Saline Irrigation using Ion-exchange Resin and Reverse Osmosis Membrane in Wheat and Barley

Saline irrigation equipped desaline apparatus in a root zone was tested to save fresh water resources. Pots of 56 mm inner-diameter and 40 cm in length were used. Amberlite (ion-exchange resin) and reverse osmosis membrane, both of which had a desalinating ability, were set at the bottom of each pot in desaline plots, respectively. In the control plot, a lovesheet (non-woven cloth) that had no ability to desaline was set. Wheat and barley were transplanted into these pots, which were filled with soil, and the pots were irrigated through the bottom either by fresh or saline water. The two crops responded to desaline methods and irrigation similarly. Growth and development in the two crops were suppressed largely by saline irrigation in the control plot. Amberlite did not affect the growth and development under fresh water irrigation. Shoot dry weight was increased by amberlite under saline irrigation, but the final values of sodium concentration of shoot and soil was not affected. The sodium concentration was reduced by reverse osmosis membrane, whereas the growth and development were suppressed under both fresh and saline irrigations. Amberlite and reverse osmosis membrane improved the growth and development and sodium concentration, but it should be a challenge to improve desaline ability of amberlite and water permeability of reverse osmosis membrane.