Irrigation and soil surface management in arid soils with surface crust

The effects of irrigation and soil surface management on soil water storage and crop yield were studied in soils affected by surface crust. A field experiment was conducted during 1993/1994 at the University of Jordan Research Station near Al-Muwaqqar village. Soil surface management was the main experimental factor, comprising four treatments: furrows, basins, furrows within basins, and control. Irrigation management was a secondary experimental factor. Water was applied through three different irrigation practices: one, two, and three irrigation sets with the same amount of water per treatment. Soil water storage was improved significantly by 200% and 90% using furrow and basin soil surface treatments, respectively, compared with soil water storage in the control treatment. The advantage of furrows is that water infiltration inside the furrows occurs in two-dimensions: vertical and horizontal. Frequent irrigation (two and three irrigation sets) increased soil water storage by 50%. Furrow soil surface treatments produced significantly better barley emergence and higher barley grain yield than the basin and control treatments. The relative increases in barley grain yield in furrow soil surface treatment compared with basin and control treatments were 32% and 200%, respectively. Thus furrow soil surface treatment and frequent irrigation are recommended for soils suffering from surface crust formation. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.