Effect of Subsurface Drainage Systems on Soil Salinity at Saemangeum Reclaimed Tidal Land

Soil salinity is the most critical factor for crop production at reclaimed tidal saline soil. Subsurface drainage system is recognized as a powerful tool for the process of desalinization in saline soil. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of subsurface drainage systems on soil salinity and corn development at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal saline soil. The field experiments were carried out between 2012 and 2014 at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land, Buan, Korea. Subsurface drainage was installed with four treatments: 1) drain spacing of 5 m, 2) drain spacing 10 m, 3) double layer with drain spacing 5 m and 10 m, and 4) the control without any treatment. The levels of water table showed shorter periods above 60 cm levels with the deeper installation of subsurface drainage system. Water soluble cations were significantly greater than exchangeable forms and soluble Na contents, especially in surface layer, were greatly reduced with the installation of subsurface drainage system. Subsurface drainage system improved biomass yield of corn and withering rate. Thus, the biomass yield of corn was improved and the shoot growth was more affected by salinity than was the root growth. The efficiency of double layer was not significant compared with the drain spacing of 5 m. The economic return to growers at reclaimed tidal saline soil was the greatest by the subsurface drainage system with 5 m drain spacing. Our results demonstrated that the installation of subsurface drainage system with drain space of 5 m spacing would be a best management practice to control soil salinity and corn development at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal saline soil.