微咸水灌溉对土壤EC值及冬小麦产量的影响

通过测坑试验,在"咸淡淡"、"淡咸淡"、"淡淡咸"3种微咸水-淡水交替灌溉方式和1、3、5 g/L三种微咸水矿化度水平条件下,监测并分析了各生育期灌水前后及生育期结束后土壤0~20、20~40、40~60 cm土层EC值,测定并分析了冬小麦产量及其构成因子。结果表明,整个生育期内,各层土壤EC值呈波动周期性变化趋势;微咸水-淡水交替灌溉方式主要影响土壤盐分的垂直分布,盐灌越靠前,盐分聚集层越深;灌水矿化度主要影响土壤总体EC值,随灌水矿化度增加,土壤总EC值变大。冬小麦产量和产量构成因子随灌水矿化度升高而呈减小的趋势,冬小麦的产量构成因子及产量在"咸淡淡"与"淡淡咸"2种轮灌方式下差异性显著,表现为"咸淡淡""淡淡咸"。     

Conjunctive use of saline and non-saline irrigation waters in semi-arid regions

In arid and semi-arid regions, effluent from sub-surface drainage systems is often saline and during the dry season its disposal poses an environmental problem. A field experiment was conducted from 1989 to 1992 using saline drainage water (EC=10.5–15.0 dS/m) together with fresh canal water (EC=0.4 dS/m) for irrigation during the dry winter season. The aim was to find if crop production would still be feasible and soil salinity would not be increased unacceptably by this practice. The experimental crops were a winter crop, wheat, and pearl-millet and sorghum, the rainy season crops, grown on a sandy loam soil. All crops were given a pre-plant irrigation with fresh canal water. Subsequently, the wheat crop was irrigated four times with different sequences of saline drainage water and canal water. The rainy season crops received no further irrigation as they were rainfed. Taking the wheat yield obtained with fresh canal water as the potential value (100%), the mean relative yield of wheat irrigated with only saline drainage water was 74%. Substitution of canal water at first post-plant irrigation and applying thereafter only saline drainage water, increased the yield to 84%. Cyclic irrigations with canal and drainage water in different treatments resulted in yields of 88% to 94% of the potential. Pearl-millet and sorghum yields decreased significantly where 3 or 4 post-plant irrigations were applied with saline drainage water to previous wheat crop, but cyclic irrigations did not cause yield reduction. The high salinity and sodicity of the drainage water increased the soil salinity and sodicity in the soil profile during the winter season, but these hazards were eliminated by the sub-surface drainage system during the ensuing monsoon periods. The results obtained provide a promising option for the use of poor quality drainage water in conjunction with fresh canal water without undue yield reduction and soil degradation. This will save the scarce canal water, reduce the drainage water disposal needs and associated environmental problems.     

Grapefruit response to variable salinity in irrigation water and soil

Summary Results are reported from a long-term field experiment designed to determine the effect of irrigation water salinity on the yield and water uptake of mature grapefruit trees. Treatments were started in 1970 and consisted of chloride concentrations in the irrigation water of 7.1, 11.4 and 17.1 meq/1 added as NaCl+CaCl₂ at a 1 : 1 weight ratio.For the last four years of the experiment, 1973 to 1976, yield was linearly related to the mean chloride concentration in the soil saturation extract weighted according to the distribution of water uptake with depth and time (Fig. 2, Table 1). There was a 1.45% (1.68 Mg/ha) yield reduction for each 1 meq/1 increase in chloride concentration above a threshold value of 4.5 meq/1. This corresponded to a 13.5% (14.7 Mg/ha) decrease per 1 mmho/cm increase in the electrical conductivity of the soil saturation extract above a threshold value of 1.2 mmho/cm.Total water uptake was reduced as salt concentration in the soil increased (Fig. 3, Table 2). In the high salinity treatment, root concentration in, and water uptake from, the lower portion of the root zone were decreased. The maximum electrical conductivity (ECe) measured at the bottom of the root zone was 7.90 mmho/cm similar to the values of EC, obtained by linear extrapolation to zero yield and also to zero water uptake.Salt accumulation in the soil depended on the quantity and salt concentration of the irrigation water, rainfall, and on the amount of leaching. SAR and the Na⁺ concentration of the soil remained low throughout the experiment (Table 3). No leaf symptoms of either Cl^– or Na⁺ injury were observed. The results indicate an osmotic — rather than a specific ion effect — of salinity on grapefruit yield.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1977 Series No. 197-E     

