Water management affects arsenic and cadmium accumulation in different rice cultivars

Paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food and one of the major sources of dietary arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in Asia. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of four water management regimes (aerobic, intermittent irrigation, conventional irrigation and flooding) on As and Cd accumulation in seven major rice cultivars grown in Zhejiang province, east China. With increasing irrigation from aerobic to flooded conditions, the soil HCl-extractable As concentrations increased significantly and the HCl-extractable Cd concentrations decreased significantly. These trends were consistent with the As and Cd concentrations in the straw, husk and brown rice. Water management both before and after the full tillering stage affected As and Cd accumulation in the grains. The intermittent and conventional treatments produced higher grain yields than the aerobic and flooded treatments. Cd concentrations in brown rice varied 13.1–40.8 times and As varied 1.75–8.80 times among the four water management regimes. Cd and As accumulation in brown rice varied among the rice cultivars, with Guodao 6 (GD6) was a low Cd but high-As-accumulating cultivar while Indonesia (IR) and Yongyou 9 (YY9) were low As but high-Cd-accumulating cultivars. Brown rice Cd and As concentrations in the 7 cultivars were significantly negatively correlated. The results indicate that As and Cd accumulated in rice grains with opposite trends that were influenced by both water management and rice cultivar. Production of ‘safe’ rice with respect to As and Cd might be possible by balancing water management and rice cultivar according to the severity of soil pollution.     

Response of plant species to coal-mine soil materials

A two-year experiment was conducted on the Black Mesa Coal Mine near Kayenta, Arizona to investigate the growth and establishment of seven plant species in unmined soil (undisturbed soil) and coal-mine soil (spoils). Natural rainfall (20 cm/yr) and natural rainfull plus sprinkler irrigation (50 cm/yr) were the irrigation treatments applied to each soil material. Plant species grew better in unmined soil than in coal-mine soil. Supplemental irrigation water resulted in more plant growth than did natural rainfall alone in both soil materials; however, there were highly significant differences among species. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and all of the annual perennial grasses used, excluding Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides Ricker), produced effective ground cover on both soil materials when they received supplemental irrigation water. Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens Pursh.) had low germination (emergence), seedling establishment, and stem production during the first year of growth; however, in the second year of growth, this species produced a dense ground cover on coal-mine soil with natural rainfall plus irrigation. In revegetating the Black Mesa Coal Mine, Harlan II barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Super X wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) provided initial protective cover until adapted perennial species could be established for permanent stabilisation. The Black Mesa Research Study indicated that irrigation water during seedling establishment was essential for the effective stabilisation of coal-mine soils in a semiarid environment.     

Irrigation with domestic wastewater: responses on growth and yield of ladyfinger Abelmoschus esculentus and on soil nutrients

Domestic wastewater is generated continuously and in large quantities. It can serve as an alternative water nutrient source for irrigation. In the present study Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Ladyfinger) was irrigated using untreated wastewater (T1), treated wastewater (T2) and rainwater (T3) in pot experiments. The effect was seen on nutrient fortication, growth and yield of the plant and the nutrient status of the soil. Additionally the build up of Cr, Cu and Zn from the irrigation water were anlayzed in different parts of the plant biomass and in the soil. The sapling survival rate was found to be 87% in T1 followed by T2 and T3. Root shoot ratio under different treatments was found in the order T3 (0.46) >T2 (0.35) >T1 (0.31). The chlorophyll a, b and carotene content in the leaves (mg g(-1)) was found to be 6.3, 0.5, 0.9 under T1, 4.8, 0.4, 0.8 under T2 and 3.2, 0.3, 0.5 under T3 respectively and all the three varied in the order T1>T2>T3. The same trend was found in case of total dry matter (g) T1 (6.3) >T2 (3.7) >T3 (2.3) at p < or = 0.05. There was a considerable increase in nutrients in the soil under T1 and T2 as compared to T3 after final harvest. The organic matter (%), NO3-N and PO4(3-) (mg kg(-1)) content post harvest soil was found to be 3.4, 71, 90 under T1 and 2.9, 52, 63 under T2 respectively. Also, there was an increase in cations Na, K, Ca and Mg in the soil irrigated with T1 and T2 after the final harvest. Thus irrigation with wastewater generally increased soil fertility. Only a small percentage of the heavy metal was bioaccumulated by the plant parts from the irrigation water. There was hardly any metal accumulation in fruits. Bulk of the metal ions remained in the soil.     

