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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Jonesboro, Arkansas » Delta Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328074
Title: Impacts and Benefits of Polyacrylamide (PAM) on irrigation efficiency, soil conservation, and water quality in mid-south cotton production 2015.

Author
item BARNES, BRITTANY - University Of Arkansas
item Reba, Michele
item TEAGUE, TINA - Arkansas State University

Submitted to: Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Irrigation in the Mid-South has become standard over the last few decades. As a result, Arkansas is one of the leading states in total irrigated cropland. As such, resulting groundwater decline and irrigation-induced soil erosion can have negative impacts leaving room for improved management. Water infiltration into the soil and runoff water quality are challenges that management can influence. This establishes a need for irrigation management practices to improve soil erosion and runoff water quality. Polyacrylamide (PAM) is widely accepted in western systems showing increased infiltration and reduced irrigation advance times in furrow irrigated systems, stabilized soil and improved runoff water quality. This research describes the effect of Polyacrylamide (PAM) on soil erosion, water infiltration, movement of nutrients and sediments, and crop yields in cotton production typical of Northeast Arkansas. Results from the 2015 field trial provided encouraging indications of improved irrigation water infiltration and reduced loss of nutrients in irrigation run-off when PAM was applied at planting and with irrigation water. These results suggest that PAM could have positive impact on irrigation efficiency in the Midsouth. Expanded evaluations are planned for 2016.

Technical Abstract: Irrigation in the Mid-South has become standard over the last few decades. As a result, Arkansas is one of the leading states in total irrigated cropland. As such, resulting groundwater decline and irrigation-induced soil erosion can have negative impacts leaving room for improved management. Water infiltration into the soil and runoff water quality are challenges that management can influence. This establishes a need for irrigation management practices to improve soil erosion and runoff water quality. Polyacrylamide (PAM) is widely accepted in western systems showing increased infiltration and reduced irrigation advance times in furrow irrigated systems, stabilized soil and improved runoff water quality. This research describes the effect of Polyacrylamide (PAM) on soil erosion, water infiltration, movement of nutrients and sediments, and crop yields in cotton production typical of Northeast Arkansas. The study took place at Judd Hill, AR in a Dundee and Mhoon silt loam soil. There were three treatments: Irrigation (IRR), Irrigation plus PAM (IRR+PAM), and Rainfed. The experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block with 3 replications. Results from the 2015 field trial provided encouraging indications of improved irrigation water infiltration and reduced loss of nutrients in irrigation run-off when PAM was applied at planting and with irrigation water. These results suggest that PAM could have positive impact on irrigation efficiency in the Midsouth. Expanded evaluations are planned for 2016.