A.S. Csinos and J. Desaeger, Department of Plant Pathology, CPES
University of Georgia, Tifton, GA

Abstract: The use of a blue agricultural dye was employed to investigate the movement of water and potentially chemical-laden water through soil beds covered with polyethylene film mulch, (PEFM). The water soluble dye was applied through drip tape under PEFM and several application scenarios were investigated. The soil used was a sandy (88% sand) loam and 32 inch wide beds were formed using a commercial bed former and plastic-drip-tape applicator. The beds were dissected after the dye application and the blue pattern resulting from the application analyzed for special distribution. The length of time of water application, the water pressure and drip tape configuration all had significant effects on the distribution of the blue dye in the soil. Generally longer irrigation times of up to 8 hours provided the greatest coverage of the bed volume. Pressure increases to 20 psi increased water volume and increased distribution in the soil bed. The spacing of the drip emitters was critical to the distribution of the dye in the soil profile. Incorporating all of the factors to optimize the distribution of the dye in the soil failed to provide complete coverage of the entire soil bed profile in the sandy soil used in this study. Implications of poor water and pesticide distribution are discussed.

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