微咸水膜下滴灌对白僵土盐碱地水盐特性及油葵生长的影响

为了解滴灌条件下不同微咸水矿化度及覆膜与否对盐碱地土壤水盐特性及油葵生长的影响,在宁夏平罗西大滩盐碱地进行不同灌水矿化度(0.2、1、2、3 g/L)膜下滴灌田间试验.结果表明,地膜覆盖比不覆盖处理土壤含水量高约2%,盐分表聚减缓,油葵株高、产量及其构成均高于不覆膜处理,产量最高增幅达82.5%;不同矿化度微咸水之间比较发现,利用矿化度为1 g/L的微咸水进行灌溉时,下层土壤含水量较高,微咸水滴灌不但没有为上层土壤带去过多盐分,反而由于土壤有一定的渗透性能,灌水将土壤上层盐分逐渐淋洗至下层.膜下滴灌微咸水矿化度为1 g/L时,油葵产量最大.因此在适宜条件、合理措施下,微咸水覆膜滴灌技术可以促进作物生长,确保作物产量,在淡水缺乏而微咸水较为丰富的盐碱地地区应积极推广利用.     

Diurnal photosynthesis, water use efficiency and light use efficiency of wheat under Mediterranean field conditions

Photosynthesis and transpiration rates of wheat leaves (Triticum aestivum L.) were measured at 30 min intervals under Mediterranean field conditions, using Photosynthesis Monitor system (PM-48M). The dynamics of net photosynthetic rate (P(N)), transpiration rate (E(T)), water use efficiency (WUE), light use efficiency (LUE), stomatal conductance (g(s)), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and atmospheric CO2 concentration (Catm) were quantified at five rainfed wheat sites with the same stages of development (midflowering) along south-to-north and east-to-west transects for eight days in April. Diurnal P(N) (3.6 to 6.6 micromol m(-2) s(-1)), PAR (392 to 564 micromol m2 sec(-1)), LUE (0.006 to 0.015) and WUE (0.0001 to 0.011) did not vary significantly across all five wheat sites (p > 0.05). P(N) and E(T) were strongly coupled and highly correlated with PAR (p < 0.001). Best multiple linear regression (MLR) models accounted for 92% of variations in P(N) as a function of PAR and E(T), and 90% in E(T) as a function of PAR and RH (p < 0.001). P(N) exhibited a peak at mid-morning, and a photosynthetic midday depression under the limiting effects of high evaporative demand. Diurnal variations in WUE and LUE showed a bimodal behavior with the maximum values in early morning and late afternoon. As the impacts of global climate change become increasingly felt, continuous measurements of climate-crop-soil-managementinteractions under natural conditions play a pivotal role not only in exploring changes in ecophysiological properties of strategic crops for food security such as wheat but also in devising preventive and mitigative management practices to ensure sustained agricultural productivity.     

Effect of different irrigation methods on yield of red hot pepper and plant mortality caused by Phytophthora capsici Leon

This experiment was conducted in 1999 and 2000 in a field naturally infected by Phytophthora capsici to determine the effects of different irrigation methods, namely, basin (B), closed-end furrow (F), drip (D) and sprinkler (S) irrigation on dry yield of chili pepper (Capsium annuum L. K. Maras Type). Water use efficiency (WUE) and plant mortality were also measured. The averages of total applied water to the B, F, D and S plots for the two years were 937.7 mm, 920.6 mm, 886.5 and 913.4 mm, respectively. Thus, the mean seasonal water use by pepper varied from 1020.7 to 1109.7 mm. The highest water use was measured in B, followed by use for S, D and F methods. The highest mean potential dry yield with 1.58 t ha(-1) was obtained using D method. This was followed by S (1.36 t ha(-1)), B (1.13 t ha(-1)), and F (0.81 t ha(-1)) methods. In terms of plant mortality, crops having B irrigation had the highest (93.9%), followed by lessen amount to the S (3.2%), F (3.1%), and D methods (1.7%). Only the B irrigation method stimulated the development of P. capsici disease. On the other hand, mean WUEs varied between 0.7 and 1.7 kg ha(-1)mnm(-1) for Irrigation methods. WUE for D method was slightly higher than S method, but considerably higher than B and F methods.     

