Optimization of Border Irrigation for Salinity Control in Arid and Semiarid Regions.

Border irrigation in conjunction with subsurface drainage is a common method for leaching excess salts from agricultural soils in arid and semiarid regions. To increase leaching efficiency, partial ponding rather than flooding of the entire area was applied. To optimize ponding depth, duration, and leaching procedure, numerical simulations and sandbox experiments were employed. Model simulations with HYDRUS 2D compare favorably with measurements conducted in Hele-Shaw cells. Results clearly demonstrate that partial ponding is more efficient than complete ponding, thereby conserving valuable water resources.