Modeling a Sustainable Salt Tolerant Grass-Livestock Production System under Saline Conditions in the Western San Joaquin Valley of California

Abstract

Salinity and trace mineral accumulation threaten the sustainability of crop production in many semi-arid parts of the world, including California's western San Joaquin Valley (WSJV). We used data from a multi-year field-scale trial in Kings County and related container trials to simulate a forage-grazing system under saline conditions. The model uses rainfall and irrigation water amounts, irrigation water quality, soil, plant, and atmospheric variables to predict Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) growth, quality, and use by cattle. Simulations based on field measurements and a related container study indicate that although soil chemical composition is affected by irrigation water quality, irrigation timing and frequency can be used to mitigate salt and trace mineral accumulation. Bermuda grass yields of up to 12 Mg dry matter (DM)· ha −1 were observed at the field site and predicted by the model. Forage yield and quality supports un-supplemented cattle stocking rates of 1.0 to 1.2 animal units (AU)· ha −1. However, a balance must be achieved between stocking rate, desired average daily gain, accumulation of salts in the soil profile, OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2013, 5 3840 and potential pollution of ground water from drainage and leaching. Using available weather data, crop-specific parameter values and field scale measurements of soil salinity and nitrogen levels, the model can be used by farmers growing forages on saline soils elsewhere, to sustain forage and livestock production under similarly marginal conditions.

Rendimiento y calidad del pasto Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) bajo distintos niveles de salinidad, nitrógeno y minerales traza: Un ensayo en contenedores

“…Bermudagrass is a salt tolerant species. At salinity levels within its tolerance range, potentially economic amounts of DM were produced over a two-year period in this container study, confirming results observed at a larger field site in the WSJV (Corwin et al, 2003;Kaffka et al, 2004;Robinson et al, 2004; (Grattan et al, 2002;Grattan et al, 2004a;Grattan et al, 2004b;Suyama et al, 2007a;Alonso et al, 2013). Here, N application influenced above ground DM yields across the range of salinity levels, with a potential up to 2,059 g DM m -2 y -1 in a soil that varied from 7 dS m -1 to 4.7 dS m -1 ECe during two years of measurements.…”

“…Crop production on saline soils has long been reported as a means of soil reclamation, primarily by facilitating leaching of salts from the rooted soil profile (Kaffka et al, 2004;Corwin et al, 2008;Corwin, 2012). While not as large, reductions in soil salinity were observed over time due to the production of Bermudagrass at this trial, as well as at the on-farm research site of which this trail was a part (Corwin et al, 2003;Corwin, 2012;Alonso et al, 2013).…”

“…The value of forages grown with saline waste waters depends upon forage yield and quality under saline conditions (Grattan et al, 2002;Grattan et al, 2004a;Grattan et al, 2004b;Suyama et al, 2007a;Alonso et al, 2013). Previous studies have demonstrated that low quality drainage and waste waters can be used to produce forages on a salt-affected site in the WSJV (Corwin et al, 2003;Kaffka et al, 2004;Robinson et al, 2004;Suyama et al, 2007b;).…”

Biofuel as an Integrated Farm Drainage Management crop: A bioeconomic analysis

“…Modeling the salinity of drainage water is a function of complex relationships involving the salinity of irrigation water, the salinity of the soil, and the volume of irrigation water, among other things [ Skaggs and van Schilfgaarde , ], and goes beyond the scope of this present research. To illustrate the role of different drainage water qualities on our solutions, we identify two levels of salinity for drainage water in the region—4 and 12 dS/m—that represent the realistic variability across the region [ Corwin , ; Alonso et al , ].…”

Quantitative Evaluation and Uncertainty Assessment on Geostatistical Simulation of Soil Salinity Using Electromagnetic Induction Technique

“…For this purpose, precision agriculture can be used. The EM38 ground conductivity meter (Geonics Ltd, Canada) is considered one of the best tools for the appraisal of soil salinity in a geospatial context [5] [6]. The EM38 offer the potential to measure numerous soils attributes without the need for destructive sampling.…”