Effect of irrigation methods,management and salinity of irrigation water on tomato yield,soil moisture and salinity distribution

The increasing demand for irrigation water to secure food for growing populations with limited water supply suggests re-thinking the use of non-conventional water resources. The latter includes saline drainage water, brackish groundwater and treated waste water. The effects of using saline drainage water (electrical conductivity of 4.2–4.8 dS m⁻¹) to irrigate field-grown tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv Floradade) using drip and furrow irrigation systems were evaluated, together with the distribution of soil moisture and salt. The saline water was either diluted to different salinity levels using fresh water (blended) or used cyclically with fresh water. The results of two seasons of study (2001 and 2002) showed that increasing salinity resulted in decreased leaf area index, plant dry weight, fruit total yield and individual fruit weight. In all cases, the growth parameters and yield as well as the water use efficiency were greater for drip irrigated tomato plants than furrow-irrigated plants. However, furrow irrigation produced higher individual fruit weight. The electrical conductivity of the soil solution (extracted 48 h after irrigation) showed greater fluctuations when cyclic water management was used compared to those plots irrigated with blended water. In both drip and furrow irrigation, measurements of soil moisture one day after irrigation, showed that soil moisture was higher at the top 20 cm layer and at the location of the irrigation water source; soil moisture was at a minimum in the root zone (20–40 cm layer), but showed a gradual increase at 40–60 and 60–90 cm and was stable at 90–120 cm depth. Soil water content decreased gradually as the distance from the irrigation water source increased. In addition, a few days after irrigation, the soil moisture content decreased, but the deficit was most pronounced in the surface layer. Soil salinity at the irrigation source was lower at a depth of 15 cm (surface layer) than that at 30 and 60 cm, and was minimal in deeper layers (i.e. 90 cm). Salinity increased as the distance from the irrigation source increased particularly in the surface layer. The results indicated that the salinity followed the water front. We concluded that the careful and efficient management of irrigation with saline water can leave the groundwater salinity levels unaffected and recommended the use of drip irrigation as the fruit yield per unit of water used was on average one-third higher than when using furrow irrigation.     

盐碱地排水沟水体盐分变化规律

为了研究陕西卤泊滩盐碱地排水沟在排水出路受阻,上游灌区退水导致排水沟周期性较高水位运行条件下的水体盐分变化情况,选择研究区3条排水沟,进行野外水盐监测试验,测定了排水沟水体盐分随时间的变化规律.研究结果表明:在当前条件下影响研究区排水沟水量的主要因素为干旱蒸发和上游灌区退水.干旱期排水沟水量较少,上游灌区低含盐量的退水进入研究区排水沟内,致使水量显著增大,在研究区下游排水沟内水深达1.15 m;排水沟水体电导率值在干旱季节较高,盐分从上游至下游呈现出一定的富集现象;上游监测点位水体电导率基本维持在2~14 ms/cm,下游水体电导率值高达25.2 ms/cm;研究区上游灌区退水在排水沟内大量蓄积,使得排水沟水体电导率值降低至1.9 ms/cm,稀释率高达10倍,表明退水可以稀释排水沟中的盐分水平,维持排水沟水体盐分平衡,达到排盐效果.     

Corn production as influenced by irrigation and salinity — Utah studies

Summary This paper reports the results of a two-year field study at Logan, Utah which was one of a series of similar experiments carried out at Ft. Collins, Colorado, Davis, California and Yuma, Arizona. A range of water application rates were imposed using the line-source system (Hanks et al., 1976) and in some treatments water was withheld during certain growth stages. Salinity variables were imposed by presalinization before planting and by the use of saline irrigation water. Regardless of irrigation or salinity regime, corn grain and total dry matter production were linearly related to evapotranspiration, which was measured as the sum of irrigation, rainfall and soil water depletion minus drainage. Presalinization of the soil decreased yields in proportion to the salinity imposed, the decrease being associated with reductions in evapotranspiration caused by reduced soil water depletion as compared to the nonsalinized treatments.Contribution from Utah State University, Department of Soil Science and Biometeorology, in cooperation with Utah Agr. Exp. Sta., Logan, Utah 84 322. Journal Paper No. 2188. Supported in parts by Grants No. C-5189, Consortium for International Development and No. B-121-UT, Utah Water Res. Lab. and USDI, Office of Water Res. and TechnologyProfessor, Associate Professor, and Research Assistants, respectively     

