Abstract
Subsurface drip irrigation systems, compared to other irrigation systems, enhance the delivery of water and nutrients directly into the root zone. However, in light-textured soils, certain quantities of water may percolate below the root zone due to the subsurface position of drip lines and/or poor management of irrigation systems. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate three technologies to enhance a spatial distribution of water and solutes in the root zone and to limit downward leaching. The three technologies include (a) a physical barrier, (b) a dual-drip system with concurrent irrigation, and (c) a dual-drip system with sequential irrigation. To achieve this objective, we performed computer simulations using the HYDRUS (2D/3D) software for both bare and vegetated soils. The results indicate that the physical barrier is more efficient than dual-drip systems in enhancing the water distribution in the root zone while preventing downward leaching. On the other hand, the dual-drip system improves water distribution in sandy soils. Additionally, the dual-drip system with sequential irrigation, followed by the dual-drip system with concurrent irrigation, is the most efficient in limiting downward leaching of solutes.