IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v247y2021ics0378377420322502.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Formulating and assessing best water and salt management practices: Lessons from non-saline and water-logged irrigated fields

Author

Listed:
  • Barnard, Johannes Hendrikus
  • Matthews, Nicolette
  • du Preez, Christiaan Cornelius

Abstract

To address the on-site and off-site salt load impact associated with non-saline and water-logged irrigated fields a well-considered strategy is required. This implies minimal salt mobilisation and additions through irrigation, no crop yield losses due to excessive salt in the root zone, and minimal irrigation-induced drainage and leaching. The aim was to formulate best water and salt management practices to achieve this strategy and conduct an extensive assessment on whether they are implemented before problems appear. Weekly and seasonal data (2-years) from 19 fields (28 measuring sites) were used. Crops included barley, wheat, groundnuts, maize and lucerne grown in a semi-arid climate. Dominant soils were sandy loam, loamy sand and sandy with lateral moving shallow groundwater tables (depth>1.2 m and electrical conductivity<250mSm−1), while electrical conductivity of primary water sources is < 100mSm−1. Good decisions included the use of centre pivot compared to flood irrigation, irrigation schedules that ensured soil matric potential for maximum crop transpiration and limited yield losses due to water logging and soil salinity. Poor decisions were incorrect sprinkler design and excessive pumping pressure and limited use of rainfall and capillary rise to irrigate less. Growing season rainfall-plus-irrigation were a mean 55% more than the quota (annual water allocated to farmers), and 35%, 39%, 60%, 106% and 67% more than a “conservative” estimate of barley, wheat, groundnuts, maize and lucerne transpiration, respectively. The magnitude of variation in this oversupply were similar than the mean values. Approximately all salts applied through irrigation were leached from the root zone, while minimal re-use of drainage water was made (only 3 fields). In terms of resource use efficiency and preventing environmental degradation the evidence is overwhelming for improved decisions at field level. However, given sufficient supply of water, continuation of the status quo, might be sustainable in the long term.

