The quality of water for irrigation

Abstract

A condensed review is presented of the more recent developments in evaluating the salinity and sodicity of water for utilisation in irrigation. Several developments have resulted in water of a higher salinity than previously now being considered suitable for irrigation. The realisation that rain-drop action can result in the formation of surface crusts of low permeability, even at exchangeable sodium percentages lower than that previously considered problematic, point to the possible need for more stringent criteria for irrigation water sodicity.