Liang Liu, Yuling Zhao, Dongjuan Cheng and Baoguo Ma
Hydraulic conductivity is very low in saline-sodic soil, which decreases water infiltration. For saline-sodic soil, increasing infiltration water has a special meaning. Increasing…
Abstract
Purpose
Hydraulic conductivity is very low in saline-sodic soil, which decreases water infiltration. For saline-sodic soil, increasing infiltration water has a special meaning. Increasing infiltration water not only increases the water in the soil profile but also decreases the salinity of the soil, thus making it suitable for growing crops. This study aims to examine the effect of sand pipes on soil water and salt distribution through laboratory tests with different depths and diameters of sand pipes.
Design/methodology/approach
The soil water and salt distribution responses to different sand pipe depths and diameters was investigated. Treatments included sand pipes with diameters of 4 cm, 5cm, 6 cm and the same depth of 4 cm; with depths of 2cm, 6 cm and the same diameter of 5 cm, and a control with no sand pipe (with the diameter of 0 cm and the depth of 0 cm).
Findings
The results suggested that the amount of cumulative infiltration water and transport distance of the wetting front could be increased by increasing the depth and diameter of sand pipes. The soil water content in the soil profile decreased under all treatments except for the control, whereas the value of EC increased with increasing distance from the film hole center. Positive relationships were also found among the sand pipe depth, diameter and the zone of low salt content. Furthermore, salt leaching depth increased with sand pipe depth and diameter. Overall, the treatments with and without sand pipes exhibited obvious differences.
Originality/value
The correlation analysis proved that increasing the infiltration area through sand pipes positively affected the amount of infiltration water, wetting scope and salt leaching depth.
Details
Keywords
H.X. Wu, Yunxin Zhang, Lishu Wang, Dongjuan Chen and Chao Ma
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different infiltration heads on soil water movement using a free infiltration test for small-diameter tube outflow furrow…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different infiltration heads on soil water movement using a free infiltration test for small-diameter tube outflow furrow irrigation under mulch film.
Design/methodology/approach
The test consisted of small-diameter tube outflow furrow irrigation under mulch film with three different infiltration heads (3, 4 and 5 cm) and furrow drip irrigation under mulch film using an infiltration head of 4 cm (CK).
Findings
During irrigation, the accumulated infiltration and migration distance of the wetting front increased with time. During the same infiltration time, both the accumulated infiltration and horizontal migration distance of the wetting front increased with the larger infiltration head, whereas the vertical migration distance of the wetting front gradually decreased. With increasing distance from the furrow center, soil moisture content declined, but the uniformity of its distribution increased as the infiltration head increased.
Originality/value
This study can provide scientific basis for the use of small-diameter tube outflow furrow irrigation under mulch film.