Hydro-salinity balance and mobilization in oasis irrigation areas at two different scales

Abstract

Decades of intensive irrigation of farmlands in the oasis irrigated areas of Xinjiang, Northwest China has caused secondary salinization of vast areas of land since the mid-1980s. Based on the systematic analysis of the monitoring data of hydrology, soil, irrigation and salinity at two different scales in the case of Weigan River Plain Oasis in Xinjiang Province, algorithms derived from hydrosalinity balance principle were developed to estimate the salt mobilization and characteristics; salt and water mobilization and distribution were closely examined both in catchment scale and in field scale. The critical ratio of drainage to irrigation of Weigan River Plain Oasis was estimated to be 9.19%. Furthermore, analysis of the relationship between the two different scaling issues was illustrated. Finally, corresponding countermeasures for secondary soil salinization were proposed according to the different developmental stages and salinization status of water and soil resources.The findings of this paper is helpful in controlling the local hydrology, in limiting or diminishing salinization trends, as well as in providing academic and instructive meaning for the sustainable development of agriculture in oasis irrigation areas.