Salt Movement Under Level‐Basin Irrigation

Abstract

Level‐basin irrigation has been studied at two sites in western Colorado for seven years. This paper describes changes in the salinity profile in the root zone under level‐basin irrigation. On soils with initially low salt content, salt concentrations in the soil profiles increased under level‐basin irrigation, because the irrigation efficiencies are greater than for prior practices. Conversely, good water management and uniform applications on level basins lowered the salt content in the top 60 cm of soils with high initial salt content. After a few years of level‐basin irrigation with Colorado River water, in either case, the salt content equilibrated at levels that do not restrict growth of common field crops.