Modelling water and salt transport in a soil–water–plant system under different groundwater tables

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Abstract
Salinization in a soil–water–plant system is an important environmental issue that has caused public concerns. In this study, field column experiments are conducted to study the transport of water and salt in soils affected by hydrologic circle and plant growth. A soil water and salt transport model (SWSTM) is developed and calibrated for predicting the behaviour of water and salt in a soil–water–plant system. The model takes into account water and solute uptake by crop roots and migration to groundwater. The experiment results demonstrate that the rise of the groundwater table enhances the movement of water and results in the accumulation of salt at a layer of 45 cm depth. With the decline of the groundwater table, the amount of accumulated salt increases correspondingly. The simulation results demonstrate that the SWSTM adequately predicts the water and salt transport in a soil–crop–plant system under different groundwater tables. The use of SWSTM will help to reveal the mechanism of water and salt transport in a soil–water–plant system. The SWSTM can also serve as a useful tool in evaluating the impact of agricultural activities and formulating efficient water management strategies in China.

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