The Effect of Different Raised Bed Sizes under Furrow Irrigation Method on Salt Distribution in Soil Profile and Yield by Hydrus (2/3D)

The use of raised bed-furrow irrigation method has increased in due to its capability of saving massive amounts of irrigation water. Knowing the importance of raised bed-furrow irrigation (RBFI) in water conservation and salt distribution in profile with three testing treatments viz. T1 with raised bed size = 0.6 m, T2 with raised bed size = 0.8 m and T3 with raised bed size = 1.0 m. The soil samples were collected from depth desired depth to analysis the Physical chemical properties before and after the trial. Irrigation water was measured through cutthroat flume at each irrigation interval and the total water consumed by ridge ground was 500 mm. The solute transport and soil water content in the root zone was also simulated by HYDRUS-2D. The results reveal that the salts moved upward to the top (upper layers) and concentrated at the center of the ridge for treatments T2 and T3 but leached down from the furrow bottom. Whereas, the simulations carried out by HYDRUS-2D model showed that with increasing size of raised bed, the center of the raised bed did not get the required quantity of water, hence remained unsaturated. Moreover, the highest crop yield and water productivity were recorded 8,748 kg/ha and 3.74 kg/cm3 respectively under T2 treatment as compared to other treatment. Furthermore, the experimental and simulation results of present study concluded that the sides of raised-bed/furrow, where the ridge gourd was sown, received enough water to support the plant growth in all treatments and RBFI with raised bed size of 0.8 m was more water use efficient and suitable method for water scarcity areas.