水分和氮素供应对菠菜硝酸盐累积和钾素吸收的影响

研究了水分和氮素供应对露地秋菠菜的硝酸盐累积和钾、氮吸收的影响。结果表明：与传统的水氮管理措施相比，采用水分平衡法和氮素专家系统进行的水氮供应并没有造成作物减产，但对钾、氮元素的吸收却有明显的影响，同氮素吸收相比，作物对钾素的吸收数量更高；并且作物对钾、氮的吸收比例随氮素供应水平的增加而降低，试验还动态监测了菠菜最新展开叶的叶柄汁液中的硝酸盐和K^ 浓度在一天内的变化情况。结果表明，不同水氮处理的菠菜叶柄汁液的硝酸盐浓度在白天均没有发生显著变化；叶柄汁液中的K^ 浓度和NO3^-／K^ 的浓度比在白天受氮素供应水平的影响很大，供氮量高，K^ 浓度和NO3^-／K^ 浓度比的变化也大，但受灌水量影响不大。图3表2参17。     

Denitrification mitigates N flux through the stream-floodplain complex of a desert city

The Indian Bend Wash (IBW) flood-control project relies on a greenbelt to carry floods through Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. The greenbelt is characterized by a chain of shallow artificial lakes in a larger floodplain of irrigated turf, which has been protected from encroaching urban development. As such, this urban stream-floodplain complex can be divided into three subsystems: artificial lakes, channelized stream segments, and floodplain. We conducted experiments to evaluate which, if any, of these subsystems were important sites of denitrification, and to explore factors controlling denitrification rates. Denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) bioassays were conducted on sediments from eight lake and six stream segments as well as soil samples from eight floodplain transects. Mass-specific potential denitrification rates were significantly higher in lakes than in streams or floodplains. Nutrient limitation bioassays revealed that nitrate (NO3-) limited denitrification in lake sediments, a surprising finding given that NO3(-)-rich groundwater additions frequently raised lake NO3(-) concentration above 1 mg N/L. Experiments on intact lake cores suggested that denitrification was limited by the rate NO3(-) diffused into sediments, rather than its availability in overlying water. Floodplain denitrification was limited by water content, not NO3(-) or C, and irrigation of soils stimulated denitrification. We constructed a N budget for the IBW stream-floodplain complex based on our experimental results. We found that both lakes and floodplains removed large quantities of N, with denitrification removing 261 and 133 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) from lake sediments and floodplain soils, respectively, indicating that lakes are hotspots for denitrification. Nevertheless, because floodplain area was >4.5 times that of lakes, floodplain soils removed nearly 2.5 times as much N as lake sediments. Given the desert's low annual precipitation, a finding that floodplain soils are active sites of denitrification might seem implausible; however, irrigation is common in urban landscapes, and it elevated annual denitrification in IBW. Based on our results, we conclude that construction of artificial lakes created hotspots while application of irrigation water created hot moments for denitrification in the stream-floodplain complex, demonstrating that management decisions can improve the ability of urban streams to provide critical ecosystem services like N retention.     

镍对蔬菜毒害临界值的研究

采用水培＋土培的方法研究了镍对蔬菜的毒害临界值。先采用水培法从18种福建常见蔬菜中筛选出对镍毒害的高敏感蔬菜,再通过土培试验确定土壤镍对高敏感蔬菜的毒害临界值。结果表明,在水培条件下镍对蔬菜生长存在低浓度的刺激效应和高浓度的抑制效应。综合表观症状和蔬菜地上部生物量降低20％的效应浓度值（EC20）确定清江白（Brassica chinensis L．）和蕹菜（Lpomoea aquatica Forsk．）为镍毒害的高敏感蔬菜。以蕹菜为指示作物的土培试验表明,随着镍添加量的增加,蕹菜地上部生物量显著下降。以土培条件下蕹菜地上部生物量降低10％为依据,确定土壤有效镍毒害临界值为2．21mg·kg^-1（DTPA提取）;根据野外采集的菜园土壤DTPA提取镍和全镍的回归关系,求得土壤全镍毒害临界值为43．67mg·kg^-1。     

