Inhibiting water infiltration with polyacrylamide and surfactants: Applications for irrigated agriculture

Inhibiendo infiltración de agua con poliacrilamidos y surfactantes: Aplicaciones para la agricultura de irrigación

Lentz, R.D. (2003) Inhibiting water infiltration with polyacrylamide and surfactants: Applications for irrigated agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 58(5):290-300.

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Abstract

Efficiencies of surface irrigation systems are often limited by infiltration conditions.
Treatments that decrease infiltration into unlined canals, reservoirs, and the inflow end of
furrows relative to outflow ends would reduce seepage losses and improve application
uniformity. Several laboratory studies evaluated effects of high molecular weight (10 to 15 Mg
mol-1), water-soluble, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), alone and combined with anionic
surfactants, on the hydraulic conductivity (KSAT) of soils. Dry soils were treated with one or two
treatment solutions and subjected to conditions that simulated those in an irrigation furrow or
pond. The KSAT of soil packed in columns was measured with a constant head apparatus for 19
hours. PAM treatment concentrations> 125 mg L" applied to dry soils preceding flooding
reduced KSAT by 25%, and a 10 mg-L-1 PAM + 29 k-mg-L-1 sodium-lauryl-sulfate surfactant
application reduced KSAT by 70%, relative to controls. Miniflume tests then applied the
treatments only to the inflow end of the mini-furrows. The 125 and 250 mg L.t PAM treatments
significantly improved water application uniformity: Cumulative infiltration was reduced in the
upper half of miniflume furrows and increased in the lower, relative to controls. When applied to
dry soils and allowed to dry overnight, as may be done when treating irrigation ponds, the 1,000
mg L-1 PAM solution reduced KSAT by 60% to > 90% in silt loam and clay loam soils. Either the
single or combination treatments could potentially be used to increase the uniformity of furrow
water applications and reduce seepage from unlined irrigation ponds and canals.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1117
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration > Polyacrylamide Polyacrylamide (PAM) > Water-soluble PAM (WSPAM) > Application Strategies Polyacrylamide (PAM) > Water-soluble PAM (WSPAM) > Infiltration management Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2016 16:58
Item ID:	173
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/173