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Salt Distribution and Water Consumption from a Water Table With and Without a Crop¹

This study was undertaken to quantify the soil salinization process and relate it to soil depth, cropping, and water table variables. Such information has been needed but unavailable. Data were gathered by measuring the upward movement of water and salt from simulated groundwater. The work was done with 30-cm square soil columns 50 and 75-cm tall that were suspended in trays of artificial groundwater. The experiment was located in a greenhouse to create an arid environment. Sudangrass [Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.] was grown on half of the columns and the others were fallowed. Water consumption was increased by the shallower depth to groundwater, by the less saline groundwater (electrical conductivity 4 mmhos/cm vs. 11) and by the presence of a crop. The crop had little effect on the salt concentration at the moist surface of the 50-cm columns but reduced the salt accumulation at the already drier and less salty surfaces of the taller columns. Salt accumulation in the root zone was increased by the presence of a crop.

Key Words: Soil salinity • Sudangrass

² Formerly graduate student, Iowa State Univ., and professor, Dep. of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011.

Received for publication May 28, 1981.