Draining effects
Irrigation is often afflicted by two major physical problems: waterlogging and salinisation. Waterlogging occurs when irrigation water cannot penetrate the sub soil quickly enough due to, for instance, an impermeable clay layer. The air spaces in the soil get filled with water and the plant s roots suffocate. Salinisation occurs when salts accumulate in the top layers of the soil. They dissolve in water and when it evaporates the salts are left behind in the topsoil. This kills crops if the concentrations become too high. A common practice is to flush extra irrigation water to wash away the salts. A proper drainage system is essential to prevent these problems occurring. Instead of draining excess water mechanically with pumps, it can be removed by growing vegetation to absorb the water. This method, known as biodrai-nage, is economically attractive, requires only an initial investment in planting and, once established, can produce economic returns in the form of fodder, wood or fibre harvested. This compilation of principle and practice, Biodrainage, is a specialist work on a promising topic for water professionals and drainage experts. Biodrainage. Principles, experiences and applications IPTRID Knowledge Synthesis Report No. 6, 2002. 90 pp. ISBN 9251047804 US$ 16 Euro 14.80 FAO Sales and Marketing Group Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy Fax: +39 06 5705 3360 Email: publications-sales@fao.org
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| Format: | News Item biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
2003
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/47855 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99607 |
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| Summary: | Irrigation is often afflicted by two major physical problems: waterlogging and salinisation. Waterlogging occurs when irrigation water cannot penetrate the sub soil quickly enough due to, for instance, an impermeable clay layer. The air spaces in the soil get filled with water and the plant s roots suffocate.
Salinisation occurs when salts accumulate in the top layers of the soil. They dissolve in water and when it evaporates the salts are left behind in the topsoil. This kills crops if the concentrations become too high. A common practice is to flush extra irrigation water to wash away the salts.
A proper drainage system is essential to prevent these problems occurring. Instead of draining excess water mechanically with pumps, it can be removed by growing vegetation to absorb the water. This method, known as biodrai-nage, is economically attractive, requires only an initial investment in planting and, once established, can produce economic returns in the form of fodder, wood or fibre harvested.
This compilation of principle and practice, Biodrainage, is a specialist work on a promising topic for water professionals and drainage experts.
Biodrainage. Principles, experiences and applications
IPTRID Knowledge Synthesis Report No. 6, 2002. 90 pp.
ISBN 9251047804
US$ 16 Euro 14.80
FAO Sales and Marketing Group
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy
Fax: +39 06 5705 3360
Email: publications-sales@fao.org |
|---|