Premium
Combining Surface Mulches and Periodic Water Applications for Reclaiming Saline Soils
Author(s) -
Carter David L.,
Fanning Carl D.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1964.03615995002800040033x
Subject(s) - leaching (pedology) , leaching model , soil water , environmental science , agronomy , soil salinity , soil horizon , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering
Water applied by periodic sprinkling of surface‐mulched soil resulted in greater salt removal and higher leaching efficiency than did either flooding or periodic sprinkling of bare soil. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) bur and chopped shrubbery mulches were about equally effective. Flooding and sprinkling bare soil decreased salt concentration in the surface 2 feet of the soil profile, but salt accumulated below a depth of 3 feet when compared with check soil that received only rainfall. Similarly, salts were removed from all depths to 5 feet where surface mulches were present. The salt leaching efficiency decreased from above 90% in the surface foot to approximately 33% in the fifth foot of surface‐mulched soil. The higher leaching efficiency for mulched soil was attributed to the probably reduced evaporation under mulches that lessened upward movement of water.