New Assessment Technology for the Diagnosis & Control of Salinity in Irrigated Lands

A practical methodology for appraising soil salinity and assessing the adequacy and appropriateness of irrigation, drainage and salinity-control systems and practices is described. This methodology is based upon the use of geophysical-instrumental systems for intensively measuring bulk soil electrical conductivity within irrigated fields/rootzones and associated spatial coordinates, algorithms for mu ti-linear regression data analysis and sensor calibration, and methods for selecting measurement-sites and obtaining salinity ground-truth. The technology package is unique and represents a breakthrough in our ability to rapidly and accurately assess soil salinity in irrigated lands. Results are presented to demonstrate the utility of the technology along with evidence supporting the conclusion that much of the apparent chaos observed in the spatial pattern of soil salinity in irrigated fields is man-induced and explainable in terms of deterministic processes caused by such management practices as irrigation, drainage, cultivation and tillage. Key Words: salinity, irrigation, management, land degradation I