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Managing lateral infiltration on wide beds in clay and sandy clay loam using Hydrus 2D

Irrigation Science volume 33, pages 177–190 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The water productivity of wide beds is largely constrained by poor lateral infiltration. Therefore, field trials were conducted to quantify soil moisture distribution on two soils using three renovation methods [no tillage (NT), shallow cultivation (SC) and blade ploughing (BP)] and four furrow water heads. The aim was to explore strategies for improving lateral infiltration using Hydrus 2D simulation techniques. The results showed increased lateral infiltration and soil water storage with BP, increased vertical infiltration and deep drainage with SC and reduced infiltration with NT treatments. Interestingly, the maximum wetting time of a 2 m wide bed on the clay was ~20 h with NT at a 4-cm furrow water head. This seems achievable under the Australian field conditions. However, the minimum wetting time of a 1.3 m wide bed on the sandy clay loam was 15 h with BP at full furrow water head, which is difficult to manage under short Pakistani furrows with quicker irrigation times. The evaluations and graphical presentations developed can enhance decision support for the optimised irrigation management and bed width design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climate Change, Alternate Energy and Water Resources Institute (CAEWRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Park Road Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan

    Ghani Akbar

  2. National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture (NCEA), University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Toowoomba, Australia

    Steven Raine

  3. CIMMYT–China, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, People’s Republic of China

    Allen David McHugh

  4. Maximum Soil and Water Productivity Pty Ltd., Perth, WA, Australia

    Greg Hamilton

Authors
  1. Ghani Akbar
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  2. Steven Raine
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  3. Allen David McHugh
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  4. Greg Hamilton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ghani Akbar.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Ayars.

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Akbar, G., Raine, S., McHugh, A.D. et al. Managing lateral infiltration on wide beds in clay and sandy clay loam using Hydrus 2D. Irrig Sci 33, 177–190 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-014-0458-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-014-0458-9

Keywords

  • Water Head
  • Sandy Clay Loam
  • Renovation Method
  • Antecedent Soil Moisture
  • Vertical Infiltration