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Polyacrylamide and straw residue effects on irrigation furrow erosion and infiltration

Efectos residuales de poliacrilamido y residuos de paja en irrigación de surco e infiltración

Lentz, R.D. and Bjorneberg, D.L. (2003) Polyacrylamide and straw residue effects on irrigation furrow erosion and infiltration. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 58(5):312-319.

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Abstract

Water-soluble anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is a highly effective erosion deterrent
in furrow irrigation, but little is known about the effect of plant residues on PAM efficacy. We
hypothesized that increasing plant residue in irrigation furrows may alter PAM's ability to control
erosion. Furrows with 10 g (485 kg ha-1) on treated area and 3o g m-1 (1490 kg ha-1) wheat
straw applications, irrigated with PAM or untreated water, and conventionally irrigated furrows
(no PAM and no straw) were used. Five irrigations were monitored on a field with 1.5% slope and
silt loam soil (Durinodic Xeric Haplocalcids). PAM was applied as a granular patch at the furrow
inflow end (33 g or 1 kg active ingredient ha 1). Compared to controls, individual straw and
PAM+straw treatments reduced sediment loss in all irrigations by 64% to 100%, but increased
infiltration (1.3x to 2.54 only for irrigation one, when furrows were fresh. Adding more straw to
low straw (with or without PAM) treatments increased average sediment loss reduction from
86% to 94% in the first two irrigations, but provided no extra benefit in subsequent irrigations
(relative to controls). Adding PAM to low and high straw treatments increased average sediment
loss reduction from 80% to 100% in the first two irrigations, and from 94% to 99.8% in
subsequent irrigations. Combining plant residue and PAM in furrows produced greater erosion
control and larger infiltration enhancements than with straw alone. An important additional
benefit of PAM is that it greatly reduced detachment, transport, and redistribution of residue in
furrows, which helped prevent furrow blockage and attendant overflow problems, allowing
farmers to use conservation tillage in furrow irrigated fields.

Item Type: Article
NWISRL Publication Number: 1118
Subjects: Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion > Polyacrylamide
Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion > Sraw residue
Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration > Polyacrylamide
Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration > Straw residue
Polyacrylamide (PAM) > Water-soluble PAM (WSPAM) > Erosion control
Polyacrylamide (PAM) > Water-soluble PAM (WSPAM) > Infiltration management
Soil > Erosion
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2016 16:56
Item ID: 174
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/174