| Title | Influence of irrigation water discharge frequency on soil salt removal and rice yield in a semi-arid and saline-sodic area |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2013 |
| Authors | Chen, Y, Zhang, G, Xu, YJ, Huang, Z |
| Pagination | p. 578 - 589; 5 tab.; 5 fig. |
| Date Published | 2013-05-07 |
| Publisher | Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Water Editorial Office, MDPI |
| Place Published | Basel, Switzerland |
| Keywords | china songnen plain, food, irrigation, production, soil pollution, water management |
| Abstract | Irrigation practice for rice culture can be especially challenging in areas with limited water supply and soil salinization. In this study, a field experiment to assess the effects of different water discharge frequencies on soil salt content, rice yield and water use efficiency on a saline-sodic soil is carried out in a semi-arid region of Northeast China. The experiment comprised of three frequency levels of discharge [9-time (I-9-30), 6-time (I-6-30) and 3-time (I-3-30) discharge, all followed with a 30-mm irrigation] in comparison with the traditional irrigation practice of 2-time discharge followed with an 80-mm irrigation (I-2-80). The initial hypothesis was that increasing discharge frequency would increase both salt reduction and rice yield. Daily precipitation was recorded by a nearby weather station, and evapotranspiration and soil water percolation rates were measured at experimental sites using soil pits. The measurements were used to establish a water balance for each treatment. Our results showed that soil salt reduction increased with the increasing discharge frequency at a 30-mm irrigation water depth. The 9-time discharge reduced a large amount of soil salt (995.0 kg ha−1) after five months of the study. Rice yield also increased with the increasing discharge frequency with a 30-mm irrigation water depth; however, when compared to the traditional 2-time discharge followed with an 80-mm irrigation, rice yield at the sites with more frequent discharge (i.e., I-9-30, I-6-30 and I-3-30) was 11%–18% lower. Because of this, rice yield and irrigation water use efficiency were significantly higher under the traditional practice of high-irrigation with low-frequency discharge (I-2-80) than under I-9-30, I-6-30 and I-3-30. These results indicate a need for a trade-off amongst salt reduction, rice yield and water use when considering selection of irrigation and discharge schedules. [authors abstract] |
| Notes | With 41 references on p. 589-592 |
| Custom 1 | 272.2 |
