Soil salinization is an important factor contributing to the deterioration of soil environment and low crop yield in arable land. In this study, the effects of five fulvic acid applications (0 (CK), 150 (T1), 300 (T2), 450 (T3), and 600 (T4) kg·ha⁻¹) on soil physicochemical properties, humus content of each component, and cotton (Xinluzao No. 82) growth were investigated. It was confirmed that fulvic acid improved soil water-stable macroaggregates, moisture distribution, and desalinization. 0–20 cm soil relative desalinization rate was significantly increased by 2–11.75%. The pH value decreased by 0.09–0.21. The soil organic matter content was significantly increased compared to CK (p < 0.05), with 7.5–26.93% increase in organic matter content in 0–20 cm soil layer. Soil humification was increased to different degrees, with the most significant increase in humic carbon content in T3 treatment (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, and plant height of cotton (p < 0.05). Cotton yield increased by 3.64–8.36% compared to CK (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that cotton yield was significantly correlated with the soil textures of saline soils. The best improvement was achieved with 450 kg·ha⁻¹ fulvic acid. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of saline soils in arid zones to enhance crop growth and yield.

In this study, the influence of the relevant parameters of a subsurface pipe layout on soil water and salt transport in a cotton field under mulched drip irrigation is explored. Based on the measured data of the changes in the groundwater level and salt in the field, the DRAINMOD numerical model has been used for simulating the water and salt dynamics of a salinized cotton field under subsurface pipe drainage. The results of the investigation show that the DRAINMOD model can accurately simulate the changes in the hydrological conditions and the salt-leaching process in the study area. The average deviation between the simulated and measured values of the groundwater depth in 2013 and 2014 was −1.72 cm and 2.43 cm, the average absolute deviation was 3.84 cm and 2.43 cm, the root mean square error was 5.14 cm and 3.63 cm, and the correlation coefficient was 0.87 and 0.94, respectively. The average deviation between the simulated and measured values of soil salinity in 2013 and 2014 was −0.68 g/kg and −1.86 g/kg, the average absolute deviation was 1.60 g/kg and 1.99 g/kg, the root mean square error was 1.95 g/kg and 2.99 g/kg, and the correlation coefficient was 0.82 and 0.86, respectively, which are all within the acceptable error range. After validation, the model was used to simulate and analyze the desalination process of a cotton field in the study area for 27 different subsurface pipe layout modes. The projection pursuit classification model has been combined with the accelerated genetic algorithm based on real-number coding. The comprehensive benefits of the subsurface pipe layout were evaluated using the construction cost, average desalination rate, and relative yield of cotton as the evaluation indices. The results show that C₁₁ (buried depth 2.1 m, spacing 30 m) is the optimal layout of the subsurface pipe. The results of this study can provide theoretical support and scientific guidance for the popularization and application of subsurface pipe salt discharge technology and drip irrigation under film in the arid inland areas of northwest China.