Transport of Swine Effluent Salts when Land-Applied in a Semi-Arid Region through a Subsurface Drip Irrigation System

Abstract

This thesis concerns the salt transport around a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system land-applying swine effluent in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Three plots equipped with different emitter sizes are utilized. Soil samples are taken at different stages and locations. Rhoades saturated paste extraction method is utilized to remove the liquid from the soil samples and various analyses are completed. The electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, sodium, calcium, and magnesium profiles for the different plots are compared to determine the best emitter size for the use of swine effluent, in order to minimize salt concentration in the root zone. It does not appear from this single year of data that the application of swine effluent by SDI will significantly alter the buildup of salts in the crop root zone for the soil conditions within any of the three plots at this experimental site.