Predicting Soil Salinity under Various Strategies in Irrigation Systems

This paper presents a model to estimate the soil salinity for different on-farm management strategies under irrigated conditions. It is based on research in the Maniçoba irrigation scheme in northeast Brazil, where upward flow from the shallow water table is the main cause of soil salinization. The model calculates soil water and salt balances for the topsoil. It is calibrated for the topsoil of abandoned plots and for the root zone (0.9m) of mango trees. Simulating the effect of different management scenarios on soil salinity may help to organize the switch from intensive surface irrigation to more efficient irrigation practices.