Мелиорация и гидротехника (Feb 2024)

Study of soil moisture dynamics under drip irrigation

  • Evgeny V. Kuznetsov,
  • Kharlampiy I. Kilidi,
  • Anna E. Khadzhidi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.31774/2712-9357-2024-14-1-19-33
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 19 – 33

Abstract

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Purpose: to study the dynamics of moisture in soils on the drainage layer during drip irrigation to save water resources and ensure uniform watering of crops using moisture contours. Materials and methods. The study is based on the theory of moisture transfer under the influence of drip irrigation on soil. Moisture contours were studied in laboratory conditions using a soil lysimeter, which was used to model the geological cross-section of the irrigated area, represented by alluvial meadow soils formed on pebbles. The pebble layer thickness was assumed to be up to 3 m. A regression analysis of moisture movement was carried out, and a mathematical model describing the nature of its movement on the drainage layer was obtained. The estimated volume of wet soil was defined on the basis of moisture contours as a result of calculating the volume of the formed lathe object using cartograms for each hour of irrigation. Results. Data on the moisture distribution in soil profile according to irrigation hours, presented on cartograms constructed using a personal computer, were obtained. The contours with the same humidity – isolines on which the humidity was displayed: 5; 10; 40 % are highlighted on the cartograms. It has been determined that water at an emitter discharge of 2.5 l/h reaches the drainage layer 4 hours after the beginning of irrigation. The graph for moisture distribution in soil volume by hour, reflecting the dynamics of water distribution supplied from an emitter with a constant discharge over 10 hours of irrigation has been constructed. Conclusion. The dynamics of moisture distribution during drip irrigation in soils located on a drainage bed was studied. Under experimental conditions, when crop irrigation lasts for more than 8 hours, an ineffective excess of irrigation rate and an increase in the design capacity of the drip irrigation system are observed.

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