Effect of gypsum and polyacrylamides on water turbidity and infiltration in a sodic soil
S. SivapalanSchool of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia; Current address: School of Urban Development, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. Email: s.sivapalan@qut.edu.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(6) 723-733 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04155
Submitted: 28 October 2004 Accepted: 25 May 2005 Published: 22 September 2005
Abstract
Water ponded on sodic soils can develop turbidity problems which seriously affect rice crop establishment. A total of 19 polyacrylamide products were assessed for their effectiveness to control water turbidity in a sodic soil under laboratory conditions. Anionic polyacrylamides were more effective than cationic or non-ionic polyacrylamides. When combined with gypsum, polyacrylamides were found to be more effective than when applied alone. A split application strategy was more efficient than continuous application of polyacrylamide treatments. Different rates of polyacrylamides at 2.5, 5, and 10 kg/ha did not show significant difference in controlling water turbidity. Selected polyacrylamides were also tested on soil columns to study their effect on infiltration and percolation of water through the soil. Results showed that polyacrylamides combined with low rates of gypsum did not modify the infiltration pattern to a greater extent. This study demonstrated that anionic polyacrylamides applied with small quantities of gypsum through a split application strategy would be an appropriate technique to overcome water turbidity problems in sodic soils.
Additional keywords: sodicity, nephelometric turbidity units, rice establishment.
Acknowledgments
Contributions by Yin Chan (NSW Department of Primary Industries), Edward Cay (University of Sydney), David Deery (University of Melbourne), and Nicholas Addison (Charles Sturt University) are gratefully acknowledged. Financial support was provided by Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production. Thanks are also due to SNF Australia Pty Ltd and Nalco Australia Pty Ltd for providing polyacrylamide samples.
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