Effect of mulching and subsurface drip irrigation on soil water status under arid environment

Aim of study: We investigated water evaporation of the soil surface and the soil water distribution under different mulching techniques using subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system.Area of study: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research and Experimental Farm in Dirab, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, locating 24.4195° N, 46.65° E, and 552 m altitude.Material and methods: The two types of soil surface mulching were black plastic film (BPF) and palm tree waste (PTW), with no mulching (NM) as control. The two drip line depths from the soil surface (DL) were 15 cm and 25 cm, and surface drip irrigation (DI) was the control.Main results: In SDI, the use of BPF or PTW mulching resulted in enhanced water retention capacity of the soil and an approximately 6% water saving, compared with NM. The amounts of water saved at DL of 15 cm (19-24 mm) were greater than those at DL of 25 cm (15-20 mm), whereas the DI used the highest amount of applied water. The distribution of soil water content for BPF and PTW were found to be more uniform than NM.Research highlights: It is advised to mulch the soil with PTW due to lower costs and through a DL of 15 cm.