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HYDRUS simulations of the effects of dual-drip subsurface irrigation and a physical barrier on water movement and solute transport in soils

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Abstract

Subsurface drip irrigation systems, compared to other irrigation systems, enhance the delivery of water and nutrients directly into the root zone. However, in light-textured soils, certain quantities of water may percolate below the root zone due to the subsurface position of drip lines and/or poor management of irrigation systems. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate three technologies to enhance a spatial distribution of water and solutes in the root zone and to limit downward leaching. The three technologies include (a) a physical barrier, (b) a dual-drip system with concurrent irrigation, and (c) a dual-drip system with sequential irrigation. To achieve this objective, we performed computer simulations using the HYDRUS (2D/3D) software for both bare and vegetated soils. The results indicate that the physical barrier is more efficient than dual-drip systems in enhancing the water distribution in the root zone while preventing downward leaching. On the other hand, the dual-drip system improves water distribution in sandy soils. Additionally, the dual-drip system with sequential irrigation, followed by the dual-drip system with concurrent irrigation, is the most efficient in limiting downward leaching of solutes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the National Plan of Science and Technology at King Saud University for funding this research by the research project, 10-WAT985-02. Thanks are also due to Alamoudi Chair for Water Research, where this research was being carried out. Many thanks and appreciation are to the associate editor and three anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alamoudi Chair for Water Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad N. El-Nesr & A. A. Alazba

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Jiří Šimůnek

Authors
  1. Mohammad N. El-Nesr
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  2. A. A. Alazba
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  3. Jiří Šimůnek
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Correspondence to Mohammad N. El-Nesr.

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Communicated by N. Lazarovitch.

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El-Nesr, M.N., Alazba, A.A. & Šimůnek, J. HYDRUS simulations of the effects of dual-drip subsurface irrigation and a physical barrier on water movement and solute transport in soils. Irrig Sci 32, 111–125 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-013-0417-x

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