Improving the Reclamation Status of Saline Agricultural Lands through Open Trench Drainage in the Vakhsh Valley
With the aim of improving the condition of saline soils and studying other land reclamation issues affecting agricultural lands in the Vakhsh Valley of Khatlon Region, scientists and specialists of the Vakhsh Experimental Station of Soil Science and Land Reclamation recently introduced an open trench drainage method through the construction of a network of trenches. In the future, this method may be used to collect excess groundwater and can be recommended to agricultural producers for practical application.
The open trench drainage method involves constructing a network of trenches that collect excess groundwater and discharge it into collectors or main drainage canals. As a result:
the groundwater table is lowered;
soil salinity is reduced;
soil aeration is improved;
agricultural crop productivity is increased.
Determination of the groundwater level.
Design of the trench network.
Excavation of trenches with a specified slope.
Connection of the trenches to a collector or drainage canal.
Regular cleaning and maintenance of the trenches to ensure uninterrupted water flow.
Relatively low implementation costs;
Use of simple and accessible machinery;
High efficiency on saline and waterlogged soils;
Improvement of the reclamation condition of agricultural lands.
The implementation of this research-based proposal is of considerable practical importance for dehkan farms and other land users. Its application can contribute to lowering groundwater levels, preventing waterlogging, and improving the reclamation status of agricultural lands, thereby creating more favorable conditions for sustainable crop production.
