Objective  The paper aimed to investigate the water and salt movement of takyric solonetz under drip irrigation with soil-water-redistribution medium (RM).

  Method  Column leaching tests were set up in the laboratory to study the changing of soil moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of takyric solonetz under drip irrigation with RM.

  Result  In one dimensional vertical infiltration, the diffusion rate of water in drip irrigation with RM was faster than that in constant head infiltration. And the diffusion rate of vertical wetting front increased 50.3% under drip irrigation with RM in steady infiltration stage. The water and salt movement in vertical direction were almost same for both of the irrigation methods. In two dimensional infiltration, the diffusion rate of wetting front in vertical direction was higher than that in horizontal direction. The top layer of takyric solonetz at the interface of RM to soil became the center of soil water redistribution. The wetting areas of adjacent emitters overlapped in 96 hours and leaching outward as one. The desalting zone with EC < 2 dS m⁻¹ has pH < 9. If the EC of desalting area increasing from 2 to 4 dS m⁻¹, the corresponding pH get close gradually to the value of uncultivated soil. At the edge of desalting zone, the EC was in the range of 4-10 dS m⁻¹ and the pH was significant higher than the value of uncultivated soil. While the pH decreased slightly in the margin of salt deposit zone.

  Conclusion  Drip irrigation with RM enhanced the infiltration in takyric solonetz significantly and formed desalting zone quickly. While the pH increased significantly at the initial stage of desalination and close related to the value of electrical conductivity. Corresponding measures should be taken in production practice to avoid the influence of high pH on plant growth.