Using brackish water to irrigate vegetable and fodder crops

Nikolai Kavelin, Radik Mustafin, Luiza Khasanova, Bakhytgaley Batanov, Rafil Abdrakhmanov

Abstract: The Republic of Bashkortostan, being a major producer of agricultural products, is a risk farming area. Irrigation can significantly reduce these risks and increase crop yields. In western Bashkortostan, there is a lack of fresh water, so irrigation can be based on groundwater (fresh and brackish). The given paper analyzes the experience of irrigating perennial grasses and vegetable crops with brackish waters of different ion and salt composition. It estimates the irrigation properties of different types of natural waters by a number of empirical and natural methods. It is established that when there is drainage, sulphate calcium brackish waters can be successfully used even on heavy loamy and clay soils. In conditions of poorly drained solids, composed of poorly percolating rocks, it is necessary to arrange artificial drainage. In some cases, irrigation with brackish waters did not lead to soil salination but contributed to salt removal. The paper defines sources of impact on the underground hydrosphere in the areas of livestock waste water utilization as well as areas affected by oil extraction.

Keywords: brackish groundwater; crop yields; fodder crops; irrigation; irrigation properties; irrigation rates; mineralization; soil salinity; soil solutions; vegetable crops

Date published: 2019-12-11