Application of Conditioner Solution by Subsurface Emitters for Stabilizing the Surrounding Soil
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 6
Abstract
Poor uniformity of water application by subsurface drip irrigation has been examined and some explanations are suggested in this paper. Use of soil conditioners for soil structure stabilization around subsurface drip irrigation pipes was suggested by the authors and tested in the laboratory. The conditioners preserve the structure of existing aggregated and may effectively reduce soil clogging. A silt loam soil was uniformly packed in a box. Two holes were dilled in the box wall through which two emitters were inserted, one for applying solution of soil conditioner and one as a control. Stabilization was achieved by applying two types of polymer solutions differing by their molecular weights through an emitter buried in a silt loam soil. A measured water volume was injected through the emitters into the soil and, after following irrigation, the box was dismantled. Gravimetric soil moisture content and aggregate water stability were measured in vertical and horizontal distances from the emitter. The highest stabilizing effectiveness was obtained with a volume of polymer solution at concentration, which was applied to the soil at an initial moisture content of 13%. The volume of stabilized soil increased with the volume of applied solution, but the volume ratio of stabilized soil to applied solution decreased with the increase in solution volume. A polymer of relatively low molecular weight was found less effective since a large portion of the solution was consumed by fast penetration into soil aggregates without improving the soil structure. The proposed method offers a simple and easy means for preparing a stabilized soil envelope around subsurface drip irrigation pipes, which may improve the long-term performance and uniformity of the application of these systems. Yet for some of these aspects, further field evaluation is needed, since the results of the study are from a laboratory experiment limited to one soil only.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Camp, C.R., Lamm, F.R., Evans, R.G., and Phene, C.J. ( 2000). “Subsurface drip irrigation—past, present and future,” Proc., 4th Decennial National Irrigation Symp., Phoenix, ASAE St. Joseph, Michi., 363–372.
2.
Dierickx, W., and Gabriels, D. ( 1976). “Stabilizing backfill of drain pipes and drainage efficiency.” Proc., 3rd Int. Symp. on Soil Conditioning, De Boodt & Gabriels, eds., Vol. 41, State Univ. of Gent, Belgium, 293–300.
3.
Dierickx, W., and Goossens, F. ( 1978). “Stabilized soil replacing filter material.” Proc., Int. Drainage Workshop, Vol. 25, ILRI.
4.
Fry, R. K., and Spoor, G. (1983). “Electric analogue studies of the influence of soil compaction and smear in the vicinity of a pipe drain on drain performance.” J. Agric. Eng. Res., 28, 207–216.
5.
Godwin, R. J., Spoor, G., and Leed-Harrison, P. B. (1981). “An experimental investigation into the force mechanics and resulting soil disturbance of mole plows.” J. Agric. Eng. Res., 26, 477–497.
6.
Lamm, F. R., Trooien, T. P., Manges, H. L., and Sunderman, H. D. (2001). “Nitrogen fertilization for subsurface drip irrigation corn.” Trans. ASAE, 44(3), 533–542.
7.
Shainberg, I., and Singer, M. J. (1986). “Suspension concentration effects on depositional crusts and soil hydraulic conductivity.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 50, 1537–1540.
8.
Shani, U., and Or, D. (1995). “In-situ method for estimating subsurface unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.” Water Resour. Res., 31 (8), 1863–1870.
9.
Shani, U., Xue, S., Gordin-Katz, R., and Warrick, W. A. (1996). “Soil-limiting flow from subsurface emitters, I: Pressure measurements.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 122(5), 291–295.
10.
Shaviv, A., Ravina, I., and Zaslavsky, D. ( 1985). “Application of soil conditioners by drip irrigation.” Proc., 3rd Int. Drip/Trickle Irrigation Congress, Fresno, Calif.
11.
Shaviv, A., Ravina, I., and Zaslavsky, D. (1987a). “Application of soil conditioner solutions to soil columns.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 51, 431–436.
12.
Shaviv, A., Ravina, I., and Zaslavsky, D. ( 1987b). “Field evaluation of application methods of a soluble anionic conditioner.” Soil Tillage Res., 9, 151–160.
13.
Southard, R. J., Shainberg, I., and Singer, K. M.J. (1988). “Influence of electrolyte concentration on the micromorphology of artificial depositional crust.” Soil Sci., 145, 278–288.
14.
Spoor, G., and Leeds-Harrison, P.B. ( 1999). “Nature of heavy soils and potential drainage problems.” Agricultural drainage, R. W. Skaggs and J. van Schilfgaarde, eds., Agron Mon. 38, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, Wis., 1051–1081.
15.
Stuyt, L.C., and Willarson, L.S. ( 1999). “Drain envelopes.” Agricultural drainage, R. W. Skaggs and J. van Schillgaarde, eds., Agron Mon. 38, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, Wis., 927–962.
16.
Taylor, G.S., and Fausey, N.R. ( 1982). “Backfill alterations and drainage of clay soils.” Proc., 4th ASAE National Drainage Symp., Chicago.
17.
Warrick, A. W., and Shani, U. (1996). “Soil-limiting flow from subsurface emitters, II: Effect on uniformity.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 122(5), 296–300.
18.
Yoder, R.E., ( 1936). “A direct method of aggregate analysis of soils and study of physical nature of erosion losses.” Amer. Soc. Agron. J.,28, 337–351.
19.
Zaslavsky, D. ( 1978). “Definition of the drainage filter problems and a possible use of soil conditioners.” Proc., Int. Drainage Workshop, Wesseling, ed., Wageningen, Netherlands, 340–353.
20.
Zaslavsky, D., Rozenberg, L., and Shaviv, A. ( 1980). “The use of soil conditions for dust prevention.” Fac. Agric. Eng. Pub. No. 310, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 ASCE.
History
Published online: Nov 15, 2004
Published in print: Dec 2004
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.