Characteristics and Influence Factors of Soil Water and Salt Movement in the Yellow River Irrigation District
Kangkang He,
Qiuying Zhang,
Zhipin Ai,
Ning Xu,
Yunfeng Qiao,
Chao Tian,
Peifang Leng,
Hefa Cheng,
Gang Chen,
Fadong Li
Affiliations
Kangkang He
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Qiuying Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China
Zhipin Ai
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Ning Xu
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Yunfeng Qiao
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Chao Tian
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Peifang Leng
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Hefa Cheng
MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Gang Chen
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Fadong Li
Shandong Yucheng Agro-Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Climate change and human activities lead to freshwater shortage, soil salinization, and food security crises in arable land. To explore the natural and irrigation factors on soil water and salt movement, this study quantitatively analyzed the dynamic characteristics of soil water and salt movement under precipitation, groundwater irrigation, and brackish water irrigation conditions for the next 30 years using Hydrus-1D model-based parameters obtained from the winter wheat–summer maize rotation experiments in the Yellow River Irrigation District. The results showed that precipitation was the key factor of climate change affecting soil water and salt migration, especially in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Under both SSP585 and SSP245 climate scenarios, rainfall in normal and wet years promoted salt leaching up to 1 m below the surface soil. But in dry years, salt washing treatment was required for the tillage layer to prevent salt accumulation. The higher the groundwater level was, the higher the soil water and salt content was in the 0–100 cm soil layer. In this soil layer, a 2 m groundwater level contributed 30% to wheat water needs, while a 3 m groundwater level contributed 18%, and no significant contribution was observed for a 4 m groundwater level. The salinity of the soil profile showed an overall increasing trend with irrigation using 1–3 g/L brackish water for 30 years. However, the salinity in the 0–100 cm soil layer was below the salt tolerance threshold of winter wheat and summer maize with salts accumulated in the 1–2 m soil layer. Considering the salinization of the root zone and crop water needs, it is recommended that the safe groundwater level for brackish water irrigation should be 3 m in the study region. This study provides scientific reference for groundwater–farmland ecosystems to utilize brackish water and treat saline–alkali lands.