Suggested Citation

  • Barnard, Johannes Hendrikus & Matthews, Nicolette & du Preez, Christiaan Cornelius, 2021. "Formulating and assessing best water and salt management practices: Lessons from non-saline and water-logged irrigated fields," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:247:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420322502
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106706
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377420322502
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106706?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Letey, J. & Feng, G.L., 2007. "Dynamic versus steady-state approaches to evaluate irrigation management of saline waters," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(1-3), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Malash, N. & Flowers, T.J. & Ragab, R., 2005. "Effect of irrigation systems and water management practices using saline and non-saline water on tomato production," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(1-2), pages 25-38, September.
    3. Hanson, B. & May, D., 2004. "Effect of subsurface drip irrigation on processing tomato yield, water table depth, soil salinity, and profitability," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Minhas, P. S., 1996. "Saline water management for irrigation in India," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 1-24, March.
    5. Leib, Brian G. & Hattendorf, Mary & Elliott, Todd & Matthews, Gary, 2002. "Adoption and adaptation of scientific irrigation scheduling: trends from Washington, USA as of 1998," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 105-120, June.
    6. Quinones, Pedroza Hector & Unland, Helene & Ojeda, Waldo & Sifuentes, Ernesto, 1999. "Transfer of irrigation scheduling technology in Mexico," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(2-3), pages 333-339, May.
    7. Phogat, V. & Mallants, Dirk & Cox, J.W. & Šimůnek, J. & Oliver, D.P. & Pitt, T. & Petrie, P.R., 2020. "Impact of long-term recycled water irrigation on crop yield and soil chemical properties," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    8. van Straten, G. & de Vos, A.C. & Rozema, J. & Bruning, B. & van Bodegom, P.M., 2019. "An improved methodology to evaluate crop salt tolerance from field trials," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 375-387.
    9. Singh, Rajinder, 2004. "Simulations on direct and cyclic use of saline waters for sustaining cotton-wheat in a semi-arid area of north-west India," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 153-162, April.
    10. Jhorar, R.K. & Smit, A.A.M.F.R. & Roest, C.W.J., 2009. "Assessment of alternative water management options for irrigated agriculture," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(6), pages 975-981, June.
    11. Wichelns, Dennis & Qadir, Manzoor, 2015. "Achieving sustainable irrigation requires effective management of salts, soil salinity, and shallow groundwater," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 31-38.
    12. Barnard, J.H. & Bennie, A.T.P. & van Rensburg, L.D. & Preez, C.C. du, 2015. "SWAMP: A soil layer water supply model for simulating macroscopic crop water uptake under osmotic stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 150-163.
    13. Sharma, Bharat R. & Minhas, P.S., 2005. "Strategies for managing saline/alkali waters for sustainable agricultural production in South Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(1-2), pages 136-151, September.
    14. Ritzema, H.P., 2016. "Drain for Gain: Managing salinity in irrigated lands—A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 18-28.
    15. Letey, J. & Hoffman, G.J. & Hopmans, J.W. & Grattan, S.R. & Suarez, D. & Corwin, D.L. & Oster, J.D. & Wu, L. & Amrhein, C., 2011. "Evaluation of soil salinity leaching requirement guidelines," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(4), pages 502-506, February.
    16. Tenreiro, Tomás R. & García-Vila, Margarita & Gómez, José A. & Jimenez-Berni, José A. & Fereres, Elías, 2020. "Water modelling approaches and opportunities to simulate spatial water variations at crop field level," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rosa, R.D. & Ramos, T.B. & Pereira, L.S., 2016. "The dual Kc approach to assess maize and sweet sorghum transpiration and soil evaporation under saline conditions: Application of the SIMDualKc model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 77-94.
    2. Singh, R.B. & Chauhan, C.P.S. & Minhas, P.S., 2009. "Water production functions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) irrigated with saline and alkali waters using double-line source sprinkler system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(5), pages 736-744, May.
    3. Minhas, P.S. & Ramos, Tiago B. & Ben-Gal, Alon & Pereira, Luis S., 2020. "Coping with salinity in irrigated agriculture: Crop evapotranspiration and water management issues," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    4. Elgallal, M. & Fletcher, L. & Evans, B., 2016. "Assessment of potential risks associated with chemicals in wastewater used for irrigation in arid and semiarid zones: A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 419-431.
    5. Vinod Phogat & Tim Pitt & Paul Petrie & Jirka Šimůnek & Michael Cutting, 2023. "Optimization of Irrigation of Wine Grapes with Brackish Water for Managing Soil Salinization," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-29, October.
    6. Chen, Ming & Kang, Yaohu & Wan, Shuqin & Liu, Shi-ping, 2009. "Drip irrigation with saline water for oleic sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(12), pages 1766-1772, December.
    7. Abdullah Darzi-Naftchali & Henk Ritzema, 2018. "Integrating Irrigation and Drainage Management to Sustain Agriculture in Northern Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    8. Minhas, P.S. & Qadir, Manzoor & Yadav, R.K., 2019. "Groundwater irrigation induced soil sodification and response options," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 74-85.
    9. Yasuor, Hagai & Yermiyahu, Uri & Ben-Gal, Alon, 2020. "Consequences of irrigation and fertigation of vegetable crops with variable quality water: Israel as a case study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    10. Murad, Khandakar Faisal Ibn & Hossain, Akbar & Fakir, Oli Ahmed & Biswas, Sujit Kumar & Sarker, Khokan Kumer & Rannu, Rahena Parvin & Timsina, Jagadish, 2018. "Conjunctive use of saline and fresh water increases the productivity of maize in saline coastal region of Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 262-270.
    11. Shahrokhnia, Hossein & Wu, Laosheng, 2021. "SALEACH: A new web-based soil salinity leaching model for improved irrigation management," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    12. Gill, Bruce C. & Terry, Alister D., 2016. "‘Keeping salt on the farm’—Evaluation of an on-farm salinity management system in the Shepparton irrigation region of South-East Australia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 164(P2), pages 291-303.
    13. Song, Changji & Song, Jingru & Wu, Qiang & Shen, Xiaojun & Hu, Yawei & Hu, Caihong & Li, Wenhao & Wang, Zhenhua, 2023. "Effects of applying river sediment with irrigation water on salinity leaching during wheat-maize rotation in the Yellow River Delta," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    14. Ramos, Tiago B. & Darouich, Hanaa & Oliveira, Ana R. & Farzamian, Mohammad & Monteiro, Tomás & Castanheira, Nádia & Paz, Ana & Alexandre, Carlos & Gonçalves, Maria C. & Pereira, Luís S., 2023. "Water use, soil water balance and soil salinization risks of Mediterranean tree orchards in southern Portugal under current climate variability: Issues for salinity control and irrigation management," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    15. Barnard, J.H. & Bennie, A.T.P. & van Rensburg, L.D. & Preez, C.C. du, 2015. "SWAMP: A soil layer water supply model for simulating macroscopic crop water uptake under osmotic stress," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 150-163.
    16. Wichelns, Dennis & Qadir, Manzoor, 2015. "Achieving sustainable irrigation requires effective management of salts, soil salinity, and shallow groundwater," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 31-38.
    17. Amin I. Ismayilov & Amrakh I. Mamedov & Haruyuki Fujimaki & Atsushi Tsunekawa & Guy J. Levy, 2021. "Soil Salinity Type Effects on the Relationship between the Electrical Conductivity and Salt Content for 1:5 Soil-to-Water Extract," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-11, March.
    18. Tripler, Effi & Shani, Uri & Ben-Gal, Alon & Mualem, Yechezkel, 2012. "Apparent steady state conditions in high resolution weighing-drainage lysimeters containing date palms grown under different salinities," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 66-73.
    19. Skaggs, T.H. & Suarez, D.L. & Goldberg, S. & Shouse, P.J., 2012. "Replicated lysimeter measurements of tracer transport in clayey soils: Effects of irrigation water salinity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 84-93.
    20. Pang, Huan-Cheng & Li, Yu-Yi & Yang, Jin-Song & Liang, Ye-Sen, 2010. "Effect of brackish water irrigation and straw mulching on soil salinity and crop yields under monsoonal climatic conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(12), pages 1971-1977, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:247:y:2021:i:c:s0378377420322502. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.