Trace elements limit potential for blending San Joaquin drainwater with canal water

Abstract

Poor soil-water infiltration in the eastside of the San Joaquin Valley is frequently attributed to low-salinity irrigation water. This report assesses the feasibility of improving infiltration rates by blending the more saline westside drainwater with the less saline FriantKern Canal water, a strategy which would also provide a disposal method for westside drain water. However, the study found that boron and molybdenum concentrations in the drainwaters require large blending ratios to prevent crop yield reductions of tree crops grown along the eastside. These large blending ratios mean that the blended irrigation water may have little effect on improving filtration.