Polyacrylamide Effect on Furrow Erosion and Infiltration

Trout, T.J. and Sojka, R.E. and Lentz, R.D. (1995) Polyacrylamide Effect on Furrow Erosion and Infiltration. Transactions of the ASAE. 38(3):761-765.

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Abstract

Erosion from furrow irrigated land is a serious problem in southern Idaho and elsewhere in the western
United States. High molecular weight anionic Polyacrylamide (a water soluble polymer), increases soil aggregate
stability and flocculates suspended sediments, thereby reducing sediment detachment and transport in irrigation furrows.
Application of 0.7 kg/ha/irrigation of polyacrylamide in irrigation water has reduced furrow erosion by 85 to 99%. In the
present work, sediment movement and infiltration were measured in a recirculating furrow infiltrometer with two
polyacrylamide treatments. Mean erosion reduction was 70%. Polyacrylamide increased mean infiltration by 30%,
probably the result of reduced sediment movement and furrow surface seal formation. Infiltration was inversely related to
maximum sediment concentration in the flowing water for both treated and untreated furrows. Farmers who use
polyacrylamide must adapt their irrigation management to the higher infiltration to maintain desired irrigation
efficiencies.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0867
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion > Polyacrylamide Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration > Polyacrylamide 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 21:54
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2016 18:43
Item ID:	642
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/642