ALFALFA PRODUCTION USING SALINE DRAINAGE WATER

摘要

A three year study investigated the use of saline (< 6 dS/m) drainage water for irrigation of saltrntolerant alfalfa in the presence of a shallow saline groundwater. The three irrigation treatmentsrnincluded; irrigating with non-saline water, irrigating twice with moderately saline water betweenrncuttings, and irrigating once between cuttings with moderately saline water. Yield datarndemonstrated that there was approximately a 30% reduction in total yield as a result of using thernsaline water for irrigation compared to irrigating with the non-saline water. The overall alfalfarnquality was improved using saline water. However, there was an accumulation of boron andrnchloride in the plant tissue with time during each growing season when irrigating with salinernwater. The boron and chloride values returned to previous levels at the start of the next growingrnseason. There was accumulation of salt in the soil profile and in a shallow groundwater as arnresult of using saline drainage water for irrigation. A gradual decrease in depth to the shallowrngroundwater was observed as result of the lack of drainage capability.