Soil salinity management on raised bed with different furrow irrigation methods in salt-affected lands in Aral Sea Basin

Abstract

This experiment with different irrigation regimes on raised bed system demonstrated the efficacy of ET-based irrigation scheduling services/ conservation agriculture technologies under moderate soil salinity conditions in Karakalpakistan. Results could be used to conduct crop modeling to evaluate the effects of climate change on water availability and water demand in the Aral Sea Basin. Irrigation and water use efficiencies calculated using this experiment could be used to compare their relative performance with other cotton and winter wheat producing nations in Central Asia and around the world. First year trial with introducing raised bed planting in wheat crop rotation showed positive impact of the technology in terms of additional source of income to farmers. Optimum irrigation scheduling applied for wheat increased not only yield and water productivity but also ensured getting additional income to the farmers at the project site