Soil morphology as an indicator for assessment of drainage system efficiency in sugarcane cultivated lands, South Khuzestan, Iran

Abstract

Land drainage is an operation which increases land production and ensures sustainable land use. Soil scientists attempt to arrive a scientific procedure for assessing the efficiency of drainage system, among the correlation between soil morphological characteristics, mainly soil color and redoximorphic features and water table behavior. The aims of this study were investigating the efficiency of drainage system through soil morphological and micromorphological characteristics and judge about the existence of episaturation or endosaturation, in Khuzestan sugarcane cultivated lands after years of artificial drainage. 5 pedons were dug and characterized based on their morphological and micromorphological features. The characteristics of redoximorphic features showed no considerable differences in drainage class between artificial drained field and virgin land. The only contrast was shallower ground water table in virgin lands. 4 pedons were classified as somewhat poorly drained and one as well drained. These drainage classes show that despite the existence of artificial drainage system, the problems haven’t been eliminated yet. All pedons showed horizons with low chroma colours in deeper horizons and different types of redoximorphic feature. Micromorphological observations proved that the lands were involved in Endosaturation due to high ground water level.