Permissible Composition and Concentration of Irrigation Water

The limit of permissible salt content of irrigation water is greatly influenced by variables inherent in the soil, the climatic conditions, and the kind of crops grown. It is of the greatest importance to apply saline irrigation water in quantities in excess of the crop requirements, in order that some leaching of the root zone will take place. Therefore, the maintenance of good drainage condition in the soil is very important. Salts, whether native to the soil or applied in the irrigation water, cannot be removed effectively unless water can percolate through the soil, and this can never be accompli shed adequately where the ground water is near the surface.