Abstract
In order to explore the use of groundwater resources, field experiments were conducted for three consecutive years during 2012-2014 in the Shiyang River basin of Northwest China. Irrigation was conducted using four different water salinity levels that were arranged in a split plot design. These four water salinity levels were s0, s3, s6 and s9 (0.71, 3, 6 and 9 g/L, respectively). The soil salt content, soil bulk density, soil porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, plant height, leaf area index and yield of maize for seed production were measured for studying the effects of saline water irrigation on soil salt content distribution, soil physical properties and water use efficiency. It was observed that higher salinity level of irrigation water and long duration of saline water irrigation resulted in more salt accumulation. Compared to initial values, the soil salt accumulation in 0-100 cm soil layer after three years of experiments for s0, s3, s6 and s9 was 0.189 mg/cm3, 0.654 mg/cm3, 0.717 mg/cm3 and 1.135 mg/cm3, respectively. Both greater salt levels in the irrigation water and frequent saline water irrigation led to greater soil bulk density, but poorer soil porosity and less saturated hydraulic conductivity. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased with increase in soil bulk density, but increased with improvement in soil porosity. It was noted that the maize height, leaf area index and maize yield gradually decreased with increase in water salinity. The maize yield decreased over 25% and the water use efficiency also gradually declined when irrigated with water containing 6 g/L and 9 g/L salinity levels. However, maize yield following saline water irrigation with 3 g/L decreased less than 20% and the decline in water use efficiency was not significant during the three-year experiment period. The results demonstrate that irrigation with saline water at the level of 6 g/L and 9 g/L in the study area is not suitable, while saline water irrigation with 3 g/L would be acceptable for a short duration together with salt leaching through spring irrigation before sowing. Keywords: saline water irrigation, soil salt content distribution, soil physical properties, maize for seed production, water use efficiency DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181103.3146 Citation: Yuan C F, Feng S Y, Wang J, Huo Z L, Ji Q Y. Effects of irrigation water salinity on soil salt content distribution, soil physical properties and water use efficiency of maize for seed production in arid Northwest China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(3): 137–145.
Highlights
Due to arid climate and little rainfall, the Shiyang River basin is a typical interior river basin that faces water shortage and environmental deterioration in arid Northwest China[1]
With consideration of different soil texture, soil physical and chemical properties, climate conditions, planting types and structure in different regions, we studied the effects of saline water irrigation on soil salt content distribution, soil physical properties and water use efficiency of maize for seed production in arid Northwest China
3.1 Soil salt content distribution After saline water irrigation, the salt content in the soil is mainly influenced by irrigation, rainfall, irrigation water salinity, soil properties and the crop root water uptake
Summary
Due to arid climate and little rainfall, the Shiyang River basin is a typical interior river basin that faces water shortage and environmental deterioration in arid Northwest China[1]. Agricultural irrigation is the major consumer of available water resources in any arid region. For the arid Northwest China facing shortage of surface water resources, groundwater is an important water source for social and economic development, maintaining the ecological environment and agricultural irrigation. In order to make up for shortage of fresh water resources and ensure steady development of agricultural production in arid district, saline water irrigation has been widely used in agricultural production. Dozens of countries around the world (e.g., the U.S.A., Israel, Syria, Japan, Italy and Australia) have used salt water for irrigation and have gradually developed relatively mature technological systems. In Israel underground brackish or salt water with a salinity of 1.2-5.6 g/L was widely used as the major source of agricultural irrigation for farm irrigation, spray irrigation and drip irrigation[6]. Many researchers have studied salt accumulation in the soil during
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