Eurasian Journal of Soil Science

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid zones with a short water resources studying the effects of water quality on soil water retention and structure is important for the development of effective soil and water conservation and management practices. Three water qualities (electrical conductivity, EC ~ 2, 100 and 500 μS cm-1 with a low SAR representing rain, canal-runoff and irrigation water respectively) and semi-arid loam and clay soils were tested to evaluate an effect of soil texture and water quality on water retention, and aggregate and structure stability using the high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) method. The water retention curves obtained by the HEMC method were characterized by the modified van Genuchten (1980) model that provides (i) model parameters α and n, which represent the location (of the inflection point) and the steepness of the S-shaped water retention curve respectively, and (ii) a volume of drainable pores (VDP), which is an indicator for the quantity of water released by the tested sample over the range of suction studied, and modal suction (MS), which corresponds to the most frequent pore sizes, and soil structure index, SI =VDP/MS. Generally (i) treatments significantly affected the shape of the water retention curves (α and n) and (ii) contribution of soil type, water EC, and wetting rate and their interaction had considerable effect on the stability induces and model parameters. Most of changes due to the water quality and wetting condition were in the range of matric potential (ψ), 1.2-2.4; and 2.4-5.0 J kg-1 (pore size 125-250 μm and 60-125 μm). The VDP, SI and α increased, and MS and n decreased with the increase in clay content, water EC and the decrease in rate of aggregate wetting. The SI increased exponentially with the increase in VDP, and with the decrease in MS. Contribution of water EC on stability indices and model parameters was not linear and was soil dependent, and could be more valuable at medium water EC. Effect of wetting rate was more pronounced at low water EC. Results indicate that effectiveness of water EC in the field condition has no simple outcome on water retention and soil structure, and that its application should consider and be adjusted to soil properties and condition, such as soil texture, and moisture content and solution EC. Detailed contribution of treatments on structure induces and model parameters are discussed in the paper.

Keywords

Water retention, aggregate and structure stability, water quality, van Genuchten model

References

<p>Ayers, R.S., Westcot, D.W., 1985. Water quality for agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Roma.</p>

<p>Bronick C.J., Lal, R..2005. Soil structure and management. Geoderma 124: 3 &ndash;22.</p>

<p>Connolly, R.D. 1998. Modelling effects of soil structure on the water balance of soil&ndash;crop systems: A review. Soil Tillage Research 48:1&ndash;19.</p>

<p>Feign, A., Ravina, I., Shalhevet, J., 1991. Irrigation with treated sewage effluents: management for environmental protection. Springer, Berlin. 244 p</p>

<p>Green, R.T., Ahuja, L.R., Benjamin, J.G., 2003. Advances and challenges in predicting agricultural management effects on soil hydraulic properties. Geoderma 116: 3&ndash;27.</p>

<p>Halliwell, D.J., Barlow, K.M., Nash, D.M., 2001. A review of the effects of wastewater sodium on soil physical properties and their implications for irrigation systems. Australian Journal Soil Research 39, 1259&ndash;1267.</p>

<p>Haynes, R.J., Naidu, R., 1998. Influence of lime, fertilizer and manure applications on soil organic matter content and soil physical conditions: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 51: 123-137.</p>

<p>Jiao, Z.H., Huang, Z.B., Li, Y., Wang, W.P., Yan, B.L., Peng, L.C., Li, H.F., 2010 .The effect of reclaimed water irrigation on soil performance and the microorganism. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 29:319-323.</p>

<p>Le Bissonnais, Y., 1996. Aggregate stability and assesment of soil crus-tability and erodibility. I. Theory and methodology. European Journal of Soil Science 47: 425-437.</p>

<p>Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2002. High-energy-moisture-characteristic aggregate stability as a predictor for seal. Soil Science Society America Journal 66: 1603-1609.</p>

<p>Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., Goldstein, D., 2003. Sodicity and water quality effects on slaking of aggregates from semi-arid soils. Soil Science 168: 552-562.</p>

<p>Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2013. Soil susceptibility to deformation: assessment from water retention curve characteristics at low suction. Advances in GeoEcology 42:129-147.</p>

<p>Magesan, G.N., Williamson, J.C., Sparling, G.P., Schipper, L.A., Lloyd-Jones, A.R., 1999. Hydraulic conductivity in soils irrigated with wastewaters of differing strengths: field and laboratory studies. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 391&ndash;402.</p>

<p>Mamedov, A.I. 2002. Irrigation water quality, rain energy and soil texture effects on soil hydraulic properties and erosion. In: J.L. Rubio, R.P.C Morgan, S. Asins and V. Andreu (eds). Man and Soil at the Third Millennium. Geoforma Ediciones, Logrono, Spain: 1: 553-563.</p>

<p>Mamedov, A.I., Levy, G.J., 2013. High Energy Moisture Characteristics: Linking Between Some Soil Physical Processes and Structure Stability. p. 41-73. In: Logsdon, S., Berli, M. and Horn, R. (eds.). Quantifying and modeling soil structure dynamics. Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling Series 3. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison WI.</p>

<p>Shainberg, I., Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2002. Prewetting rate and sodicity effects on soil permeability and surface sealing. Acta Horticulture 573:21-28.</p>

