Wei et al. (2026) Subsurface drainage alleviates salt-affected soil constraints and improves soil fertility through altering physical and hydraulic properties in the Hetao Irrigation District, China

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-28
• Authors: Meng Wei, Mengjie Qiao, Xiaopeng Li, Jiabao Zhang, Xiangping Wang, Can Wang, Jianli Liu
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110731

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Hetao Irrigation District

Short Summary

This study investigates the effects of subsurface drainage (SD) on soil properties, nutrient utilization, and biological processes in a sunflower cultivation system. The results show that SD improves soil pore and aggregate structure, enhances soil aeration, and promotes nutrient accumulation.

Objective

• Determine the effects of SD on soil structure and aggregates in salt-affected soils.
• Explore the effects of SD on ionic composition and nutrient differentiation.
• Examine the effects of SD on the diversity and composition of soil microorganisms.
• Assess the relationships between the microbial community and environmental factors under SD system.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field experiment conducted at a specific location in Hetao Irrigation District, China.
• Temporal Scale: The study was conducted over a period of approximately one year, from May 2023 to September 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: RETC software (version 6.02) for predicting saturated hydraulic conductivity and van Genuchten model fitting of water content data.
• Data sources: Field measurements, high-throughput sequencing, and quantitative PCR analysis.

Main Results

• SD treatment significantly improved silt content at 60–80 cm and 80–100 cm depth by 30.78% and 37.03%, respectively.
• SD treatment increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil water-stable aggregates in the tillage layer (0–20 cm).
• SD treatment reduced pH values, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and carbonate ion concentrations.
• SD treatment increased nutrient contents, including soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus.
• SD treatment enhanced bacterial α-diversity and shifted microbial communities toward oligotrophic taxa.

Contributions

This study provides new insights into the effects of subsurface drainage on soil properties, nutrient utilization, and biological processes in salt-affected soils. The findings can be used to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in regions with similar conditions.

Funding

• This research was funded by [project name], [reference code].
• Additional funding was provided by [program name], [reference code].

Citation

@article{Wei2026Subsurface,
  author = {Wei, Meng and Qiao, Mengjie and Li, Xiaopeng and Zhang, Jiabao and Wang, Xiangping and Wang, Can and Liu, Jianli},
  title = {Subsurface drainage alleviates salt-affected soil constraints and improves soil fertility through altering physical and hydraulic properties in the Hetao Irrigation District, China},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110731},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110731}
}