Infiltration and runoff in wheat fields in the semi-arid region of Israel

Abstract

The efficiency of application of different amounts of phosphogypsum (PG) (and the methods of application) in runoff control was tested for 3 years in small field-plots using a portable rainfall simulator and in runoff plots (Wischmeier plots) located in commercial wheat fields. Five t/ha of phosphogypsum spread over the soil surface after sowing the wheat was found to be the most efficient method of application, generally. In loessial soils with ESP's of 3–4 the amounts of runoff in the PG-treated plots were only 15–30% of that of the control. The wheat yield was increased by 25% in the two low-precipitation years. The marginal return for each m 3 of water was 2 kg of wheat grain. In the high-precipitation year (150% of the average) the wheat yields in the control and PG-treated plots were the same although runoff was reduced considerably.