SaltMod is a mathematical, numerical computer
program for the simulation and prediction of the
salinity of soil moisture, ground and drainage
water, the depth of the watertable (water table),
drain discharge and leaching of salts in irrigated
agricultural lands under different geohydrologic
conditions, varying watermanagement (water
management) options, including the (re)use of
groundwater (ground water) for irrigation by pumping
from wells (conjunctive use), and several crop
rotation schedules. It uses salt and waterbalances
(water balance, budget).
The model aims at sustainable land use and
environmentally sound optimal water management
for sustainability and can be used for the modeling
(modelling) of reclamation (remediation,
rehabilitation, restoration) of saline soils.
The updated version 184.108.40.206 of 5 November 2008 is
called SaltMod, previous versions carried the name
SaltModW. In March 2012, the auxiliary Fortran
programs were eliminated and the contents were
integrated into the Delphi program.
Optionally, farmers' responses can be simulated
adjusting agriculture and irrigation to
waterlogging (water logging) and soil salinity.
A new version of SaltMod was issued on 19 September
2011 which gives the possibility to include the
type of crop rotation in the farmers' responses so
that, for example, unirrigated (fallow) land can be
included in the rotation pattern provided it is not
salinized. Further, on 6 Februari 2012, the
farmers' responses were extended with the option to
set the maximum soil salinity allowed by them
before they begin abandoning part of the land.
The model calculates the actual evaporation from
the potential evapotranspiration, the capillary
rise and the deep percolation.
Values of reference evapotranspiration needed in
SaltMod can be found from the CropWat model and
ClimWat data base that can be downloaded from the
For irrigation efficiencies used in SaltMod
may consult the publication "Surface Irrigation
Software, SURDEV" by M.JurriŽns, D.Zerihun,
J.Boonstra and R.A.L.Kselik. For free download of
the scanned publication in PDF format go to the
download page and look
for publication 59. View here the
table of contents.
at ILRI for a copy of Surdev software.
The program starts clicking on Saltmod.Exe.
More information is given in the program itself.
On 3 August 2011, through correspondence with Mrs.
Shabnam Alinejad, a bug was detected in the SaltMod
model and it was was quickly removed. On 24
September the input interface, in some cases, was
given a multiple choice box instead of an edit