Method for determining criteria of environmentally safe soil irrigation in the southern part of Russia (prevention of irrigation-induced erosion)

A simplified method is developed for determining the quantitative criteria of ecologically safe sprinkler and furrow irrigation, i.e., irrigation that does not induce the formation of surface runoff, soil erosion, and environmental pollution by the contaminants in the runoff and removed soil material. The method uses simplified algorithms for calculating the main elements of soil- and water-conservation technologies under sprinkler land furrow irrigation. The method enables us to conduct environmental supervision over irrigation in the southern part of Russia using easy-to-determine soil-agrophysical properties, artificial rain parameters, and relief characteristics. An example of its application is given: permissible intensity of rain, permissible rate of sprinkler irrigation, and permissible rate of water in furrows were determined.