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In arid and semi-arid regions, effluent from subsurface 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=10.5-15.0dS/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 ca-

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No abstract

In irrigated agriculture of arid and semiarid regions, soil salinity, coupled with waterlogging, is a serious problem. Provision of subsurface drainage seems to be a prerequisite for optimal crop production. A study was conducted to evaluate the long term (8-year) impact of a subsurface drainage system on soil properties and yields of wheat. The study was located in a severely a †ected, waterlogged, barren, sandy loam saline soil (Comborthids). The subsurface drainage system was installed at a 1.75 m depth with three drain spacings (25, 50, and 75 m). The drains facilitated reclamation of the waterlogged saline land which had variations in salt removal with space and time. T he removal of salts from the root zone varied initially with distance from the drain and with depth. However, after a few years, the variations were reduced and the land was reclaimed sufficiently to grow most of the crops of the region. Plots provided with a drain spacing of 75 m required more time for complete reclamation compared to plots provided with 25 m drain spacing. Leaching through subsurface drainage increased soil porosity, modulus of rupture, inÐltration rate, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and available water, and decreased bulk density di †erently in the three drain spacings (20, 50, and 75 m). In the 75 m drain spacing plots, soil salinity and water (EC e ) content remained higher than in the 25 and 50 m drain spacing plots. Soil and EC e water content were less near the drains, were highest in areas midway between the drains, and the e †ects were more apparent in the summer season. Wheat grain yield decreased with increasing drain spacings in the initial years of reclamation. With the gradual improvement in soil salinity, yields from plots with a 75 m spacing reached those of the narrower drain spacing plots by the fourth year. It was concluded that by installing a subsurface drainage system in a monsoon climate, waterlogged saline soils can be reclaimed by the natural leaching that can take place from rainfall. T he optimum yield can be attained with a drain spacing of 75 m, which is 50% more than the design spacing of 50 m. Faster reclamation and more yield were obtained with a 25 m drain spacing and was achieved at a higher cost for the more expensive drainage system.