Experimentation and modeling of salt movement in an area cropped with cabbage under different irrigation management conditions in the semi-arid of Pernambuco State (Brazil

Abstract

In the Brazilian semi-arid region, small scale agriculture constitutes financial support for small rural communities. However, due to the high water deficit, irrigation management is of high importance for the development of the agriculture, and numerical modeling is an useful tool towards evaluating in advance the performance of practical techniques for salinization control. Thus, the objective of this study was to apply the SALTMED model to simulate soil moisture and salinity in a soil profile cropped with cabbage, at 20 cm and 40 cm depths under irrigation frequencies of 12, 24 and 48 hours. The model was calibrated and validated using daily field observations, considering the natural resources aspects (soil and water), climate, crop, and irrigation system. The experiment with the irrigation frequency of 24 hours was used for calibration, while the experiments with irrigation frequencies of 12 and 48 hours were used for validation in area with Neosol, in the Municipal District of Pesqueira-PE. The model was properly calibrated and validated for all depths, and it can be used for analysing integrated management which maximizes cabbage response in similar areas and under salinization risk.