Effects of Water Temperature on Soil Water Infiltration Characteristics Under Film-Mulched Drip Irrigation

Film-mulched drip irrigation is an effective water-saving irrigation technology that can help to conserve soil moisture while also increasing crop yield. This study aims to disclose the effects of the water temperature on Xi’an silty loam water infiltration characteristics under film-mulched drip irrigation. The laboratory experiments were carried out with film-mulched drip irrigation by using four water temperature treatments (T = 5, 15, 25, and 35℃). The cumulative infiltration, migration distance of the wetting front, soil moisture content, and soil temperature in the wetted body were all observed. The power function models regarding the correlation among the horizontal and vertical migration distances of the wetting front, infiltration duration, and the water temperature were established. The findings indicated that water temperature had a substantial effect on the moisture content distribution and soil temperature in the wetted body. The dripper discharge and migration distance in the wetting front increased with the increase of water temperature throughout the same infiltration duration. With increasing water temperature, the average moisture content in the wetted body decreased. The temperature variation in the soil was more prominent in soil layer 0 ~ 15 cm within 400 min of infiltration. The findings of this study could be useful for the theoretical development and application for irrigation water temperature management under film-mulched drip irrigation.