Agroecological Impacts from Salinization and Waterlogging in an Irrigated River Valley

Extensive field data and calibrated flow and salt-transport models characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of salinity and waterlogging in an irrigated western river valley. Over three irrigation seasons, average seasonal aquifer recharge from irrigated fields in a 50,600 ha study area ranges from 0.59 to 0.99 m , including contribution from precipitation. The salinity of irrigation water varies from 618 to 1,090 mg∕L . The water table is shallow, with 16 to 33% of irrigated land underlaid by an average water table less than 2 m deep. Average water table salinity ranges from 2,680 to 3,015 mg∕L , and average soil salinity from 2,490 to 3,860 mg∕L . Crop yield reductions from salinity and waterlogging range from 0 to 89% on fields, with regional averages ranging from 11 to 19%. Annual salt loading to the river from subsurface return flows, generated in large part by dissolution from irrigation recharge, averages about 533 kg∕irrigated ha per km . Upflux from shallow water tables under fallow ground contributes to about 65 million m3 (52,600 acre-ft) per year of nonbeneficial consumption. Beyond problem identification, the developed database and models provide a basis for effectively addressing these problems through a systematic and comparative assessment of alternative solutions.