Water and salt movement under partial irrigation in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia

Field experiments were conducted in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia, to study water and salt movement under partial irrigation. Compared with uniform irrigation, groundwater of irrigated area dropped significantly faster when partial irrigation was applied, resulting in higher salt leaching efficiency. In contrast, un-irrigated area acted as temporary discharge and buffer zone between irrigated area and drainage ditches, therefore its groundwater and salinity increased significantly during irrigation period, and salt storage in soil profiles also increased consequently. Analysis further indicates that influences of partial irrigation on water and salt movement of un-irrigated area are determined by the area ratio of irrigated land to some extent. © 2016, China Water Power Press. All right reserved.