碱性矿化水淋洗对土壤盐碱化及小麦生长的影响

为探讨不同矿化度的水对土壤盐渍化的影响及相应的淋洗分数,采用土柱模拟方法,以小麦为指示作物,设计1.0 g/L,1.5 g/L两种矿化度,按3750 m3/hm2灌溉量,分一水、二水两种灌次,秋后进行人工淡水淋洗。结果表明,在半干旱气候条件下,开发碱性矿化水灌溉矿化度不宜超过1.5 g/L,否则有引起碱化的危险。干旱期用碱性矿化水灌溉抗旱时,在同等灌水量的情况下,一水灌溉比二水灌溉积盐轻。各种人工淋洗处理比CK洗盐效果好,其中以等量淋洗综合效益最好。     

绍兴平原二种典型农田系统中重金属流及其平衡分析

以浙江省绍兴平原为例,选择水稻（Orgza sativa L.）和蔬菜[大白菜（Brassica campestris L.ssp.pekinensis）]等2种典型农田系统,进行为期1年的观察分析,研究了农田系统中主要重金属元素流及平衡状况。结果表明,研究区农田系统中重金属来源物和农产品及排水中重金属含量有较大的空间变异性。有机肥和生活垃圾中重金属含量明显高于化肥,不同化肥品种中重金属含量：磷肥、复合肥钾肥氮肥。农田系统中重金属的输入量：有机肥施用（60.40%～99.36%）大气沉降（0.46%～39.26%）化肥施用（0.17%～1.45%）灌溉水（0.0016%～1.62%）。农田系统中Pb、Cd、Zn和Hg的输出量：农产品地表排水;重金属总积累量和输入强度：ZnCuPbCdHg。总体上,蔬菜生产系统中重金属的输入和累积量水稻生产系统。     

复合垂直流构建湿地净化酞酸酯的初步研究

为考察湿地对特殊污染物酞酸酯的净化作用，在温室中建造了专门用于酞酸酯研究的2套下行流-上行流湿地小试系统，1号系统邻苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）和邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基已基）酯（DEHP）污染负荷分别为19.86mgL^-1和3.16mgL^-1,2号系统DBP和DEHP污染负荷分别为9.84mgL^-1和1.58mgL^-1，试验时间为45d。水力负荷为420Ld^-1。结果表明：构建湿地对人工配置污水中的酞酸酯有很好的净化效果。平均去除率达到99.95%以上，出水酞酸酯质量浓度为10^-9级，均低于国家排放标准（GB8978-1996）.     

The Optimal Joint Provision of Water for Irrigation and Hydropower

This study develops a dynamic optimization model to analyze the intertemporal allocation of surface water for irrigation and for hydropower production in the western United States. The issue arises because peak irrigation demands may not coincide with periods of peak demand for power. Water released for irrigation in the spring reduces the reservoir head and diminishes the capacity to generate power during summer peak demands. The optimization model is applied to irrigation districts in central California. Results show considerable deviation between the actual and the optimal allocations. Suboptimal behavior is linked to the districts' failure to articulate clear property rights to the scarce water resources.     

Gas exchange in Paulownia species growing under different soil moisture conditions in the field

In order to evaluate their responses to drought, we determined the photosynthetic activity water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, water use efficiency photosynthetic photon flux density and leaf temperature of Paulownia imperialis, P. fortunei and P. elongata in three different soil moisture conditions in the field. Our results showed that P. imperialis had greater photosynthesis (8.86 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1)) and instantaneous water use efficiency (0.79 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)) than either P. elongata (8.20 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and 0.71 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)) or P. fortunei (3.26 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and 0.07 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)). The rapid growth of Paulownia did not appear to be correlated with photosynthetic rates. Paulownia fortunei showed more transpiration (48.78 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1)) and stomatal conductance (840 mmol m(-2) s(-1)) than P. imperialis (20 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1) and 540 mmol m(-2) s(-1)) and P. elongata (20 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1) and 410 mmol m(-2) s(-1)), which allowed these two Paulownia species to increase their tolerance to low soil moisture, and maintain higher water use efficiency under these conditions. According to our physiological gas exchange field tests, Paulownia imperialis does appear to be capable of successful growth in semiarid zones.     

