Economic Analysis of Segmented Soil Salinity Management Using Current Irrigation Technology

Nicolette Matthews (), Bennie Grové and Johannes Hendrikus Barnard
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Nicolette Matthews: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Bennie Grové: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Johannes Hendrikus Barnard: Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Due to significant initial investments, adopting complex reactive irrigation technologies to manage salinity can be financially risky for farmers. This paper explores using existing irrigation systems to manage salinity by adjusting irrigation timing and amounts to manage salt and water stress. An integrated bioeconomic model, combining a crop model and an economic model, was developed to simulate the impact of irrigation decisions on crop yield and profitability. This paper used secondary data to develop the case study used in the analysis. The results indicated that the margin above specified costs for a segmented irrigation approach was consistently higher than for the uniform approach. The economic benefit varied depending on the soil salinity category that made up the uniform approach, with a maximum potential benefit of 161 ZAR/ha. Increasing irrigation in high-salinity zones to dilute salts enhanced crop yields through improved osmotic and matric potentials, leading to higher total soil water potential. Interestingly, despite higher irrigation applications, there was minimal leaching of salts. The conclusion is that farmers can effectively manage salt and water stress using their current irrigation technology, avoiding costly reactive technologies. Adjusting irrigation timing and amounts offers a viable, cost-effective solution for managing salinity and optimising crop yields.

Keywords: salinity management; matric and osmotic stress; segmented irrigation strategies; irrigation farming; bioeconomic model; irrigation technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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