YOUR BEST PRACTICE OPTIMIZINGirrigation water
PAM optimizers are powerful tools for irrigation and are most effective when the application is customized for the circumstances.
By Rodrick (Rick) D. Lentz, PhD W
This furrow-irrigated field in southern Idaho has soils with low organic matter and high volcanic ash fractions, which are highly susceptible to erosion. The furrow stream on the left was untreated and shows sediment load and head-cut erosion (lower left). The furrow stream on the right was treated with 10 mg/L water- soluble anionic polyacrylamide (WSPAM) during stream advance.
hen applied properly, the synthetic organic polymer, polyacrylamide (PAM), can provide substantial water quality, infiltration and
water retention benefits to irrigated agriculture. To achieve peak performance, applications may need to be fine-tuned for individual circumstances.
The term PAM refers to a family of polymers, all composed of two components (monomers), acrylamide and acrylic acid, which occur in varying proportions depending on the polymer. Polyacrylic acid polymer, which includes no a
acrylamide monomer, is sometimes included iin
The figure shows the mean soil penetrometer resistance and plant available water in a degraded, calcareous silt loam soil (0-6 inch depth) four years after a one-time addition of cross-linked polyacrylamide (XPAM) was applied at one of three rates (0%, 0.25% and 0.5% dry wt.
26 Irrigation TODAY | Winter 2021
n the PAM category. The acrylate monomer ionizes in water, giving the PAM a positive charge that helps bind the polymer to soil particles. PAM comes in two forms: 1) The water- soluble form (WSPAM) can be used to stabilize soil structure, increase infiltration and reduce soil erosion, particularly in furrow irrigation, and 2) The nonsoluble form is comprised of WSPAM polymers cross-linked together to form a massive, porous product (XPAM). XPAM can absorb >100+ times its weight in water and is added to soil to increase its water retention, improve structure, reduce water and nutrient leaching losses, and improve root penetration.
Water-soluble PAM in furrow irrigation
WSPAM is commonly added to furrow irrigation water, primarily in the irrigations applied to freshly formed or cultivated furrows, which tend to be highly susceptible to erosion. The polymer can be added to irrigation water at 10 ppm during furrow advance only
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