Effect of drip irrigation with saline water on the construction of shelterbelts for soil and groundwater protection in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, China

Abstract

Fan, J., Wei, Y., Xinwen, W., & Yang, X. (March-April, 2017). Effect of drip irrigation with saline water on the construction of shelterbelts for soil and groundwater protection in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, China. Water Technology and Sciences (in Spanish), 8(2), 19-30.

In order to perceive the effect of drip irrigation with saline water in the desert hinterland on plant growth of shelterbelts and underground environment (vadose zone and groundwater), by developing water-saving irrigation technology to ensure the scientifically substantiated utilization of water resources, four different irrigation cycle experiments (difference in irrigation period I: 12d; IV: 25d; II & III: 25d in the summer and the respective spring and autumn periods, which were the same: 15d and 20d, respectively) were carried out during the irrigation season in four different regions of well irrigation area. In this paper, regular on-site investigation was adopted to observe soil, water, and salt. Single-factor analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) are used to analyze the data acquired by the survey method and for measuring plant growth, complemented with the comparison of groundwater level and chemical index before and after irrigation. The results showed that the reduction of annual irrigation volume from 420 mm to 201.6 mm had almost no effect on plant growth and could save more than 50% of the water as compared to treatment I. Considering the impact on the height-growth of Tamarix, treatment II could be optimized, so that more than 30% of the water could be saved as compared to treatment I. Three days after irrigation, the salt was leached through the soil body into the groundwater. The groundwater level in the shelterbelt area, total dissolved solids (TDS), and total hardness exhibited an upward trend. Six days after irrigation, the high salt concentration region was found at a depth of 0–30 cm.