Water use,growth and rubber yields of four guayule selections as related to irrigation regimes

Summary There has been renewed interest in cultivating guayule (Parthenium argentatum G.) for rubber production. Water use, growth and rubber yields of four guayule selections (593, 11.591, 11 646 and 4265 XF) were evaluated for two years in nonweighing field lysimeters at El Paso, TX. Four irrigation treatments were evaluated; these involved irrigation when about 40, 60 or 90% of available water was depleted, and the fourth treatment was irrigated at 60% depletion using saline water containing 3,300 mg of dissolved salts per liter. Water use for the two year period for these treatments amounted to 219, 147, 96 and 132 cm, respectively, plus biennial rainfall of 32 cm. Shrub and resin yields increased linearly with increasing irrigation, while rubber contents generally decreased with irrigation. Resultant rubber yields were highest under the lowest stress treatment, yielding about 840 kg/ha. Rubber yields with other treatments averaged 560 kg/ha with no significant yield differences among the tested selections. The salt treatment increased rubber contents of the shrubs, but caused reductions in shrub and rubber yields. Guayule plants survived well under low soil moisture, but water requirement to produce unit quantities of biomass was high (about 15 cm to produce one ton of dry shrub per ha). Guayule should not be regarded as a low water consuming crop if high yields per land area are to be achieved.Contribution from Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. This project was supported in part by a fund from USDA Latex Commission and Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD). The authors are Associate Professor, and Technicians, respectively     

咸淡轮灌和生物炭对滨海盐渍土水盐运移特征的影响

为利用滨海地区微咸水改良盐渍土,进行了不同咸淡水轮灌(淡淡、淡咸、咸淡、咸咸)和施用生物炭(0、15、30 t/hm2)的室内入渗试验,探讨了咸淡轮灌和生物炭施用下滨海盐渍土水盐运移过程.结果表明:滨海盐渍土水分运动主要受初始入渗水质的影响,先咸后淡的轮灌方式更有利于土壤水分入渗,入渗速率增加了8.2％～46.9％,并...     

Irrigation with saline water: benefits and environmental impact

The shortage of water resources of good quality is becoming an important issue in the arid and semi-arid zones. For this reason the availability of water resources of marginal quality such as drainage water, saline groundwater and treated wastewater has become an important consideration. Nevertheless, the use of these waters in irrigated lands requires the control of soil salinity by means of leaching and drainage of excess water and salt. However, the leaching of salts, soil microelements and agro-chemicals can lower the quality of the drainage water in the irrigation scheme. The irrigation return flows with water or poor quality are a source of pollution of the surface water bodies situated downstream of the drainage outlet. Deep percolation could also contaminate the groundwater. Therefore, irrigation with saline water requires a comprehensive analysis even beyond the area where water is applied. The problem should be treated beyond the scope of the irrigation scheme, taking into consideration the groundwater and downstream surface water resources of the river basin. Consequently, the sustainable use of saline water in irrigated agriculture requires the control of soil salinity at the field level, a decrease in the amount of drainage water, and the disposal of the irrigation return flows in such a way that minimizes the side effects on the quality of downstream water resources. This paper describes the guidelines for a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of water for irrigation and the key factors for salinity control in lands irrigated with saline water. Options to improve the quality of the drainage water, strategies for the reuse of this water and alternatives for disposal of the outflow are also analysed. The final goal is to obtain sustainable agriculture and maintain the quality of the water resources in the river basin.     

咸水膜下滴灌频率对土壤表层水盐环境的影响

为了更好地指导干旱区农业生产,利用地下咸水进行了膜下滴灌频率试验,设3种滴灌频率,即1次/24 h(T1)、1次/48 h(T2)和1次/72 h(T3),探讨了相同灌水量下不同滴灌频率对土壤表层水盐环境的影响。结果表明,(1)T2处理浅层土壤含水率高于T1和T3处理0.5%~1.0%,且试验后期形成面积和深度均大于T1和T3处理的;(2)土壤电导率在整个试验过程中呈增加趋势,T2处理土壤电导率增长幅度相对较小,土壤返盐程度较小;(3)土壤p H值在试验中期增大,试验后期减小,表层土壤p H值达8.5左右;(4)土壤表层各盐分离子量在试验期间的增加程度远小于土壤结冻期;土壤表层重碳酸根离子量在试验后期超过120.0 mg/kg,土壤总碱度增大,土壤存在碱化趋势。因此,滴灌频率1次/48 h可为作物提供比较适宜的土壤表层水盐环境,可作为民勤绿洲咸水滴灌频率参考值;同时,使用咸水滴灌后,绿洲土壤存在明显碱化趋势,因此还需采取其他灌排措施减弱土壤次生盐渍化。     

