Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Effect of improved cultural practices on crop yield and soil salinity under relatively saline groundwater applications

  • Published:
Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Abstract

The salinity in the root zone increases with the application of relatively saline groundwater. Therefore, a limited water supply coupled with high pumping cost and salinity hazards, makes it more important than ever that irrigation water be used efficiently and judiciously. In the present study, farmer's practices of irrigation application methods (Field 1) were compared with the water saving techniques (Field 2) for crop yield and salinization for two years with maize–wheat–dhanicha cropping pattern. For maize crop, regular furrow method of irrigation was used in Field 1 and alternate furrow method of irrigation was used in Field 2. For wheat experiments, basin irrigation method of water application was compared with bed and furrow method. For dhanicha, basin irrigation was applied in both the fields. The results showed that about 36% water was saved by applying irrigation water in alternate furrows in each season without compromising the maize crop yield. The salt accumulation in root zone in alternate furrow field was less than that in regular furrow field. The salinity level near the surface increased substantially in both the fields. The water saving in wheat crop under bed and furrow was 9–12% in both seasons. The salinization process in both fields during wheat crop was almost same except redistribution of salts throughout the root zone in basin field of wheat. The salinity developed in root zone during two major growing seasons was leached in monsoon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad S. 1999. Achievements and issues of irrigation in the 20th century. In: Water resources achievements and issues in 20th century and challenges for the next millennium (pp. 188–201). Proceedings of the National Workshop, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad, Pakistan.

  • Asgher A.G. & Ahmad N.D. 1962. Irrigation requirement and consumptive use of water by crops in West Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Science 14: 15–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayers R.S. & Westcot D.W. 1985. Water quality for agriculture. Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 (Rev. 1). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

  • Chandio B.A. 1988. Irrigation scheduling for wheat, Drainage and Reclamation Institute of Pakistan (DRIP Newsletter, Vol. 9(8), Tandojam, Pakistan, pp. 1–2.

  • Gupta R.K. & Abrol I.P. 1990. Salt affected soils their reclamation and management for crop production. Advances in Soil Science 11: 223–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagan R.M. & Stewart J.I. 1972. Water deficit-irrigation design and programming. Journal of Irrigation Drainage Division 98: 215–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain M. 1970. Water requirement of crops in West Pakistan. Research Publication Vol. II (21). Directorate of Land Reclamation, Lahore, Pakistan.

  • Kang S., Liang Z., Pan, Y. Shi P. & Jhang J. 2000. Alternate furrow irrigation for maize production in an arid area. Agricultural Water Management 45: 267–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latif M. & Sarwar S. 1994. Proposal for equitable water allocation for rotational irrigation in Pakistan. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Systems 8: 35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leghari M.M., Ansari A.S. & Kalwar G.N. 1977. Performance of wheat as affected by irrigation at various soil moisture regimes and fertility levels. Proceedings of Water Management for Agriculture, pp. 228–240.

  • Memon N.A., Eusufzai S.U.K., Memon M.H. & Khemani K. 1999. Irrigation scheduling of wheat based on soil water stress. In: Water resources achievements and issues in 20th century and challenges for the next millennium. Proceedings of the national workshop. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad, Pakistan. pp. 217–227.

  • OFWM. 1997. On farm water management field manual, Irrigation Agronomy, Vol. VI. Federal Water Management Cell, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. pp. 76–114.

  • Pasternak D. & De Malach Y. 1987. Saline water irrigation in Negev desert. Publication section, Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

  • Rasul G. 1993. Water requirement of wheat crop in Pakistan. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 12: 71–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades J.D., Kandish A. and Mashali A.M. 1992. The use of saline waters for crop production. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 48. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

  • Salter P.J. & Goode J.E. 1967. Crop responses to water at different stages of growth. Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau, Farnham Royal, Bucks, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viets F.G. 1966. Increasing water use efficiency by soil management. In: W.H. Pierre et al. (Eds), Plant Environment and Efficient Water Use, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahaj R. 2001. Farmers actions and improvements in irrigation performance below the Mogha: How farmers manage water scarcity and abundance in a large scale irrigation system in South-Eastern Punjab, Pakistan. Ph.D. Dissertation, Irrigation and Water Engineering Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 245 p.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Ashraf.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ashraf, M., Saeed, M.M. Effect of improved cultural practices on crop yield and soil salinity under relatively saline groundwater applications. Irrig Drainage Syst 20, 111–124 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-006-1719-4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10795-006-1719-4

Keywords

Navigation