Investigations into the performance of a subsurface irrigation system in a clay soil

• Main Author: Plante, André
• Other Authors: Prasher, S. O. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1992
• Subjects: Clay soils > Québec (Province).; Subirrigation > Québec (Province).; Drainage > Québec (Province).
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=69548

The performance of a subsurface irrigation system in a clay soil was investigated under field conditions from 1989 to 1991. It was found that subsurface irrigation could be practised successfully in some clay soils of Quebec. The 10 m drain spacing was found to be better than the 20 m drain spacing in terms of keeping a uniform water table between the drains. The water table distribution between the drains was found to be a factor of the applied hydraulic head. The relationship between the applied hydraulic head and the midspan water table elevation could not be determined due to unfavourable weather conditions during the study period. The soil moisture content was found to follow the same behavior as the water table elevation, however, the relationship between these two parameters could not be properly established. It was also found that under the same applied hydraulic head, the drain spacing did not affect the soil moisture distribution. Subsurface irrigated plots were found to make better use of rain water than drained only plots since they did not permit the formation of well-defined pathways (macropores) allowing rainfall to move below the root zone without wetting it. It was also found that subsurface irrigation did not alter the soil structure appreciably and that autumn drainability was not affected in 1990 and 1991.