Leaching-induced migration and compositional form change of Cu,Zn, and Cd from sludge to loess

Land utilization of sewage sludge has become one of the major issues in environmental mitigation in China. This is particularly important in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. Sludge enriched with organic matter and nutrients might effectively help to resolve the problems of silty loess soils as evidenced by porosity defect, structural alterations and absence of fertility. After sludge flows into the loess, irrigation water contains heavy metals that leach and migrate into sludge and consequently related human health risks may occur that raise concerns; and this situation needs to be rectified. The characteristics of the vertical migration and composition form change of Cu, Zn, and Cd from composted sludge to loess, and corresponding influencing factors, were investigated by performing a soil column simulation test under the leaching treatment of a one-year irrigation water capacity. Results demonstrated that: (1) composted sludge significantly improved loess fertility, and irrigation leaching transported only a small quantity of organic matter in sludge in the plough layer; (2) although some of the Cu, Zn, and Cd in composted sludge migrated to and concentrated in the middle and upper layers of the soil column during leaching, these metals were mostly retained in the plough layer; and (3) after the leaching treatment of the one-year irrigation water capacity, the compositions of Cu, Zn, and Cd (particularly Cu and Zn) in both plough layer and loess began to stabilize with low concentrations in the exudate. These findings confirmed the applicability of composted sludge in loess regions. This study provided a new insight into the sludge reuse in alkaline soils in arid and semi-arid region.     

不同施肥处理对红壤晚稻田CH_4排放的影响

选取不同施肥处理的双季稻田为研究对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对晚稻田CH4排放通量进行观测。结果表明,与不施肥对照(T1)相比,各施肥处理CH4排放通量均有不同程度增加。其中秸秆还田+化肥处理(T5)CH4平均排放通量为9.96mg.m-2.h-1,比增氮磷施肥处理(T4)和对照分别增加26.1%和120.0%;平衡施肥处理(T2)和减氮磷施肥处理(T3)CH4平均排放通量比对照增加20%左右。说明施化肥可能提高水稻植株运输能力,进而增加CH4排放,但并未发现施化肥处理(T1、T2、T3和T4)之间CH4排放存在显著差异。同时对相关环境因素的分析表明,各处理CH4排放通量与土壤5cm深处温度间存在指数函数关系,并与田间水层厚度呈正相关关系(P<0.05)。综合考虑温室效应和稻谷产量,认为T2为推荐施肥方式,即N、P2O5和K2O施用量分别为180、90和135kg.hm-2,在插秧前1d施入占总N量70%的碳铵和全部磷肥、钾肥(过磷酸钙和氯化钾)作为基肥,并在分蘖期(2008年7月19日)追施占总N量30%的尿素。     

内蒙古河套灌区秋浇对不同类型农田土壤盐分淋失的影响

秋浇是河套灌区传统的秋后淋盐、春季保墒的一种特殊灌溉制度 ,秋浇对不同类型农田盐分损失影响的试验结果表明 ,秋浇前白菜地土壤含水率最高 ,向日葵地最低 ,秋浇后 5种农田土壤含水率均较高 ,且彼此间无显著性差异。秋浇后不同土壤剖面盐分的损失量按照表层 (0～ 40cm)、中层 (40～ 80cm)、深层 (80～ 1 2 0cm)依次递减(向日葵地除外 )。不同农田的盐分淋失量按照白菜地、向日葵地、玉米地、小麦 -玉米地、小麦地依次递减。非生长季灌溉下 ,农田土壤 0～ 1 0 0cm土层中盐分的淋失量与土壤储水量的增加量 (灌溉前土壤含水率 <2 50 g·kg- 1 ,r =0 .990 2 )密切相关 ,但与灌溉前土壤盐分初始含量无显著性关系     

Impact of distillery effluent on germination behaviour of Brassica napus L

The study has been focused on effect of untreated distillery effluent (Devans Breweries Ltd., Jammu) on germination of gobi sarson (Brassica napus. L. var. Punjabi Special). Six treatments (E0.... E100) each having three replicates were made. E0 was taken as control in which tap water was used for irrigation of the plants. For E20, E40, E60, E80 and E100, different concentrations i.e. 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of effluent were used for irrigation, respectively. The 100% sample of distillery effluent analyzed for various physicochemical parameters showed acidic nature (pH 4.0) and higher values of COD (2496 mg l(-1)), TDS (799.7 mg l(-1)) and chlorides (1408 mg l(-1)). The parameters e.g. percent germination, germination index, speed of germination, and peak value were highest in treatment receiving 20% effluent concentration which also showed minimum values for percent inhibition, germination period, and delay index.     