生物炭添加量对冬小麦花后干物质积累及转运的影响

【目的】提高微咸水灌溉效率并降低土壤盐渍化风险。【方法】以冬小麦为研究对象,设计避雨条件下不同微咸水-生物炭处理(CK,淡水;B0,5 g/L微咸水;B15,5 g/L微咸水及15 t/hm²生物炭;B30,5 g/L微咸水及30 t/hm²生物炭;B45,5 g/L微咸水及45 t/hm²生物炭)的田间试验,探讨了微咸水灌溉下生物炭添加量对土壤特性和冬小麦花后干物质积累及转运的影响机制。【结果】生物炭添加后土壤表层(0~20 cm)体积质量降低了2.27%~8.33%,总孔隙度增加了4.52%~13.47%,有机质量增加了30.02%~111.12%,土壤表层(0~20 cm)及主根区(0~40 cm)钠吸附比降低了23.88%~33.27%和22.34%~30.80%;15 t/hm²能够促进盐分淋洗,降低了微咸水灌溉下土壤含盐量,然而高剂量时将加剧盐分累积。单独微咸水灌溉下冬小麦生长受抑,最终产量下降了12.04%。生物炭能够缓解盐胁迫下叶片早衰,促进光合作用能力,并增加花前干物质转运量及花后干物质积累量,进而获取了更高的籽粒质量和收获指数。B15、B30、B45处理的最终产量较B0处理分别增加9.18%、7.73%、2.74%。【结论】15 t/hm²添加量的生物炭效果最佳,可促进微咸水资源的农业利用。     

黄河下游灌区农田排水再利用效应模拟评价

在田间试验观测基础上,采用SWAP模型分析黄河下游簸箕李引黄灌区农田排水再利用下的土壤盐分季节性变化以及地下水位对土壤盐分剖面分布的影响,模拟农田排水补灌对作物产量的效应。研究结果表明,咸排水补灌引起的土壤盐分积聚主要在冬小麦生长期,夏玉米生长期内并不明显,有效地控制地下水位有助于减少土壤盐分累积量,维系作物根区的盐分平衡。利用含盐量为4mg/cm3以下的农田排水在冬小麦生长后期水分亏缺阶段进行补灌,可在基本不影响随后夏玉米产量的基础上,不同程度地改善冬小麦产量。对缺水严重的黄河下游引黄灌区,农田排水再利用是缓解水资源供需矛盾、改善作物产量的一种有效水管理措施。     

Drip Irrigation of Tomato and Cotton Under Shallow Saline Ground Water Conditions

Artificial subsurface drainage is not an option for addressing the saline, shallow ground water conditions along the west side of the San Joaquin Valley because of the lack of drainage water disposal facilities. Thus, the salinity/drainage problem of the valley must be addressed through improved irrigation practices. One option is to use drip irrigation in the salt affected soil.A study evaluated the response of processing tomato and cotton to drip irrigation under shallow, saline ground water at depths less than 1 m. A randomized block experiment with four irrigation treatments of different water applications was used for both crops. Measurements included crop yield and quality, soil salinity, soil water content, soil water potential, and canopy coverage. Results showed drip irrigation of processing tomato to be highly profitable under these conditions due to the yield obtained for the highest water application. Water applications for drip-irrigated tomato should be about equal to seasonal crop evapotranspiration because yield decreased as applied water decreased. No yield response of cotton to applied water occurred indicating that as applied water decreased, cotton uptake of the shallow ground water increased. While a water balance showed no field-wide leaching, salinity data clearly showed salt leaching around the drip lines.     