<p>Van Genuchten, M.Th., 1980. A closed form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society America Journal 44: 892&ndash;898.</p>

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid zones with a short water resources studying the effects of water quality on soil water retention and structure is important for the development of effective soil and water conservation and management practices. Three water qualities (electrical conductivity, EC ~ 2, 100 and 500 μS cm-1 with a low SAR representing rain, canal-runoff and irrigation water respectively) and semi-arid loam and clay soils were tested to evaluate an effect of soil texture and water quality on water retention, and aggregate and structure stability using the high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) method. The water retention curves obtained by the HEMC method were characterized by the modified van Genuchten (1980) model that provides (i) model parameters α and n, which represent the location (of the inflection point) and the steepness of the S-shaped water retention curve respectively, and (ii) a volume of drainable pores (VDP), which is an indicator for the quantity of water released by the tested sample over the range of suction studied, and modal suction (MS), which corresponds to the most frequent pore sizes, and soil structure index, SI =VDP/MS. Generally (i) treatments significantly affected the shape of the water retention curves (α and n) and (ii) contribution of soil type, water EC, and wetting rate and their interaction had considerable effect on the stability induces and model parameters. Most of changes due to the water quality and wetting condition were in the range of matric potential (ψ), 1.2-2.4; and 2.4-5.0 J kg-1 (pore size 125-250 μm and 60-125 μm). The VDP, SI and α increased, and MS and n decreased with the increase in clay content, water EC and the decrease in rate of aggregate wetting. The SI increased exponentially with the increase in VDP, and with the decrease in MS. Contribution of water EC on stability indices and model parameters was not linear and was soil dependent, and could be more valuable at medium water EC. Effect of wetting rate was more pronounced at low water EC. Results indicate that effectiveness of water EC in the field condition has no simple outcome on water retention and soil structure, and that its application should consider and be adjusted to soil properties and condition, such as soil texture, and moisture content and solution EC. Detailed contribution of treatments on structure induces and model parameters are discussed in the paper.

Keywords: Water retention, aggregate and structure stability, water quality, van Genuchten model

References

Ayers, R.S., Westcot, D.W., 1985. Water quality for agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Roma.

Bronick C.J., Lal, R..2005. Soil structure and management. Geoderma 124: 3 –22.

Connolly, R.D. 1998. Modelling effects of soil structure on the water balance of soil–crop systems: A review. Soil Tillage Research 48:1–19.

Feign, A., Ravina, I., Shalhevet, J., 1991. Irrigation with treated sewage effluents: management for environmental protection. Springer, Berlin. 244 p

Green, R.T., Ahuja, L.R., Benjamin, J.G., 2003. Advances and challenges in predicting agricultural management effects on soil hydraulic properties. Geoderma 116: 3–27.

Halliwell, D.J., Barlow, K.M., Nash, D.M., 2001. A review of the effects of wastewater sodium on soil physical properties and their implications for irrigation systems. Australian Journal Soil Research 39, 1259–1267.

Haynes, R.J., Naidu, R., 1998. Influence of lime, fertilizer and manure applications on soil organic matter content and soil physical conditions: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 51: 123-137.

Jiao, Z.H., Huang, Z.B., Li, Y., Wang, W.P., Yan, B.L., Peng, L.C., Li, H.F., 2010. The effect of reclaimed water irrigation on soil performance and the microorganism. Journal of Agro-Environment Science 29:319-323.

Le Bissonnais, Y., 1996. Aggregate stability and assesment of soil crus-tability and erodibility. I. Theory and methodology. European Journal of Soil Science 47: 425-437.

Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2002. High-energy-moisture-characteristic aggregate stability as a predictor for seal. Soil Science Society America Journal 66: 1603-1609.

Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., Goldstein, D., 2003. Sodicity and water quality effects on slaking of aggregates from semi-arid soils. Soil Science 168: 552-562.

Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2013. Soil susceptibility to deformation: assessment from water retention curve characteristics at low suction. Advances in GeoEcology 42:129-147.

Magesan, G.N., Williamson, J.C., Sparling, G.P., Schipper, L.A., Lloyd-Jones, A.R., 1999. Hydraulic conductivity in soils irrigated with wastewaters of differing strengths: field and laboratory studies. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 391–402.

Mamedov, A.I. 2002. Irrigation water quality, rain energy and soil texture effects on soil hydraulic properties and erosion. In: J.L. Rubio, R.P.C Morgan, S. Asins and V. Andreu (eds). Man and Soil at the Third Millennium. Geoforma Ediciones, Logrono, Spain: 1: 553-563.

Mamedov, A.I., Levy, G.J., 2013. High Energy Moisture Characteristics: Linking Between Some Soil Physical Processes and Structure Stability. p. 41-73. In: Logsdon, S., Berli, M. and Horn, R. (eds.). Quantifying and modeling soil structure dynamics. Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling Series 3. ASA, CSSA, SSSA, Madison WI.

Shainberg, I., Levy, G.J., Mamedov, A.I., 2002. Prewetting rate and sodicity effects on soil permeability and surface sealing. Acta Horticulture 573:21-28.

Van Genuchten, M.Th., 1980. A closed form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society America Journal 44: 892–898.