Effects of chiseling and acidifying amendments on water intake rates

Abstract

A field experiment to determine the effect of acidifying amendments and chiseling on water intake rate was conducted on the University of Arizona Experimental Farm at Marana. There was a total of 24 plots with six replications of each of the following treatments: sulfuric acid, Nitrosul, chiseling, and the control. The soil type was Pima clay loam. Four basin irrigations were applied during the summer of 1973 and the rate of infiltration was recorded for each plot. Chiseling to a depth of 50 cm was done prior to the first irrigation. The acidifying amendments were applied in the water during the first irrigation. Sulfuric acid and Nitrosul treated plots gave in general higher infiltration rates as compared with the control plots, but it was statistically significant only in the second irrigation. No significant response was obtained with chiseling. Soil analyses indicated a slight decrease in pH and SAR, and an increase in water holding capacity with the use of the acidifying amendments. Yields of sudangrass were not significantly different among treatments,