覆砂下微咸水盐度和SAR对水盐入渗及分布的影响

为探讨覆砂条件下灌溉水盐度及钠吸附比对土壤水分入渗过程及水盐分布的影响规律,通过室内土柱模拟试验,研究了灌溉水盐度(EC为0,1.0,2.5,5.0,7.5 dS/m,SAR为5.8(mmol/L)^0.5)和钠吸附比(SAR为 3.9,7.0,12.7,22.7(mmol/L)^0.5,EC为2.5 dS/m)对土壤累积湿润锋和入渗量以及水盐分布的影响.结果表明,随灌溉水盐度的增加,累积湿润锋呈增加趋势,而累积入渗量呈减少趋势.与去离子水相比,7.5 dS/m处理的累积湿润锋较蒸馏水增加了7.0%,而土壤平均含水率降低了36.0%.累积湿润锋和入渗量随灌溉水钠吸附比增加先增大后减小,土壤含水率受灌溉水钠吸附比的影响较小.土壤含盐量随灌溉水盐度增加而呈幂函数增加,但与钠吸附比无明显关系.灌溉水的钠吸附比提高了土壤pH值.     

暗管排水条件下微咸水灌溉对土壤盐分动态及夏玉米生长的影响

进行暗管排水条件下微咸水灌溉田间试验,设置3种暗管埋深,分别为80 cm(D1)、120 cm(D2)以及无暗管排水(D0),3种微咸水浓度,其电导率分别为0.78 dS/m(S1),3.75 dS/m(S2)和6.25 dS/m(S3),共9个处理,每个处理3组重复.试验结果表明:暗管排水措施可以有效排除微咸水灌溉过程中土壤中累积的盐分;在玉米全生育期内,暗管埋深D1条件下,3种浓度微咸水S1,S2和S3灌溉时根系土壤电导率分别下降了39.00%,31.56%和29.43%,暗管埋深D2条件下,根系土壤电导率则分别下降了31.91%,18.08%和7.44%;夏玉米干物质累积量、穗棒累积量和穗棒质量分配率及最终产量均随着微咸水浓度的升高而降低;在相同微咸水浓度下,不同暗管埋设条件下的夏玉米最终产量从大到小依次为D1,D2,D0;3种暗管埋设条件下的作物需水量从大到小依次为D0,D2,D1的规律;暗管埋深80 cm的处理(D1)下夏玉米水分利用效率最高,而未埋设暗管的处理(D0)水分利用效率最低;当暗管埋设条件一定时,夏玉米水分利用效率随微咸水浓度的升高呈逐渐降低的趋势.     

咸水灌溉对土壤水热盐变化及棉花产量和品质的影响

为了充分利用咸水资源,采用田间对比试验,研究了1、3、5、7 g/L等4个矿化度咸水(分别用S1、S2、S3、S4表示)灌溉对棉田土壤水热盐变化特征及棉花长势、产量和纤维品质的影响。结果表明,棉花生育期内各处理0~40 cm土层土壤含水率及地下5 cm处土壤温度总体上都随着灌溉水矿化度的增加而增大,但差异不大;处理间土壤电导率差异明显,灌溉水矿化度愈高,土壤电导率愈大,棉花生育期结束后,降雨对各处理盐分的淋洗率介于29.40%~40.40%。土壤水分和盐分剖面分布受制于土壤质地、降雨和棉花蒸发蒸腾耗水;干旱时期,土壤干燥,盐分表聚,湿润时期与之相反。棉花成苗率、株高、单株最大叶面积和霜前花率均随着灌溉水矿化度的增加而降低,籽棉产量从大到小依次为S2、S1、S3和S4,其中,S4与S1处理间的差异达显著水平。咸水灌溉通过改变马克隆值对纤维品质产生了负面影响,尤其是S4处理。研究结果可为丰富棉花咸水灌溉技术体系提供理论支撑。     

滴灌水质与灌溉频率对高含盐土壤棉花苗期生长的影响

研究了滴灌水质与灌溉频率对棉花苗期生长的影响。试验土壤为砂壤土(砂粒68%、粉粒24%、粘粒8%),土壤初始含盐量为0.8%。灌溉水质有3个水平,分别为CK(自来水)、S10(SAR=10,EC=3)与S5(SAR=5,EC=3);灌溉频率有3个水平,分别为高频(每4 d)、中频(每8 d)与低频(每16 d)。一条滴灌管灌溉2行棉花,棉花的行距为40 cm,株距为10 cm。试验结果表明,在高含盐土壤中,高频灌溉时,水质对棉苗生长的影响更大;微咸水灌溉有利于棉花苗期生长。灌溉频率对地上、地下各生长指标与总干重均有显著影响。微咸水灌溉时,地上部分生长指标与总干重在中频灌溉时均为最大,而根干重与根总长却均随灌溉频率的降低而增加,这表明棉苗在中频灌溉时所受的水分与盐分综合胁迫最小。灌溉水质与频率对根冠比均有显著影响,降低灌溉频率有利于棉花苗期根系发育。     

