Risks of prolonged drainage water use in clay soils in north delta, Egypt
Abstract: Two clay soils differed in their irrigation water resources were chosen and wheat (Sakha 61 variety) was planted during 2002/2003 season. The first soil (soil 1) usually irrigated with Nile water, while the second (soil 2) located in the terminal end of irrigation canal and irrigated with drainage water 10 years ago. The objectives were subjected to look upon and evaluate the effects of long-term irrigation with marginal drainage water on some soil chemical and physical proprieties, wheat growth, yield and heavy metals content of soil and wheat plants.
The obtained results showed that long-term reuse of marginal drainage water in irrigating (soil 2) resulted in a remarkable increase in soil salinity and sodicity as compared to soil 1. These values slightly increased more after wheat harvest than before planting. Total water stable aggregates (TWSA) > 0.25 mm, mean weight diameter (MWD), optimum size of aggregation (OSA %), structure coefficient (SC) and aggregation index (AI) were lower in soil (2) than soil (1) before planting. These values decreased after wheat harvest and the reduction was more pronounced in soil (2). DTPA-extractable micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn and Cu) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Ni) recorded higher values in soil (2) than soil (1) before wheat planting and slightly increased in soil (2) after wheat harvest.
Data also showed that wheat growth parameters and yield component such as number of tillers, number of spikes, maximum growth dry weight, biological yield, straw yield, grain yield/plant were markedly reduced in soil (2). The heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Ni) content (mg/kg dry matter) of wheat straw and grains increased in soil (2) than soil (1) and were higher in straw than grains. Special soil and water management practices should be followed when the farmers were obliged to reuse marginal drainage water for irrigation to reduce the hazard effects on soil, plant growth, yield quantity and quality, as well as, mankind health
Publication year 2005
Pages 8303-8312
Availability location Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC, 9 Cairo Univ. St., Giza, Egypt
Availability number
Organization Name
City Mansoura
serial title Mansoura University Journal of Agricultural Sciences
ISSN 1110-0346
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Drainage
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Drainage water. Sodic soils. Soil salinity. Water resources. Water reuse. Wheats.
Publication Type Journal
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