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The Pros and Cons of Encouraging Shallow Groundwater Use through Controlled Drainage in a Salt-Impacted Irrigation Area

Author

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  • S. Li

    (Xi’an University of Technology)

  • Wan Luo

    (Yangzhou University)

  • Z. Jia

    (Yangzhou University)

  • S. Tang

    (Yangzhou University)

  • C. Chen

    (Yangzhou University)

Abstract

Encouraging shallow groundwater use through water table management or controlled drainage in irrigated areas can relief crop water stress under water shortage condition. But substituting fresh irrigation water with saline groundwater may speed up salinity buildup in the crop root zone, and consequently increase water use for salt leaching. With a proposed analytical model, this paper presents a case study demonstrating the effect of encouraging shallow groundwater use through controlled drainage on salt and water management in a semi-arid irrigation area in northwestern China. Based on the average rainfall condition, the model assumes that salt accumulates in the crop root zone due to irrigation and shallow groundwater use; till the average soil salinity reaches the crop tolerance level, leaching irrigation is performed and the drainage outlet is lowered to discharge the salt-laden leaching water. For the relatively salt tolerant crop–cotton in the study area, the predicted leaching cycle was as long as 751 days using the fresh water (with salinity of 0.5 g/L) irrigation only; it was shortened to 268 days when the water table depth was controlled at 2 m and 23% of the crop water requirement was contributed from the saline groundwater (with salinity of 4.43 g/L). The predicted leaching cycle was 140 days when the water table depth was controlled at 1.5 m and groundwater contribution was 41% of the crop water requirement; it was shortened to 119 days when the water table depth was controlled at 1.2 m and the groundwater contribution was 67% of the crop water requirements. So the benefit from encouraged shallow groundwater use through controlled drainage is obtained at the expense of shortened leaching cycle; but the shallow groundwater use by crops consists of a significant portion of crop water requirements, and the leaching cycle remains long enough to provide a time window for scheduled leaching in the off season of irrigation. Weighing the pros and cons of the encouraged shallow groundwater use may help plan irrigation and drainage practices to achieve higher water use efficiency in saline agricultural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Li & Wan Luo & Z. Jia & S. Tang & C. Chen, 2018. "The Pros and Cons of Encouraging Shallow Groundwater Use through Controlled Drainage in a Salt-Impacted Irrigation Area," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(7), pages 2475-2487, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:32:y:2018:i:7:d:10.1007_s11269-018-1940-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-018-1940-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fazlullah Akhtar & Bernhard Tischbein & Usman Awan, 2013. "Optimizing Deficit Irrigation Scheduling Under Shallow Groundwater Conditions in Lower Reaches of Amu Darya River Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 27(8), pages 3165-3178, June.
    2. Ayars, James E. & Shouse, Peter & Lesch, Scott M., 2009. "In situ use of groundwater by alfalfa," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(11), pages 1579-1586, November.
    3. Jia, Z. & Luo, W. & Xie, J. & Pan, Y. & Chen, Y. & Tang, S. & Liu, W., 2011. "Salinity dynamics of wetland ditches receiving drainage from irrigated agricultural land in arid and semi-arid regions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 100(1), pages 9-17.
    4. 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.
    5. Karimov, Akmal Kh. & Šimůnek, Jirka & Hanjra, Munir A. & Avliyakulov, Mirzaolim & Forkutsa, Irina, 2014. "Effects of the shallow water table on water use of winter wheat and ecosystem health: Implications for unlocking the potential of groundwater in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 57-69.
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    1. Xu Dou & Haibin Shi & Ruiping Li & Qingfeng Miao & Feng Tian & Dandan Yu & Liying Zhou & Bo Wang, 2021. "Effects of Controlled Drainage on the Content Change and Migration of Moisture, Nutrients, and Salts in Soil and the Yield of Oilseed Sunflower in the Hetao Irrigation District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-19, September.

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