CROP WATER-USE FROM SHALLOW, SALINE WATER TABLES

The effect of shallow, saline water tables on the irrigation requireme nts of corn, alfalfa, and winter wheat was determined using lysimeters in western Colorado. The crops were grown with no water table and wit h water-table depths of 0.60 and 1.05 m supplied with water having ele ctrical conductivities of 0.66, 3.0, and 6.0 dS/m. The portion of tota l seasonal evapotranspiration supplied from shallow groundwater was st rongly affected by water-table depth and, for corn and wheat, slightly affected by salinity of the water in the saturated zone. Results sugg est that surface irrigations may be reduced when shallow water tables are present.