Mechanistic analysis of soil salinity evolution under long-term mulched drip irrigation in a typical oasis irrigation district of Xinjiang of China

Authors

  • Keshun Liu 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Wenhao Li 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Tingbo Lyu 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Shuanglong Gao 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Jucheng Wu 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Jinyin He 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Cunhong Zhang 1. College of Water Conservancy&Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production&Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China

Keywords:

soil salinity, influencing factors, RF, SHAP algorithm, threshold ranges

Abstract

Soil salinization poses a significant challenge for sustainable development in oasis irrigation districts. This study focused on mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields in the downstream area of the Manas River Basin. Using machine learning and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithms, the long-term dynamics of soil salinity in the 0-100 cm soil profile and its key driving factors from 2013 to 2021 were analyzed. The results revealed that prolonged drip irrigation led to a notable decline in soil salinity within the 0-100 cm profile. In Field A, average salinity decreased from 5.58 g/kg to 2.39 g/kg, while in Field B, it declined from 11.39 g/kg to 3.88 g/kg. The random forest (RF) model exhibited robust predictive performance, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.886 on the test dataset. The importance ranking of the influencing factors was as follows: groundwater depth>irrigation amount>groundwater mineralization>annual evaporation>annual precipitation>soil bulk density. SHAP analysis further revealed that irrigation amounts below 6500 m3/hm2, groundwater depths exceeding 3.3 m, and groundwater mineralization levels below 8.75 g/L were associated with reduced soil salinity accumulation. The threshold ranges for mitigating salinity were identified as a groundwater depth between 3.3 and 3.5 m and an irrigation amount ranging from 6500 to 6800 m3/hm2. These results offer a scientific foundation for developing effective soil salinity control strategies in oasis irrigation systems.       

Key words: soil salinity; influencing factors; RF; SHAP algorithm; threshold ranges

DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20261904.9972

Citation: Liu K S, Li W H, Lyu T B, Gao S L, Wu J C, He J Y, et al. Mechanistic analysis of soil salinity evolution under long-term mulched drip irrigation in a typical oasis irrigation district of Xinjiang of China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2026; 19(4): 165–173.

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Published

2026-09-03

How to Cite

(1)
Liu, K.; Li, W.; Lyu, T.; Gao, S.; Wu, J.; He, J.; Zhang, C. Mechanistic Analysis of Soil Salinity Evolution under Long-Term Mulched Drip Irrigation in a Typical Oasis Irrigation District of Xinjiang of China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng 2026, 19, 165-173.

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 4 (2026): IJABE

Section

Natural Resources and Environmental Systems

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