Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area

Groundwater depth has a significant impact on salinization in irrigated areas. In this study, different groundwater depths were controlled via pit tests and we conducted pit tests with different groundwater depths (DGWs) to investigate the relationship between irrigation water volume and salt migrat...

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Main Authors: Liping Dai, Qingfeng Miao, Haibin Shi, Zhuangzhuang Feng, Yuxin Li, Yong Liu, Yongli Xu, Rigan Xu, Weiying Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1021
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author Liping Dai
Qingfeng Miao
Haibin Shi
Zhuangzhuang Feng
Yuxin Li
Yong Liu
Yongli Xu
Rigan Xu
Weiying Feng
author_facet Liping Dai
Qingfeng Miao
Haibin Shi
Zhuangzhuang Feng
Yuxin Li
Yong Liu
Yongli Xu
Rigan Xu
Weiying Feng
author_sort Liping Dai
collection DOAJ
description Groundwater depth has a significant impact on salinization in irrigated areas. In this study, different groundwater depths were controlled via pit tests and we conducted pit tests with different groundwater depths (DGWs) to investigate the relationship between irrigation water volume and salt migration during the crop growth period, as well as the influence of DGW on maize growth and yield. The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate DGW for maize growth in the Hetao Irrigation District, the largest irrigation area of Asia, under the dual goals of water conservation and salt control. The results showed that the upward replenishment of groundwater was 179.60 mm, 139.17 mm, 119.98 mm, 68.62 mm, and 48.38 mm for each respective DGW, i.e., negatively correlated with DGW during the maize growth period. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) was exponentially related to DGW. For DGWs > 1.75 m, surface soil EC decreased significantly and soil EC exhibited less variation with DGW. Moreover, the desalination rate and depth after irrigation were improved at DGW values of 2.00 m and 2.25 m. Shallow DGW values resulted in increased evapotranspiration and intensified crop stress, which reduced water use efficiency. To reduce resource waste and salt stress on crops, we suggest that a DGW of 2.00~2.25 m is more suitable for maize growth and development. These results provide a reference for determining appropriate DGWs for maize growth in salinized irrigation areas.
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spelling doaj-art-776d74a5992e4e89af98c2e5e5b249eb2025-08-20T02:33:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-01155102110.3390/agronomy15051021Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation AreaLiping Dai0Qingfeng Miao1Haibin Shi2Zhuangzhuang Feng3Yuxin Li4Yong Liu5Yongli Xu6Rigan Xu7Weiying Feng8Ordos Water Conservancy Development Center, Ordos Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau, Ordos 017000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaInner Mongolia Key Lab of Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, ChinaOrdos Water Conservancy Development Center, Ordos Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau, Ordos 017000, ChinaOrdos Water Conservancy Development Center, Ordos Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau, Ordos 017000, ChinaOrdos Water Conservancy Development Center, Ordos Municipal Water Conservancy Bureau, Ordos 017000, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaGroundwater depth has a significant impact on salinization in irrigated areas. In this study, different groundwater depths were controlled via pit tests and we conducted pit tests with different groundwater depths (DGWs) to investigate the relationship between irrigation water volume and salt migration during the crop growth period, as well as the influence of DGW on maize growth and yield. The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate DGW for maize growth in the Hetao Irrigation District, the largest irrigation area of Asia, under the dual goals of water conservation and salt control. The results showed that the upward replenishment of groundwater was 179.60 mm, 139.17 mm, 119.98 mm, 68.62 mm, and 48.38 mm for each respective DGW, i.e., negatively correlated with DGW during the maize growth period. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) was exponentially related to DGW. For DGWs > 1.75 m, surface soil EC decreased significantly and soil EC exhibited less variation with DGW. Moreover, the desalination rate and depth after irrigation were improved at DGW values of 2.00 m and 2.25 m. Shallow DGW values resulted in increased evapotranspiration and intensified crop stress, which reduced water use efficiency. To reduce resource waste and salt stress on crops, we suggest that a DGW of 2.00~2.25 m is more suitable for maize growth and development. These results provide a reference for determining appropriate DGWs for maize growth in salinized irrigation areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1021groundwatersalinizationirrigation areawater distributionmaize
spellingShingle Liping Dai
Qingfeng Miao
Haibin Shi
Zhuangzhuang Feng
Yuxin Li
Yong Liu
Yongli Xu
Rigan Xu
Weiying Feng
Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
Agronomy
groundwater
salinization
irrigation area
water distribution
maize
title Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
title_full Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
title_fullStr Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
title_short Influence of Groundwater Depth on Salt Migration and Maize Growth in the Typical Irrigation Area
title_sort influence of groundwater depth on salt migration and maize growth in the typical irrigation area
topic groundwater
salinization
irrigation area
water distribution
maize
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1021
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