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Assessing the salinity effects and economic feasibility of on-farm desalination technology in irrigated semi-arid regions

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dc.contributor.authorBarnes, Kaitlyn, author
dc.contributor.authorBailey, Ryan, advisor
dc.contributor.authorSharvelle, Sybil, committee member
dc.contributor.authorMelzer, Suellen, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2022-01-07T11:28:59Z
dc.date.available2022-01-07T11:28:59Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractHigh salinity levels in areas with intensive agricultural practices can inhibit agricultural productivity. Semi-arid regions where irrigation is used to support crop growth are particularly impacted by the quality of surface and groundwater sources. In this study, we use a combined numerical modeling and economic analysis approach to estimate the regional impact of an on-farm desalination technology on multi-decadal salinity fate and transport and explore whether the technology is viable to improve soil health, crop yield, and long-term profitability. A subsurface salt transport model (MODFLOW-RT3D) is applied to a 50,600-ha (125,000 acres) region in southeastern Colorado located within the Arkansas River Valley. The model simulates the reactive transport in soils and groundwater of 8 major salt ions (Ca+, Mg2+, Na+, K, SO42-, CO32-, HCO3-, and Cl-). Simulated values of average soil water concentration (TDS) are used to estimate crop relative yield with and without salt removal at various removal rates (Baseline – no salt removed; Unit removal – average of 60% salt removed; 100% salt removal) and time periods (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years after desalination begins). The Unit removal rate is calibrated to align with a solar powered, reverse-osmosis desalination system that is currently being tested in semi-arid study area. For the Unit rate of 60% salt removal, the average TDS of the study area was found to decrease by an average of 20% over a period of 20 years, resulting in an increase in crop yield of 1.6 – 2.3%. Using data on regional production costs, crop prices, and the costs of building and operating the desalination system, we calculate the Net Present Value of production with the desalination unit. The results indicate that desalination does increase economic returns, particularly for high-valued specialty crops, such as melons and onions; however, these benefits are considerably less than the costs of operating the desalination technology.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierBarnes_colostate_0053N_16930.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/234188
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectdesalination
dc.subjectnatural resources
dc.subjectsoil health
dc.subjecthydrologic modeling
dc.subjectcrop production
dc.subjectsemi-arid
dc.titleAssessing the salinity effects and economic feasibility of on-farm desalination technology in irrigated semi-arid regions
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil and Environmental Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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