Biozide in Gebäudefassaden – ökotoxikologische Effekte, Auswaschung und Belastungsabschätzung für Gewässer

Background, aim and scope Sources of organic micropollutants occuring in surface waters are often unknown. Regarding environmental risk assessments for surface waters, construction materials have as till now, not been given much consideration, although biocides used as preservatives are known to reach urban storm water runoff. The study focused on biocides for facades coatings and aimed (1) to determine ecotoxicological effect values, (2) to quantify the leaching behaviour and (3) to assess the environmental risk for surface waters using a dynamic transport model. Materials and methods Eight biocides used in resin based facade coatings were investigated. Some biocides are substances known as pesticides for agricultural purposes like diuron, carbendazim and terbutryn. Ecotoxicological effect values for aquatic organisms were determined for every biocide. Leaching of four biocides from a render under UV-irradiation has been investigated in the laboratory including the influence of varying temperatures. Using 80 irrigation intervals over 28 days, facade runoff was sampled and followed by biocide chemical analysis. The total losses were calculated based on the concentration patterns. These data were used for modelling the transport of cybutryn from facades to surface waters. Biocide specific effect values and leaching characteristics have been taken into consideration. Results Acute and chronic effect values as well as predicted no effect concentrations for the investigated biocides indicate their high potential to affect aquatic organisms. The leaching of four biocides (diuron, terbutryn, cybutryn, carbendazim) from the facade render under the experimental conditions delivers high concentrations in the beginning followed by an exponential decrease. Rising temperature increased the concentration of biocides in the runoff. The total losses were between 7?% and 29?% depending on the substances. More than half of the losses occur in the runoff within the first 15 min of runoff from a 60 min irrigation cycle. The modelling result for cybutryn underlines its high environmental risk for small surface waters. Discussion The leaching of the biocides, their potential ecotoxic effects and persistence show clearly that the environmental risk for surface waters and soils seems to be high for certain biocides; whereas for others the risk seems to be significantly lower. With respect water quality criteria, polluted facades runoff has to be diluted before runoff can enter the discharge. Diuron and carbendazim are however also used as pesticides and preservatives for other materials and cybutryn is also used as an antifouling agent. All pathways have to be evaluated in order to identify relevant sources and to act more efficiently with respect to water and soil protection. Conclusions Concentrations with high environmental risk are expected at new facades, especially at facades with thermal insulation. With the given low predicted no effect concentrations in a range of a few ng/L and large amounts of biocides applied in paints and renders, the environmental risk for common biocides used in facade coatings has to be investigated in laboratory and field scale. It seems plausible that source control measures as the most efficient and sustainable precautionary principle need to be evaluated. Recommendations and perspectives Biocides and additives applied in construction materials have to be taken into consideration as relevant sources when evaluating the quality of storm water runoff, discharge into urban areas and the impact to soil and surface waters. A sustainable construction material management and storm water management are required. It is expected that ongoing laboratory and field studies with exterior paints, renders and flat sheets for waterproofing containing biocides and additives will give further insight into their environmental impact.     

Effect of water quality on yield of sugar beet and sweet sorghum

To study the effects of quality of water on soil and plant, an experiment was conducted at Rudashat Drainage and Reclamation Experiment Station in 1999. Four irrigation water salinities (2, 5, 8 and 11 ds m(-1)) and two sugar crops (sugar beet and sweet sorghum) were used in this experiment. The results showed that under the same water quality, sweet sorghum used 2700 cubic meter per hectare less water than sugar beet. As the quality of irrigation water decreased, the soil salinity and exchangeable sodium percent increased which caused yield reduction for both plants. Sugar beet by accumulating Na and Cl in its leaves tolerated salinity but its usage as a forage crop caused some limitations, whereas sweet sorghum by not accumulating Na and Cl escape salinity and it can be used as a forage crop without any limitation.