膜下滴灌暗管排水规律及土壤脱盐效果试验研究

为了探索膜下滴灌盐碱地在灌溉过程中暗管排水规律及土壤脱盐效率,设计了一种暗管排水模型试验装置系统来探究灌溉过程中暗管排水规律和排盐效果.试验通过控制灌水时间、灌水量、观测并记录暗管出水时间、排水流量、排水矿化度、土壤盐分剖面等指标,分析灌溉排水过程中暗管排水流速和排水矿化度特征以及各土层土壤脱盐效率.结果表明:经过3次灌水淋洗试验后,暗管排水流速最终趋于1.5~3.5 L/h稳定范围,排水矿化度稳定在20~40 g/L内;0~40 cm土层脱盐率高达85%,0~80 cm土层土壤脱盐率为80.5%,两暗管中间位置处脱盐率最小分别为57.96%,56.73%,69.29%,暗管上方脱盐率最大分别为71.73%,73.34%,84.26%,暗管排盐量占0~80 cm土层总盐分含量的28.9%,其余盐分被淋洗到了80 cm土层以下.     

Long term responses of olive trees to salinity

Water demand for irrigation is increasing in olive orchards due to enhanced yields and profits. Because olive trees are considered moderately tolerant to salinity, irrigation water with salt concentrations that can be harmful for many of fruit tree crops is often used without considering the possible negative effects on olive tree growth and yield. We studied salt effects in mature olive trees in a long term field experiment (1998-2006). Eighteen-year-old olive trees (Olea europaea L.) cv. Picual were cultivated under drip irrigation with saline water composed of a mixture of NaCl and CaCl₂. Three irrigation regimes (i. no irrigation; ii. water application considering soil water reserves, short irrigation; iii. water application without considering soil water reserves and adding a 20% more as a leaching fraction, long irrigation) and three salt concentrations (0.5, 5 or 10 dS m⁻¹) were applied. Treatments were the result of the combination of three salt concentrations with two irrigation regimes, plus the non-irrigated treatment. Growth parameters, leaf and fruit nutrition, yield, oil content and fruit characteristics were annually studied. Annual leaf nutrient analyses indicate that all nutrients were within the adequate levels. After 8 years of treatment, salinity did not affect any growth measurement and leaf Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentration were always below the toxicity threshold of 0.2 and 0.5%, respectively. Annual and accumulated yield, fruit size and pulp:stone ratio were also not affected by salts. However, oil content increased linearly with salinity, in most of the years studied. Soil salinity measurements showed that there was no accumulation of salts in the upper 30 cm of the soil (where most of the roots are present) because of leaching by rainfall at the end of the irrigation period. Results suggest that a proper management of saline water, supplying Ca²⁺ to the irrigation water, using drip irrigation until winter rest and seasonal rainfall typical of the Mediterranean climate leach the salts from the first 0-60 cm depth, and growing a tolerant cultivar, can allow using high saline irrigation water (up to 10 dS m⁻¹) for a long time without affecting growth and yield in olive trees.     

Irrigation of lucerne with saline groundwater on a slowly permeable,duplex soil

Summary Lucerne was irrigated for three years on a slowly permeable, duplex soil, with saline water up to 2.4 dS m^–1 without significant yield decline. Irrigation water of 4.5 dS m^–1 significantly reduced yield. Lucerne yield was most closely related to the soil ECe of the 0–15 cm depth, rather than the total rootzone, and was described by; Relative yield=100–6.5 (ECe-2.1). While lucerne roots reached depths of at least 150 cm, approximately 80% of total root length was located in the 0–60 cm depth.Increasing salinity increased the plant concentrations of sodium and chloride, however, these changes were not closely related to changes in yield.Soil salinity increased with increasing salinity of the applied water. However, during the irrigation season water penetration and the accumulation of salt within the profile was predominantly restricted to the 0–60 cm depth. No portion of the applied irrigation water was available as a leaching fraction. Any leaching of salts to the watertable, particularly below 120 cm, was due to winter rainfall rather than the application of summer irrigation water.Ripping the soil to a depth of 75 cm increased water infiltration and resulted in increased crop yields, but did not significantly affect the crop relative yield-soil ECe relationship.From the results it is proposed that on the slowly permeable duplex soils, when watertable depth is controlled, management strategies for lucerne irrigated with saline water should be based on controlling the salinity of the shallow soil depths, to 60 cm.