Evaluating abiotic influences on soil salinity of inland managed wetlands and agricultural croplands in a semi-arid environment

Wetlands
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge; United States Geological Survey
By: , and 

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Abstract

Agriculture and moist-soil management are important management techniques used on wildlife refuges to provide adequate energy for migrant waterbirds. In semi-arid systems, the accumulation of soluble salts throughout the soil profile can limit total production of wetland plants and agronomic crops and thus jeopardize meeting waterbird energy needs. This study evaluates the effect of distinct hydrologic regimes associated with moist-soil management and agricultural production on salt accumulation in a semi-arid floodplain. We hypothesized that the frequency of flooding and quantity of floodwater in a moist-soil management hydroperiod results in a less saline soil profile compared to profiles under traditional agricultural management. Findings showed that agricultural croplands differed (p-value < 0.001, df = 9) in quantities of total soluble salts (TSS) compared to moist-soil impoundments and contained greater concentrations (TSS range = 1,160-1,750 (mg kg-1)) at depth greater than 55 cm below the surface of the profile, while moist-soil impoundments contained lower concentrations (TSS range = 307-531 (mg kg-1)) at the same depths. Increased salts in agricultural may be attributed to the lack of leaching afforded by smaller summer irrigations while larger periodic flooding events in winter and summer flood irrigations in moist-soil impoundments may serve as leaching events.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evaluating abiotic influences on soil salinity of inland managed wetlands and agricultural croplands in a semi-arid environment
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/s13157-014-0585-3
Volume 34
Issue 6
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Society of Wetland Scientists
Publisher location McClean, VA
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 11 p.
First page 1229
Last page 1239
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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