced by BAR. Maximum reduction in infiltration equation coefficient and final infiltration rate (i f) occurred with 2 g bentonite L−1 and this reduction was lower on increasing BAR from 2 to 4 and 4 to 6 g L−1 compared with control. The effect of 2 g L−1 BAR on infiltration and its effect on the design of furrow irrigation in a field with a loamy sand soil indicated that in the first irrigation after field ploughing and seed planting, longer furrow length, lower deep percolation and higher Ea are obtained.