A proposal for reclamation by dilution of irrigation water

Summary A proposal is developed for reclamation of a soil which has become salinized from irrigation with saline water. The procedure permits continued irrigation after dilution of the saline irrigation water with higher quality water, which achieves partial reclamation without taking the land out of production, and without creating a large flux of drainage.Model calculations using a salt transport-chemical equilibrium model are performed for the case of a saline irrigation water derived from power plant cooling water residual (EC=4.2 mmho/cm), which is diluted by a high quality well water (EC=0.5 mmho/cm) to produce a water which is alternated with the saline water in cycles of two years. Soil salinity and drainage salt loads resulting under this system are compared with the simulated results of a more traditional method of salt leaching.Associate Professor of Soil Physics, Associate Research Agricultural Engineer, and Professor of Soil Physics, respectively