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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL SITE-SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT METHODS FOR RECLAIMING SALT AFFECTED SOIL

Author
item HORNEY, RANDY - UC DAVIS, CA
item TALYLOR, BROCK - CONSULTING ESCALON, CA
item MUNK, DANIEL - UC COOP EXT. FRESNO, CA
item ROBERTS, BRUCE - UC COOP EXT. HANFORD, CA
item LESCH, SCOTT - UC RIVERSIDE, CA
item PLANT, RICHARD - UC DAVIS, CA

Submitted to: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2004
Publication Date: 3/1/2005
Citation: Horney, R.D., Talylor, B., Munk, D.S., Roberts, B.A., Lesch, S.M., Plant, R.E. 2005. Development of practical site-specific management methods for reclaiming salt affected soil. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 46:379-397.

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes one approach for developing a site-specific soil reclamation strategy using bulk soil electrical conductivity survey data and directed sampling in two commercial located in the San Joaquin Valley (CA). The conductivity survey and soil sample data (salinity and sodicity) were first used to construct a GIS map of salinity zones on which site-specific amendment applications could be based. Specific gypsum amendment amounts were then calculated and applied to each field based on this calibrated survey data. Preliminary results suggest that this amendment strategy produced elevated crop yields in the treated areas, but further long-term amendment effects need to be quantified before a more comprehensive assessment of this site-specific management strategy can be performed.

Technical Abstract: Sustaining irrigated agricultural production systems in semi-arid and arid regions requires consideration of saline and sodic soil conditions. The spatial variability of these conditions makes soil reclamation an ideal practice in which to apply site-specific management (SSM). This paper discusses an application of SSM using bulk soil electrical conductivity survey data, augmented with directed sampling, to construct a GIS map of salinity zones on which site-specific amendment applications can be based. Our primary objective was to develop a practical field methodology for site-specific amendment application. Preliminary study data from two commercial fields located in the San Joaquin Valley (CA) is presented, along with the methodology for devising the site-specific application strategy.