Reduced-Runoff Irrigation of Alfalfa in Imperial Valley, California
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 127, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper assesses the potential of the “reduced-runoff” surface irrigation method for clay soils to limit tailwater runoff and evaluate its impacts on crop production and soil salinity throughout a 3-year alfalfa hay production cycle in the Imperial Valley. Despite moderately saline field conditions, tailwater runoff was reduced to <2%, thereby reducing the annual water application by approximately 28% with no loss in hay yield or quality in comparison to countywide averages. The valley average applied-water yield efficiency (yield/applied water) was increased from 8.9 to 15.2 kg/ha-mm. When corrected for yield reduction due to salinity conditions (i.e., ∼21 kg/ha-mm), this latter value is comparable to reported maximum alfalfa water-use efficiency (∼20 kg/ha-mm). Soil salinity accumulated (from 6 to 14 dS/m) at the 0.9–1.5 m depth interval of the soil profile, particularly in the lower 15% of the border checks by the end of the study. However, disking, a single leaching irrigation, and sweet corn production after termination of the alfalfa were adequate to reclaim the soil.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 127 • Issue 3 • June 2001
Pages: 123 - 130
History
Received: Apr 6, 2000
Published online: Jun 1, 2001
Published in print: Jun 2001
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