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Short‐Term Sustainability of Drainage Water Reuse: Spatio‐Temporal Impacts on Soil Chemical Properties
Author(s) -
Corwin Dennis L.,
Lesch Scott M.,
Oster James D.,
Kaffka Stephen R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2007.0140
Subject(s) - environmental science , drainage , soil salinity control , hydrology (agriculture) , leaching model , soil salinity , loam , leaching (pedology) , soil water , irrigation , well drainage , salinity , san joaquin , water quality , soil quality , soil science , agronomy , geology , ecology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , biology
Greater urban demand for finite water resources, increased frequency of drought resulting from erratic weather, and increased pressure to reduce drainage water volumes have intensified the need to reuse drainage water. A study was initiated in 1999 on a 32.4‐ha saline‐sodic field (Lethent clay loam series; fine, montmorillonitic, thermic, Typic Natrargid) located on the west side of California's San Joaquin Valley (WSJV) with the objective of evaluating the sustainability of drainage water reuse with respect to impact on soil quality. An evaluation after 5 yr of irrigation with drainage water is presented. Geo‐referenced measurements of apparent soil electrical conductivity (EC a ) were used to direct soil sampling at 40 sites to characterize the spatial variability of soil properties (i.e., salinity, Se, Na, B, and Mo) crucial to the soil's intended use of growing Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon (l.) Pers.) for livestock consumption. Soil samples were taken at 0.3‐m increments to a depth of 1.2 m at each site in August 1999, April 2002, and November 2004. Drainage water varying in salinity (0.8–16.2 dS m −1 ), SAR (5.4–52.4), Mo (80–400 μg L −1 ), and Se (<1–700 μg L −1 ) was applied to the field since July 2000. An analysis of the general temporal trend shows that overall soil quality has improved due to leaching of B from the top 0.6 m of soil; salinity and Na from the top 1.2 m, but primarily from 0 to 0.6 m; and Mo from the top 1.2 m. Short‐term sustainability of drainage water reuse is supported by the results.