Brackish Groundwater and Reverse Osmosis Concentrate Influence Soil Physical and Thermal Properties and Pecan Evapotranspiration

The use of brackish groundwater (BGW) to supplement irrigation shortfalls has increased because of decreasing surface water availability in the arid areas of the southern United States. Reuse of reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate, a by-product resulting from desalination of BGW, can increase the irrigation portfolio. This 2-yr greenhouse study aimed to quantify changes in physical and thermal soil properties, and the evapotranspiration (ET) rate of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] irrigated with BGW and RO concentrate. Another objective was to predict soil thermal conductivity (K) using soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soil volumetric water content (VWC) data for 2017–2018. Three irrigation water treatments with four replications were prepared namely, control (EC = 0.8 dS m−1), BGW (EC = 4.0 dS m−1), and RO concentrate (EC = 8.0 dS m−1). Soil physical properties determined were texture, moisture content, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, and moisture retention. Thermal properties measured were conductivity (K), diffusivity (D), resistivity (ρ), and heat capacity (C). The ET and leaching fractions (LF) were determined using water balance. Pecan irrigated with RO concentrate had the lowest ET among irrigation treatments. Soil thermal conductivities and soil water contents in BGW and RO irrigated pots were higher than the control. However, increases in heat capacity with increasing irrigation water salinity were most pronounced. The new four parameters-based model using EC and VWC explained 96% of variability of K (average R2 = .96, RMSE = 0.096, normalized RMSE [NRMSE] = 11.14%). The sensitivity analysis showed that the contribution of VWC to K was greater than that of EC. Results indicate that continuous irrigation with RO concentrate can be done for up to 1 yr. A new irrigation scheduling protocol based on optimal LF and soil salinity is needed to sustain pecan production in southern New Mexico