Distribution of moisture and salinity under deficit irrigation and irrigation water salinity in an alternative trickle irrigation system of tape

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the horizontal and vertical distribution of soil moisture and salinity using an alternative trickle irrigation system of drip tape. Four main treatments consisting of 100, 80, 70, and 60% of the plants’ water requirements and three sub-treatments of 2.1, 4.6, and 10.2 dS/m, were conducted. Following irrigation, the soil moisture and salinity distribution around the emitters were measured every 24 h. The results showed that the accumulation of salts in the soil reduced the evaporation from the soil surface in treatments with high salinity. Therefore, in treatments with a low plant water requirement and high salinity levels, the volume of water in the soil is greater than in treatments with a high plant water requirement and low salinity levels. Although the crop yield is reduced with deficit irrigation, the saved water can be used to increase the area under cultivation, leading to increases in the overall crop yield.